Israel Accepts US Request to Halt Strikes on Iran Amid Lebanon Operations
Amid heightened Israel tensions, Israel has accepted a US request to halt strikes on Iran while continuing operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, resulting in a fragile ceasefire after mutual attacks that threatened to expand the regional conflict.
Ceasefire Agreement Reached
Israel accepted a US request to stop strikes on Iran while maintaining operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. [1] One source described the situation as very fragile, noting the ongoing threat from Iran that it could resume attacks on Israel if Israeli forces continue operations in Lebanon. [1] Iran had earlier on Monday announced it was suspending its military operation against Israel but warned it could renew the operation if Israel continues strikes on Lebanon. [1] The decision by Israel concerns halting strikes on Iran at the request of the US administration, while operations in southern Lebanon remain in force. [1] No additional details have been released on the duration of such a decision or on possible next diplomatic steps. [1] After the escalation of the conflict and mutual missile exchanges between Tel Aviv and Tehran, US President Donald Trump urgently spoke out. [1]
Trump's Intervention and Warnings
Faced with a situation that threatened to escalate into an all-out regional war, Trump sent a short but clear message to both sides. [1] Trump urged Israel and Iran to immediately stop firing. [1] According to the Israeli television channel N12, US President Donald Trump issued a warning to Netanyahu in a telephone call. [2] If the attacks expanded into a more extensive regional conflict, the country could end up isolated. [2] Trump told the Israeli press about his telephone conversation with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. [3] Trump said he had asked Netanyahu not to respond to Iran's missile attacks and told Bibi that he needed to be very careful about what he did, otherwise he could soon find himself alone against Iran. [3] Trump stated that he had been informed of Israel's attacks on Iran at the last minute but had managed to limit the attack. [3] Trump reported that the Tehran administration had announced that it would not carry out a new attack on Israel and called for an end to the mutual attacks. [3] Trump then held another telephone conversation with Netanyahu and said he had convinced Netanyahu to stop the attacks. [3]
Netanyahu's Position on Hezbollah and Iran
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the ceasefire in a video message on Monday evening. [2] He threatened that Israel would respond with all severity if Iran attacked again. [2] Netanyahu said Israel's dispute with Iran and the Hezbollah militia from Lebanon was not over. [2] Netanyahu accused both of trying to impose a new equation on Israel within the last 24 hours. [2] Netanyahu said they thought they could shoot at Israel from Lebanese and Iranian territory and that Israel would not respond. [4] This was unacceptable and would not happen, he stressed. [4]
Iran's Warnings and Conditions
Iran declared its attacks on Israel to be over in the afternoon. [2] Iran's military headquarters Chatam al-Anbjia threatened, however, that if the fighting continued, especially Israel's attacks in southern Lebanon, harsher and more devastating measures than before would follow. [2] The Iranian military leadership declared its attacks against Israel ended. [4] Tehran warned that if Israel continued its operations in Lebanon, harsher responses would follow. [3] Iran's armed forces announced the end of the military operation against Israel and warned of harsher attacks if Israel's attacks on Lebanon resumed. [3]
Ongoing Operations in Lebanon and Yemen
Israeli attacks continued in Lebanon. [2] The Lebanese news agency NNA reported several more attacks in the southern part of the country. [2] According to the report, at least five people were killed in an Israeli air strike on a vehicle. [2] Hezbollah in turn claimed to have carried out several more attacks on Israeli positions in southern Lebanon. [2] The Israeli army attacked targets in the suburbs of Beirut on Sunday in response to Hezbollah rocket fire on northern Israel. [2] The Israeli air force intercepted a drone from Yemen over the southern part of the country at night. [2] The incident in the airspace over the city of Eilat on the Red Sea has ended, the military informed on the X platform. [2] The Iran-aligned Houthi militia in Yemen had previously claimed an attack on Israel with several rockets on Monday. [2] It was the first direct attack by the Houthis on Israel since early April. [2]
Lifted Restrictions and Regional Impact
After the end of the attacks, restrictions were eased again in Israel and Iran. [2] Schools in Israel were to reopen as normal, while Tehran lifted restrictions on air traffic. [2] Iraq and Syria also reopened their airspace. [2] Trump said Tuesday that negotiators were in the final throes of talks for a peace deal in the Middle East after Iran and Israel halted fresh hostilities. [5] Trump said on his social media account that negotiations with Iran were going very well and set a date for declaring full victory. [3] Trump said the team was very strong and that full victory would be declared in the next two weeks. [3]
What to watch next: Trump indicated that a comprehensive agreement with Iran remains possible and that full victory could be declared within two weeks, while the situation remains fragile with warnings of harsher measures if operations in Lebanon continue.
