Dubai: Iran and Israel have announced a temporary halt to military strikes against each other, easing tensions after their first direct exchange of fire since the ceasefire reached in April.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel was currently holding fire but stressed that its confrontation with Iran and the Iran-backed Hezbollah was not over.
Iran’s military also confirmed that it had suspended operations after delivering what it described as a “painful response” to Israel. Tehran warned that any future Israeli attacks, including operations in Lebanon, would be met with a stronger retaliation.
Meanwhile, Donald Trump said he had spoken with Netanyahu and urged restraint. Trump expressed optimism that a broader agreement with Iran could be reached and claimed his intervention helped prevent further escalation.
The White House confirmed discussions between Washington and Israel, while Israeli officials said military operations were paused following consultations with the US administration.
Separately, Trump stated that the crew of a US military helicopter involved in an incident in the Strait of Hormuz were safely rescued and that no injuries had been reported.
Although active hostilities have paused for now, both Iran and Israel have made it clear that the ceasefire remains fragile and could quickly unravel if either side believes the agreement has been violated.
