Dozens of Israeli warplanes hovered ominously over Iranian airspace this morning, poised to retaliate against multiple salvos of Iranian ballistic missiles launched against Israel in the early hours of the morning.
Those missiles violated the just-established ceasefire in the eyes of Israeli officials, who were ready to respond.
This show of military force was abruptly stopped by a phone call from US President Donald Trump to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
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According to sources, Mr Trump demanded Mr Netanyahu halt the operation, fearing it would unravel the ceasefire and pitch the Middle East back into conflict.
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Following the call between the two leaders, the Israeli aircraft were ordered to return to base.
A single fighter jet executed a solitary airstrike, dropping a bomb on a site deemed symbolic rather than strategic.
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Trump swears on camera as he lashes out at Iran and Israel over ceasefire ‘violations’
This act was interpreted as a final calibrated demonstration of Israel’s military readiness without reigniting the war.
A visibly furious Mr Trump later lashed out at both Israel and Iran, swearing on camera as he told reporters: “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f**k they’re doing.”
Addressing reports that both countries violated the ceasefire, he said: “I’m not sure they did it intentionally. They couldn’t rein people back.
“I don’t like the fact that Israel went out this morning, and I’m going to see if I can stop it. As soon as I get away from you, I’m going to see if I can stop it.”
Mr Netanyahu’s office later confirmed Israel struck a radar array near Tehran in response to “Iran’s violations” of the ceasefire.
It said Iran fired one missile at Israel at 7.06am local time (5.06am UK time) and two more at 10.25am, after the ceasefire had come into effect.
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The Israeli military “refrained from further attacks” after a phone call with Mr Trump, the office added.
As tensions simmer, the world watches closely, aware that the precarious situation could still change in the blink of an eye.
