Within hours of agreeing to a ceasefire brokered by U.S. President Donald Trump, Israel has resumed military strikes on Iran, citing violations of the truce by Tehran. The development has cast serious doubt on the fragile peace deal and reignited fears of a broader regional conflict.
The renewed violence threatens to prolong what Trump had earlier dubbed the “12 Day War.”
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz announced Tuesday that he had instructed the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to retaliate, stating, “respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the ceasefire with intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”
According to the IDF, sirens were triggered in northern Israel around 3:30 a.m. ET due to incoming missile fire from Iran.
While both countries had exchanged strikes shortly before acknowledging the ceasefire, an Israeli official told the Associated Press that two additional missiles were detected and intercepted several hours into the agreement.
The Israeli Embassy in London posted an image allegedly showing a missile launched by Iran during the ceasefire. The embassy wrote: “Iran continues to show its true nature as a terror state and a regional threat.”
Iranian state media, however, denied launching any missiles after the truce took effect and instead accused Israel of violating the ceasefire first. The report claimed that Israeli forces carried out three separate strikes across Iranian territory early Tuesday morning.
Quoting unnamed sources, Iranian media described Israel’s allegations as a “pretext” for further aggression and warned of consequences. The report reiterated that any violation by Israel or the U.S. would be met with “stronger retaliation.”
“In light of the severe violation of the ceasefire carried out by the Iranian regime, we will respond with force,” said IDF Chief of General Staff Eyal Zamir.
Some Israeli hardliners appeared to welcome the escalation. Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, a member of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s security cabinet, posted on X: “Tehran trembles.”
Israel previously stated that it agreed to the ceasefire after achieving all of its military objectives during its campaign launched on June 13, which has reportedly resulted in the deaths of hundreds of Iranians, including senior military officials and nuclear scientists.
However, Israeli officials had also warned that any breach would be met with force.
President Trump, who had celebrated the truce late Monday and urged both sides to respect it, expressed frustration at the sudden breakdown. “Please do not violate it,” he had warned.
By Tuesday morning, Trump’s tone had shifted dramatically. Speaking to reporters, he said he was “not happy” with Iran and “really unhappy” with Israel.
“They don’t know what the f-ck they’re doing,” Trump said, according to the White House press pool. “I’m gonna see if I can stop it.”
Later, in a post on Truth Social, Trump issued a direct warning to Israel: “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
