Iran Strikes Israel’s Beersheba Amid Confusion Over Trump-Announced Ceasefire

At least three people were killed after Iranian missiles struck a residential building in Beersheba, southern Israel, late Monday night, according to local media reports. Air raid sirens rang out across multiple regions of Israel, with the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) urging civilians to stay indoors or remain close to bomb shelters.

The fresh escalation came just hours after former U.S. President Donald Trump claimed that Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire following nearly 12 days of hostilities. However, Iran’s actions and statements have cast doubt over the ceasefire’s implementation.

Iranian Foreign Minister Seyed Abbas Araghchi had earlier posted on X (formerly Twitter) that Iran’s military operations would continue “until the very last minute at 4 a.m.” Tehran time. Just before that, he denied the existence of any formal ceasefire deal, but said Iran would halt its strikes “provided that the Israeli regime stops its illegal aggression… no later than 4 a.m.”

Trump, however, had declared a phased ceasefire beginning at 3:32 a.m. IST, saying that both nations had agreed to remain “peaceful” and “respectful” during each stage. “I would like to congratulate both countries… on having the Stamina, Courage, and Intelligence to end what should be called ‘THE 12 DAY WAR,’” Trump said in his post.

As of Tuesday morning, Israel’s military has not officially responded to Trump’s announcement, though no new Israeli strikes were reported in Iran after 4 a.m. local time, according to the Associated Press.

Broader Conflict Context

The ceasefire announcement came on the heels of a dramatic escalation that saw Iran launch “Operation Basharat al-Fath”, targeting a U.S. air base in Qatar. The move was in retaliation for American strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities—Isfahan, Fordow, and Natanz—conducted over the weekend.

Key developments:

• The U.S. used 75 precision-guided bombs, including bunker busters, in its attack on Iran’s Fordow nuclear site.

• In retaliation, Iran launched missiles at the U.S. base in Qatar, claiming it deliberately targeted unpopulated areas to avoid civilian casualties.

• Qatari officials said all but one missile were intercepted, with the extent of damage from the remaining missile still unconfirmed.

• Iran’s parliament passed a resolution that could lead to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a critical chokepoint for global oil shipments, raising fears of a wider economic impact if the situation deteriorates further.

As both sides tread cautiously in the wake of Trump’s ceasefire claim, the region remains tense, with the potential for renewed hostilities if diplomatic efforts falter.