Iran fired the final salvos of the “12 Day War” with Israel, with its final missile barrages killing at least three Israelis just minutes before President Donald Trump’s announced ceasefire took effect.
Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi fueled doubts of a lasting ceasefire when he issued a puzzling statement denying that a ceasefire had been reached, but said that Iran would cease its attacks against Israel if Jerusalem halted its own. Three minutes after 4 a.m. Tehran time, he announced that Iran was ceasing its operations.
“The military operations of our powerful Armed Forces to punish Israel for its aggression continued until the very last minute, at 4am. Together with all Iranians, I thank our brave Armed Forces who remain ready to defend our dear country until their last drop of blood, and who responded to any attack by the enemy until the very last minute,” he said.
Despite this, Iran launched six more barrages of missiles, though each barrage was small in number. One consisted of just three missiles, all of which were intercepted.
The final barrage of the war was a dud, with all missiles intercepted over northern Israel.
Iran’s last volleys were just barely in line with the ceasefire, which Trump announced would take effect at midnight Eastern time.
One missile made it through to hit a residential building in Beersheba, killing at least three people and wounding more. Magen David Adom identified the fatalities as a woman in her 40s, a man in his 40s, and a man in his 20s.
The final round of missiles came as Iranian state television announced the ceasefire was in effect, though it is possible those missiles were launched and airborne before the deadline for attacks had lapsed. No more missile warnings were issued thereafter.
The missile barrages were unexpected, with one flight to Tel Aviv from London circling around as missile barrages interrupted its flight path.
Israel, meanwhile, ceased its attacks just before 3:30 a.m. Tehran time after some of its most extensive strikes since the first day of fighting.
The president voiced his own impassioned pleas for the ceasefire to hold, telling Israel and Iran that it was to both their benefit.
“Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, ‘PEACE!’ I knew the time was NOW,” he said in a post on Truth Social. “The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS! Both Nations will see tremendous LOVE, PEACE, AND PROSPERITY in their futures. They have so much to gain, and yet, so much to lose if they stray from the road of RIGHTEOUSNESS & TRUTH. The future for Israel & Iran is UNLIMITED, & filled with great PROMISE. GOD BLESS YOU BOTH!”
The Israel Defense Forces Home Command gave Israelis the all-clear to leave their shelters shortly after 7 a.m. local time, indicating they were confident the ceasefire would hold.
Speaking earlier in the day to NBC over the phone, Trump expressed high optimism for the ceasefire.
TRUMP EXPECTS ISRAEL-IRAN CEASEFIRE TO LAST ‘FOREVER,’ NEVER TO SHOOT AT EACH OTHER AGAIN
“I think the ceasefire is unlimited. It’s going to go forever,” he told the outlet.
Not only that, Trump said he believes the ceasefire will mark an end to the long-standing Israel-Iran conflict, saying he doesn’t believe the two “will ever be shooting at each other again.”
