[UPDATES] As of 11:30 AM, Tuesday, June 24, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said he had ordered the army to carry out “powerful strikes” on Iranian targets in Tehran after Israel reported incoming missiles from Iran, despite a US-brokered cease-fire.
“I instructed the Israeli army to respond forcefully to Iran’s violation of the cease-fire by launching powerful strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran,” Katz said in a statement.
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The Israeli military earlier said that rockets were launched at Israel from Iran, shortly after a ceasefire was announced between the two countries.
“The protection systems are working to prevent the threat,” the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said in a statement posted on its Telegram channel around 10:30 a.m. local time.
Iran, however, denied firing the missiles.
The general staff of the Iranian army “denied the launch of missiles from Iran to the occupied territories (Israel) in the last few hours,” Iran’s state television reported Tuesday.
Iran has not formally confirmed its participation in the cease-fire.
Israel confirmed Tuesday it had agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, following 12 days of deadly conflict between the two arch-rivals.
The ceasefire, proposed by US President Donald Trump, came into effect after nearly two weeks of missile strikes, assassinations, and attacks across the region that killed hundreds in Iran and more than two dozen in Israel.
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“Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the cabinet to announce that Israel had achieved all the objectives of Operation ‘Rising Lion’ – and much more,” the Israeli government said in a statement.
The statement said Israel had successfully removed “an immediate dual existential threat: nuclear and ballistic,” referring to Iranian capabilities targeted during the campaign.
“Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in defense and for their participation in removing the Iranian nuclear threat,” the statement continued, adding that Israel would “respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire.”
Trump had announced the truce hours earlier, urging both sides not to escalate.
“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!” Trump wrote on his Truth Social platform.
The US president had outlined a phased 24-hour ceasefire process, with Iran expected to halt its operations first, followed by Israel 12 hours later.
The ceasefire announcement came just hours after Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. Trump downplayed the attack, calling it “very weak” and claiming Iran had given advance notice.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has so far denied that a formal ceasefire had been agreed to, but indicated Iran was ready to stop attacks if Israel ended its operations.
“As of now, there is NO agreement on a ceasefire or halting military operations,” Araghchi wrote on social media. “However, if the Israeli regime ends its illegal aggression against the Iranian people by 4 a.m. Tehran time, we will not continue our response.”
As Iran has repeatedly made clear: Israel launched war on Iran, not the other way around.
— Seyed Abbas Araghchi (@araghchi) June 24, 2025
As of now, there is NO "agreement" on any ceasefire or cessation of military operations. However, provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression against the Iranian people no…
Iranian state television, according to The Times of Israel, announced the start of the ceasefire. Israeli media, citing unnamed officials, reported that the ceasefire is likely to hold only if all sides respect the agreement.
Despite Trump’s announcement, violence continued overnight. Israeli emergency services said four people were killed in an Iranian missile attack shortly before the ceasefire was due to begin. Iran’s state media also reported waves of missiles heading toward Israel.
The Magen David Adom rescue service said three people died in a strike on the southern city of Beersheba, with a fourth person later added to the death toll.
Meanwhile, explosions rocked Tehran overnight, with AFP reporters describing some of the strongest blasts since the conflict began.
The war between the two countries began on June 13, when Israel carried out surprise airstrikes on Iran, targeting nuclear and military sites. Trump later warned that the situation could spiral into a “massive” regional conflict.
Strikes on US Base in Qatar
On Monday evening, June 23, Iran launched missiles at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the largest US military installation in the Middle East. Iran’s National Security Council confirmed the strike, saying it was retaliation for US attacks on Iranian nuclear sites.
The Council said Iran’s response was “proportional,” with the same number of missiles fired as bombs used by the US.
The US military had earlier struck Iran’s underground uranium enrichment facility with bunker-busting bombs and targeted two other nuclear sites over the weekend. The strikes followed Washington’s decision to support Israel in its military campaign.
Though Iran said its missiles targeted the US base, officials in Qatar accused Tehran of “blatant aggression” and threatened a proportional response.
Blasts were heard across Doha and Lusail, with projectiles seen crossing the night sky. Qatar temporarily closed its airspace, and the US Embassy, along with other foreign missions, urged people to shelter in place.
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