On Tuesday (24), the US President, Donald Trump, reaffirmed the validity of the ceasefire between Israel and Iran after an exchange of attacks between the countries that extended at least until the early hours of the 12th day of the conflict in the Middle East.
“Israel will not attack Iran. All planes will turn around and return home, while waving a friendly ‘Airplane Wave’ to Iran. No one will be hurt, the ceasefire is in effect,” Trump said on social media.
Iranian authorities are celebrating the “victory” in the conflict with Israel, claiming that Tel Aviv had to “beg” the US for a ceasefire.
At the same time, Israel and Iran report that they are monitoring the enemy to respond to any aggression.
Despite Trump’s announcement of the ceasefire on Monday night, the situation remains tense. Israel and Iran continued their hostilities, with Iran denying acceptance of the agreement but promising to suspend further attacks. This uncertainty leaves the public worried about the potential for more conflict.
According to Iranian authorities, Israel bombed the country on Monday night (24), killing “a group of compatriots in a brutal attack.”
Iran’s Revolutionary Guard said it retaliated with the 22nd wave of missiles, consisting of 14 projectiles against Israel on Tuesday morning, targeting “military and support centers of the Zionist regime.”
In response, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) intercepted most of the projectiles, but not before they caused significant damage. Tragically, four lives were lost in the city of Beersheba. The IDF released images of a building with its facade destroyed and rescue teams working, highlighting the human cost of the conflict and evoking empathy in the public.
The Israeli military confirmed that it attacked Iran on Monday night, raising concerns about the potential for further escalation in the conflict.
“Israeli Air Force jets struck dozens of military targets in Tehran overnight, launching more than 100 munitions. In addition, we caused repeated and severe damage to military [manufacturing] infrastructure in Tehran,” it said in a statement.
Iran reported that two Basij leaders, a paramilitary militia linked to Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, were killed in the attacks in Tehran: Basij intelligence protection commander Mohammad Taqi Yousefvand and General Meysam Rezvanpour, Basij deputy officer for social affairs.
Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Kartz, said he instructed the military “to respond vigorously to Iran’s ceasefire violation with powerful attacks,” accusing Iran of breaching the ceasefire.
Trump said that “both countries” violated the agreement. When announcing the terms of the deal, Trump said Iran should stop its attacks first, giving Israel a few more hours to continue bombing Tehran.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi said on Monday night that there was no ceasefire agreement.
“However, if the Israeli regime ceases its illegal aggression against the Iranian people by 4 a.m. Tehran time, we have no intention of continuing our response after that. The final decision on ceasing our military operations will be made later,” he said on social media.
Understanding the Conflict
Israel accuses Iran of being close to developing a nuclear weapon and launched a surprise attack against the country on the 13th, expanding the war in the Middle East.
On Saturday (21), the United States, Israel’s key ally, attacked three Iranian nuclear facilities: Fordow, Natanz, and Esfahan, escalating the conflict further.
That attack, which the United States claims was a preemptive strike to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons, further strained relations between the two countries.
However, the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) has accused Iran of not complying with all its obligations, while acknowledging that it has no evidence that the country is building an atomic bomb.
Iran accuses the agency of acting in a “politically motivated” manner and being directed by Western powers such as the United States, France, and Great Britain, which have supported Israel in the war against Tehran.
In March, the US intelligence sector reported that Iran was not building nuclear weapons, a conclusion that President Donald Trump himself now questions, complicating the situation further.
While Israel does not accept Tehran possessing nuclear weapons, various sources throughout history have indicated that the country maintained an extensive secret nuclear program since the 1950s, having developed at least 90 atomic warheads.
Source: Agência Brasil