Trump Holds Ceasefire After Israel Refrains From Major Retaliation For Iran’s Strike On Civilians

Israel appeared to back off a major retaliatory strike on Iran on Tuesday at President Donald Trump’s request after Iran targeted civilians in a missile attack on Israel just before the ceasefire went into effect, and then fired more missiles at Israel in violation of the ceasefire.

Israel reportedly had warplanes ready to strike Iran, but backed down after Trump told them, “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!” Around an hour later, Trump said that Israel’s planes would only conduct a “friendly ‘Plane Wave’ to Iran. Nobody will be hurt, the Ceasefire is in effect!”

“ISRAEL is not going to attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home …” Trump added.

All the communication didn’t happen over social media. Both Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu confirm they spoke, and the message was “firm and clear.”

The Israeli prime minister’s office said in a statement, “Following a phone call between President Trump and Prime Minister Netanyahu, Israel refrained from carrying out additional strikes. During the conversation, President Trump conveyed his deep appreciation for Israel, which he said had accomplished all of the war’s objectives. The president also expressed confidence in the stability of the ceasefire.”

A senior U.S. official told The New York Times that Trump was “firm and clear” in his conversation with Netanyahu and “the Prime Minister understood the gravity of the situation.”

Israel’s “friendly plane wave” appeared to be an airstrike on a small target north of Tehran. Israeli officials said that their pilots struck a radar installation in Iran, and the planes were on their way home, according to Israeli journalist Amit Segal.

The target that was hit was a radar installation https://t.co/6T54ORXuwm

— Amit Segal (@AmitSegal) June 24, 2025

Shortly before the ceasefire went into effect Tuesday morning, Israel bombed Iran, “eliminating hundreds of Basij members and Iranian security personnel,” according to the prime minister’s office. Iran then hit Israel with another attack targeting civilians in Beersheva just before the ceasefire went into effect. At least four people were killed in the strike, and 20 people were wounded.

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz said that Iran then violated the ceasefire with another missile attack, as two missiles were reportedly intercepted over northern Israel.

????WATCH: The scene of the direct hit from a drone view https://t.co/t0XpcbZbEE pic.twitter.com/pwpOYaMUOH

— Raylan Givens (@JewishWarrior13) June 24, 2025

Earlier on Tuesday, Trump told reporters at the White House, “We basically have two countries that have been fighting so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing.” He also accused both Iran and Israel of violating the “complete and total ceasefire” that was agreed to on Monday.

Israel’s retaliatory strike on the Iranian radar installation appeared to be a major step back from what it was planning. Katz said that he, along with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, initially instructed the Israel Defense Forces to “forcefully” strike back at Iran.

“I have instructed the IDF, in coordination with the Prime Minister, to respond forcefully to the violation of the ceasefire by Iran through intense strikes against regime targets in the heart of Tehran,” Katz said.

Israeli Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir echoed, “In light of the serious ceasefire violation committed by the Iranian regime – we will attack with force.”