US President Donald Trump has announced a formal ceasefire between Israel and Iran after 12 days of intense fighting that has rocked the Middle East. Trump said the ceasefire agreement would be implemented in phases over the next 24 hours.
Trump said in a post on social media: “Israel and Iran have agreed to a full ceasefire in approximately 6 hours.”
The agreement came after Iran launched a missile attack on the Al Udeid air base in Doha, Qatar, which hosts US forces. Iran said the attack was in retaliation for US strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities at Fordow, Natanz and Isfahan on Sunday.
Qatar Calls Iran’s Attack a Violation of Its Sovereignty
The Qatari government condemned Iran’s attack on its territory, calling it a violation of its sovereignty. The Qatari government said it “reserves the right to respond” to the Iranian attack, and confirmed that its air defense system was able to shoot down most of the missiles. No casualties or injuries were reported.
Al Jazeera’s Dorsa Jabbari said Qatar was Iran’s “apparent ally,” as it hosts the largest US military base in the Middle East. Iran has also attacked a US base in Iraq.
What’s the Situation Between Iran and Israel After Trump’s Ceasefire?
After Trump announced the ceasefire, the Iranian government indirectly announced its own ceasefire, saying, “The military operations of our powerful forces punished Israel for its aggression until the last hour of 4 am,” Iranian Foreign Minister Sayyed Abbas Araghchi said in a statement on his Twitter account.
“We unite in gratitude to our brave soldiers, who stood to defend our precious land until the last drop of their blood fell on the ground, who responded to every attack launched by the enemy until the last minute.”
Israel has not yet issued any official statement, raising doubts about how the agreement will be implemented. Iranian media, in particular the Tasnim news agency, reported that several explosions were heard in the capital Tehran and the city of Karaj that night. Also, Iranian security forces activated their air defense systems, as reports said Israeli warplanes had launched new attacks on Iran.
Iranian media also reported that some Israeli drones were shot down over Tehran. Meanwhile, Israel continues its airstrikes in Gaza, with at least 43 people confirmed dead, including 13 people waiting for humanitarian aid, according to Al Jazeera.
Regional Reaction to Iran’s Attack on US Bases
Iran’s attacks on US bases in Qatar and Iraq have been met with widespread condemnation. Several countries, including Somalia, Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Egypt, Morocco, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Yemen (the official government, not the Houthis), and Palestine (not Hamas), have officially condemned Iran’s move, calling it “a threat to regional stability.”
Despite Trump’s claims of diplomatic success and an end to the war, the situation remains tense, with both Israel and Iran yet to formally ratify the ceasefire agreement. People in the region, particularly in Iran and Israel, continue to face fear and unrest, with the situation looking increasingly dangerous if the ceasefire agreement does not come into effect.
