Three people were killed in southern Israel on Tuesday following a missile strike attributed to Iran, occurring just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. Despite the announcement, neither nation has officially confirmed the ceasefire, and hostilities continue.
Trump posted on his Truth Social account, “It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE,” adding that the ceasefire would be phased over 24 hours, with Iran halting operations first at 0400 GMT Tuesday, followed by Israel 12 hours later. He stated, “Upon the 24th hour, an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world,” highlighting commitments to peace and respect during the process.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi refuted the claim, saying, “As of now, there is NO ‘agreement’ on ceasefire or cessation of military operations.” He qualified that Iran would cease its response only if Israel stopped its “illegal aggression” by 4 am Tehran time.
Meanwhile, Israel’s military reported missile sirens in the north, and emergency services confirmed casualties from the missile strike in Beersheba. Magen David Adom reported three deaths and several injuries, including serious wounds to a man in his 40s, a woman in her 30s, and a man in his 20s.
The missile attacks follow a series of Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear and military sites starting June 13, which escalated tensions sharply. Iran responded with missile barrages, including an attack on the U.S. Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which Tehran described as a proportional retaliation.
Explosions in Tehran overnight were among the strongest since the conflict began, underscoring the ongoing violence despite ceasefire claims. The conflict has resulted in hundreds of Iranian deaths and at least two dozen Israeli fatalities.
The international community remains anxious about the potential for wider regional conflict, with the ceasefire announcement offering a tentative hope that hostilities may end.