United States President Donald Trump has called on Israel and Iran to immediately cease hostilities after both countries exchanged missile strikes for the first time since a ceasefire took effect in April.
Gatekeepers News reports that the latest escalation occurred on Sunday evening when Iran launched missile attacks hours after Israel carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in southern Beirut.
The Israeli Defence Forces (IDF) said the operation targeted Hezbollah positions in response to rocket fire from the group into Israeli territory.
Iran, however, has maintained that the ceasefire agreement involving the United States and Israel should also apply to Lebanon. Israel has rejected that position, insisting that Lebanon is not covered by the truce and that its military campaign against Hezbollah will continue.
In a statement, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) described the missile attacks as the “beginning of a full week of continuous strikes.”
Before Israel launched its retaliatory operation, Trump said he would urge Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to refrain from responding militarily.
Later, in a post on Truth Social, the US president expressed optimism about prospects for de-escalation, saying Israel and Iran appeared willing to pursue an immediate ceasefire.
“Final negotiations on ‘Peace’ are proceeding, subject to ignorance or stupidity getting in its way. The Blockade will remain in place, and in full force and effect, until a ‘Final Deal’ is reached. Things should move quickly,” Trump wrote.
Neither Israel nor Iran has publicly confirmed that negotiations toward a formal peace agreement are underway.
The renewed exchange of attacks comes just days after the United States and Iran carried out strikes against each other despite ongoing diplomatic efforts. Trump nevertheless insisted that the ceasefire remained in effect.
