Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has officially announced that Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Iran, ending 12 days of mounting violence between the two countries.
In a report presented by The Times of Israel, the Prime Minister's Office released a statement claiming that Israel has been able to achieve its strategic goals in the conflict with Iran.
"Israel has eliminated a dual, immediate existential danger – both nuclear and ballistic missile," the statement asserted.
Netanyahu highlighted that the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) had "gained complete air supremacy over Tehran's skies, caused significant harm to the military command, and blown up dozens of key Iranian government targets.
Netanyahu also expressed appreciation in his speech to U.S. President Donald Trump and the United States for their contribution to the war, expressing thanks for their "support in defence and their involvement in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat."
Only before the truce could take hold, Iran fired a new barrage of missiles on Israeli soil. One hit a residential building in Beersheba, killing four individuals. The timing of the attack initially left it unclear if the truce had indeed started.
Iranian government-owned media made it clear, though, that the missile attacks were before Iran had followed through on the truce.
President Trump then confirmed through his Truth Social website that the Iran-Israel ceasefire deal was officially in effect. He also called on both parties to respect the agreement and not escalate the situation further.
Though the ceasefire was a temporary cessation of hostilities between Israel and Iran, tensions erupted elsewhere as Iran struck back at U.S. military targets.
In retaliation to American strikes against three of Iran's main nuclear facilities in Isfahan, Natanz, and Fordow, Tehran retaliated with attacks that hit U.S. bases within Qatar and Iraq.
Read also| Watch| Iran Declares End to Hostilities After Missile Strike on Be’er Sheva, Killing 7
