UDAIPUR, India (BN24) — Rajasthan police have launched a search operation after a 30-year-old French national accused a 28-year-old man of raping her following a party in Udaipur on Monday evening.
The woman, who arrived in India on April 17 and had been traveling from Delhi, filed a complaint stating she was assaulted by a man she met at a local café party, according to Udaipur Superintendent of Police Yogesh Goyal. The accused has been identified as Pushparaj Ojha, who also goes by the name Siddharth and reportedly worked with an event management firm.
The woman, who had reached Udaipur on June 22 by bus from Delhi, went to The Greek Farm café that night with two friends for dinner and a party. According to her complaint, the accused approached their table during the party, later suggesting they step out for a smoke. He then reportedly persuaded her to accompany him for a drive.
The woman told police that she repeatedly asked the man to drop her back to her hotel, but instead, he drove her to his rented flat in Sukher. Her phone had run out of battery, and when she asked him to help recharge it, she alleged he assaulted and raped her instead. She was dropped back at her hotel around 6 a.m. on Tuesday.
Badgaon police station house officer Pooran Singh confirmed that the French woman was admitted to a private hospital in Udaipur Tuesday morning. “She informed her two friends about the assault, after which they took her to the hospital and also contacted the police,” Singh said. “A case has been registered under Section 64(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.”
Singh added that once she is discharged from the hospital, officers will take a more detailed statement from her. “We have formed a team to track and arrest Pushparaj Ojha. He is currently absconding,” Singh said.
Authorities have informed the French Embassy in Delhi about the incident. The embassy is expected to extend assistance to the survivor while the legal process unfolds.
The incident has reignited concerns about the safety of foreign tourists in India, particularly in destinations like Udaipur that are popular with international travelers. While sporadic crimes against foreigners have been reported in the past, a sexual assault involving a visiting European national has drawn significant attention.
Police have urged anyone with relevant information on the accused’s whereabouts to come forward. Meanwhile, investigations continue and the survivor remains under medical care and police protection.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — Iranian officials signaled Tuesday that the country’s military would cease offensive operations against Israel, appearing to endorse a ceasefire brokered by President Donald Trump to end what he has termed the “12-day war.”
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in a statement that Tehran would halt military activity if Israel also stopped its attacks. The message, issued just hours after Trump’s surprise announcement of a ceasefire agreement, marked the first indication from Iran’s leadership that it would comply — though no formal agreement has yet been released.
President Trump had taken to social media shortly after 1 a.m. Tuesday to declare that both Iran and Israel had agreed to a complete halt in hostilities. “This war could have gone on for years and destroyed the entire Middle East,” Trump wrote. “I congratulate both nations.” He urged both sides not to violate the terms of the truce.
Despite the ceasefire announcement, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched additional strikes overnight on Iranian military targets, including missile launchers in western Tehran. Iran’s state news agency IRNA confirmed that loud explosions were heard in multiple neighborhoods of the capital. The IDF also ordered evacuations in at least two districts of Tehran before the attacks began.
Israeli government officials did not immediately respond to Trump’s ceasefire announcement or to reports of the overnight strikes. “Israel is currently considering its next steps,” said a senior Israeli security official speaking on background. The country’s Homefront Command kept emergency protocols in place Tuesday, urging civilians to remain near bomb shelters and avoid large gatherings. Schools across Israel remained closed as a precaution.
In a separate statement issued Tuesday morning, the Israeli government said it had agreed to Trump’s ceasefire proposal and claimed success in achieving its military goals. “Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their steadfast support and for their role in removing the Iranian nuclear threat,” the statement read. It also warned that any violations of the ceasefire would be met with a swift and forceful response.
While the ceasefire appeared to be holding on the surface, both countries accused each other of aggression in the hours after it was supposed to take effect. Early Tuesday, rocket sirens sounded in parts of northern Israel, but there were no immediate reports of damage or casualties. Meanwhile, Israel’s targeted airstrikes in Tehran signaled that Jerusalem is keeping its military options open despite the diplomatic breakthrough.
The situation remains particularly fragile in the wake of Iran’s ballistic missile attack Monday on al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar, the forward headquarters for U.S. Central Command and home to roughly 10,000 American troops. President Trump downplayed the strike as a “very weak response” to the U.S. bombing of three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. He confirmed that there were no American casualties.
While Trump celebrated the ceasefire as a major diplomatic win, it remains unclear how long the halt in hostilities will last. The White House has not released details of the agreement, and there is no known formal mechanism to enforce the truce. Still, Trump’s intervention has, at least temporarily, paused what had become the most intense military confrontation between Israel and Iran in decades.
With nearly 1,000 reported deaths in Iran and dozens more in Israel, the ceasefire may offer a reprieve to exhausted civilians — though neither government has stepped back from its core strategic aims. Both sides continue to claim victory, and observers warn that the underlying tensions that sparked the war remain unresolved.
For now, though, the region watches with cautious hope — and the world waits to see whether the Trump-brokered peace will hold.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump’s pick to command all U.S. military forces in the Middle East warned lawmakers Tuesday that Iran retains “significant tactical capability” to launch attacks against American personnel, including the use of ballistic missiles like those recently fired at a major U.S. military installation.
Vice Adm. Charles “Brad” Cooper, nominated to lead U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM), testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee just one day after Iran launched a barrage of short- and medium-range ballistic missiles at al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar. The attack, which caused damage but no confirmed fatalities, followed U.S. airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure over the weekend.
Cooper, using a football analogy to describe U.S. force posture, said troops in the region “need to be in a three-point stance every single day” to counter persistent threats from Tehran. His warning reflects mounting concerns that despite years of sanctions and military pressure, Iran’s capacity to strike remains robust and unpredictable.
The warning from Cooper came as the ceasefire between Israel and Iran teetered on the brink of collapse. Despite a surprise announcement from Trump on Monday night declaring a “complete and total ceasefire,” both countries exchanged fire in the hours that followed, accusing each other of violating the deal.
The Iranian missile attack on Israel overnight killed at least four civilians, according to Israeli authorities. In response, the Israeli Defense Forces launched what it called “strategic retaliatory strikes,” dropping more than 100 munitions on targets in Tehran and other major Iranian cities. Witnesses described a night of explosions in the Iranian capital, with videos shared online showing fires raging in multiple districts.
While neither side has released full details of the ceasefire agreement Trump referenced, both Israeli and Iranian officials have cast their military operations as victories — fueling skepticism about the viability of any lasting truce.
As the 12-day war drags on, the human cost continues to rise sharply. Iran’s Health Ministry reported Tuesday that at least 610 people have died since hostilities began. Independent tallies from the Human Rights Activists News Agency, a U.S.-based watchdog group, put the death toll closer to 974, citing extensive civilian casualties in urban areas.
In Israel, the Prime Minister’s Office confirmed 28 fatalities, including those killed in the overnight missile barrage and earlier drone strikes. Thousands have been injured across both countries, with hospitals in Tehran, Tabriz, and Haifa reportedly overwhelmed.
The conflict has thrust Trump’s approach to the Middle East back into the spotlight. The president’s decision to greenlight airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities — targeting sites in Natanz, Isfahan, and Fordow — triggered not only Iran’s retaliatory missile launches but also widespread protests in Tehran and other cities.
Despite the renewed violence, Trump has defended the strikes as a “necessary show of strength,” while downplaying Iran’s missile retaliation as a symbolic move designed to “save face.” The Pentagon has not released a full damage assessment from the al-Udeid strike, though officials said the base remains operational.
As Vice Adm. Cooper prepares to assume command of CENTCOM, the challenges ahead appear daunting. With Iran’s missile threat still very real and the region’s largest war in decades still unfolding, U.S. forces are once again at the center of a volatile geopolitical crisis with no clear resolution in sight.
TEL AVIV (BN24) — In a chilling escalation of the covert war between Israel and Iran, Israeli intelligence agents reportedly made direct contact with a senior Iranian general, warning him to flee the country within 12 hours or face targeted assassination.
The Washington Post, citing a source with access to a recorded call, reported that Persian-speaking operatives from Israel’s security services phoned high-ranking Iranian officials and issued personal threats. The target was reportedly a general with close ties to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps.
During the call, the Israeli agent delivered a blunt ultimatum: leave Iran with your wife and children within 12 hours or risk death.
“You’re on our list right now,” the officer said, according to the Post. “We’re closer to you than your own neck vein. Put this in your head. May God protect you.”
The Iranian general, reportedly caught off guard, responded with a question: “How should I send it to you?” The Israeli operative replied, “I will send you a Telegram ID.” The conversation was recorded, with the voice of the Israeli agent altered to protect his identity, the Post said.
The reported call is part of what appears to be a broader psychological and intelligence operation targeting Iran’s elite military leadership. The campaign seeks to sow fear and pressure Iranian officials to disavow their allegiance to Khamenei’s regime.
One demand made to the general was that he record a video proving he had distanced himself from the Islamic Republic’s leadership.
The Israeli government has not officially commented on the Post’s report. However, it comes amid Israel’s ongoing military campaign against Iran’s nuclear infrastructure and its proxy forces across the region.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has stated that the operation’s aim is to prevent Iran from acquiring nuclear weapons. Yet Israel has not produced new evidence to prove Iran is actively working on a nuclear bomb.
Meanwhile, President Donald Trump recently authorized a wide-ranging U.S. military strike against Iran’s nuclear facilities, marking a rare moment of coordination with Israel on direct action. U.S. B-2 Spirit bombers and submarine-launched Tomahawk cruise missiles reportedly targeted uranium enrichment facilities at Natanz, Isfahan, and the deeply buried Fordow site.
The dramatic phone threat is just the latest in a string of covert and overt operations as the Israel-Iran conflict intensifies. Iranian authorities have not officially acknowledged the call, and Tehran has not responded publicly to the alleged threat made against the general.
The audio recording—if authentic—reveals the high-stakes psychological pressure campaign being waged by Israeli intelligence to fracture Iran’s military and political elite from within.
With the regional conflict entering its third week and a fragile ceasefire hanging in the balance, the United States remains closely involved in both military coordination and diplomatic maneuvering, as President Trump seeks to contain the fallout and maintain pressure on Tehran’s nuclear program.
MORENO VALLEY, Calif. (BN24) — A weekend mass shooting in a Southern California neighborhood left six teenagers hospitalized—most with life-threatening injuries—as authorities continue to search for suspects and a motive behind the violence.
The shooting occurred just before 11 p.m. on Friday, June 21, in the 12000 block of Orchid Lane in Moreno Valley, according to the Riverside County Sheriff’s Office. The suburban community is located approximately 15 miles south of San Bernardino and 60 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
Deputies responding to reports of gunfire found a teenage boy suffering from multiple gunshot wounds near the corner of Hemlock Avenue. Moments later, they discovered four more teenage boys nearby, each wounded by gunfire, the sheriff’s office said in a statement.
All five teens were rushed to local hospitals for treatment of life-threatening injuries.
Shortly after the initial response, a sixth teenager—also wounded in the shooting—arrived independently at a hospital. All victims were male and ranged in age from 14 to 18, officials confirmed.
As of Sunday, June 23, authorities had not made any arrests in connection with the mass shooting. No suspects have been publicly identified, and the sheriff’s office has not released information about a possible motive.
“Deputies checked the area for the suspects responsible for the shooting; however, they were unable to locate them,” the department wrote in its official release.
Officials have also not disclosed whether the shooting occurred inside a home or outside on the street, and no further details about the scene or circumstances have been released.
The Riverside County Sheriff’s Office is urging anyone with information that might aid in the investigation to contact them at 951-486-6700.
The Moreno Valley shooting adds to the growing number of mass shooting incidents in California this year, continuing a troubling trend of youth-targeted gun violence across the United States.
KAMPALA, Uganda (BN24) — Uganda’s ruling party on Tuesday confirmed that President Yoweri Museveni, 80, will once again seek re-election, aiming to extend his nearly 40-year grip on power in the East African nation.
The announcement from the National Resistance Movement (NRM) came via a statement on its official website, stating that Museveni intends “to retain the positions of the NRM chairman and party presidential flag bearer in the 2026 elections.” Tanga Odoi, chair of the NRM’s electoral commission, later confirmed to AFP that Museveni would formally express his interest in continuing as the party’s presidential candidate.
The decision, though long anticipated, adds fresh tension to an already fraught political landscape ahead of the general election scheduled for January 2026. The opposition, which has increasingly been targeted by the state, faces intensifying repression marked by arrests, abductions, and intimidation of key figures and supporters.
Museveni, a former rebel who took power in 1986, was once seen as a reformist committed to restoring Uganda’s stability after years of chaos. But over time, he has steadily dismantled constitutional term and age limits, consolidating power and neutralizing opponents through legal and extralegal means.
Museveni’s renewed bid comes just weeks after his most prominent rival, pop star-turned-politician Bobi Wine, announced his intention to run in the 2026 election. Wine, whose real name is Robert Kyagulanyi, lost to Museveni in the 2021 contest, which was widely criticized by observers for voter suppression, widespread irregularities, and state-led violence.
Since entering politics, Wine has faced multiple arrests and harassment, while top government figures — including Museveni’s son and presumed successor, General Muhoozi Kainerugaba — have publicly threatened him. On social media, Kainerugaba has issued chilling posts, including threats of execution, against the opposition leader.
Another longtime critic of Museveni, Kizza Besigye, was reportedly abducted from Kenya last year and forcibly returned to Uganda. He now faces treason charges that carry the death penalty. Human rights groups and international observers have condemned the case as politically motivated.
Besigye’s wife, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima, condemned his detention as “political persecution,” saying, “He is being criminalised because he has challenged, he has put himself forward as a candidate in elections.”
Museveni’s persistent hold on power and repeated constitutional manipulations have raised fears that Uganda is sliding deeper into authoritarian rule. His son Muhoozi Kainerugaba has taken on an increasingly visible political role, fueling speculation that a dynastic succession is being prepared behind the scenes.
Despite domestic unrest and international criticism, Museveni has long relied on a loyal military and tight control over the media and judiciary to suppress dissent. His administration has often dismissed opposition leaders as foreign-backed agitators or security threats.
Museveni’s sixth official presidential campaign in 2026 is likely to be contested in an environment heavily tilted in his favor, with state institutions aligned against challengers and a security apparatus that has shown little restraint in cracking down on protest and dissent.
As Uganda inches closer to the polls, rights groups, foreign governments, and international observers are watching closely — though many warn that without sweeping reforms, the vote may only further entrench one of Africa’s longest-serving rulers.
LONDON (BN24) — The UK government is set to formally designate Palestine Action as a terrorist organisation, making membership or public support for the group a criminal offence under British law, Home Secretary Yvette Cooper announced on Monday.
The decision comes in the wake of a high-profile breach at RAF Brize Norton last week, where activists broke into the Oxfordshire military installation and caused significant damage to an Airbus Voyager air-to-air refuelling aircraft. A video posted online by the group showed two individuals inside the base, with one riding an electric scooter and allegedly spraying paint into the aircraft’s engine — an act that reportedly caused millions of pounds in damage.
In a statement, Cooper described the incident as “a disgraceful attack on Brize Norton” and cited it as “the latest in a long history of unacceptable criminal damage committed by Palestine Action.” She confirmed that a draft proscription order will be laid before Parliament next week.
If the order is approved, the group will be added to the list of banned terrorist organisations under the Terrorism Act 2000, making it illegal to be a member of or offer support to the group. Certain offences under the legislation carry penalties of up to 14 years in prison, while others are punishable by fines.
In response to the announcement, group member Saeed Taji Farouky criticized the planned ban as “completely irrational” and “without precedent.” Speaking to Sky News, he framed the government’s move as “a knee-jerk reaction” aimed at silencing activists after the security breach at RAF Brize Norton exposed “serious flaws in the defences” of the Royal Air Force.
Farouky and other supporters of Palestine Action have positioned the group as a nonviolent direct action movement targeting companies linked to the Israeli defense industry. However, critics and officials point to the group’s repeated acts of property destruction as evidence of criminal — and now, potentially terrorist — behavior.
Armed Forces Minister Luke Pollard confirmed that a comprehensive review of security procedures at military installations is currently under way in response to the Brize Norton incident. He said the Ministry of Defence is working closely with counterterrorism police to track down the individuals who breached the base.
“This was not just a breach of security — it was a serious act of sabotage against critical military infrastructure,” Pollard said.
Palestine Action has also claimed responsibility for a series of high-profile actions in recent years, including attacks involving red paint splattered on corporate offices and government-linked sites. The group typically targets companies it accuses of supplying weapons or equipment used by Israel in military operations.
The draft proscription order is expected to be introduced in Parliament in the coming days. If passed, it would align Palestine Action with other banned organisations under UK counterterrorism laws. Previous proscription orders have targeted groups accused of promoting extremism or violence, although such orders are rarely applied to domestic activist organisations.
Legal experts note that the move marks a significant escalation in the government’s handling of activist groups engaged in disruptive protest tactics, and could set a precedent for future designations.
If the proscription is approved, individuals found to be members of, or providing material support to, Palestine Action could face arrest and prosecution.
As of Monday evening, the group remained defiant, continuing to post online in defiance of the government’s plans.
SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. (BN24) — Authorities recovered the final body Monday from a boating tragedy that unfolded over the weekend on Lake Tahoe, raising the death toll to eight in one of the deadliest accidents on the lake in recent memory.
According to the U.S. Coast Guard, a 27-foot Chris-Craft vessel carrying 10 people capsized Saturday afternoon near D.L. Bliss State Park on the lake’s southwest edge when a powerful and fast-moving thunderstorm triggered dangerous conditions, including eight-foot waves and winds exceeding 35 mph. The final victim was located Monday afternoon by dive teams searching the lake’s depths.
El Dorado County Sheriff’s officials confirmed that two people were rescued from the water immediately following the accident and hospitalized. Six bodies were recovered on Saturday, and a seventh was found Sunday evening. The identities of the victims have not yet been released, pending notification of their families, Sgt. Kyle Parker said in a statement.
While drowning incidents occur annually on Lake Tahoe — a high-altitude alpine lake straddling the California-Nevada border — large-scale boating disasters like Saturday’s are rare. According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, the lake sees an average of six deaths each summer, with a record of 15 in 2021. Officials could not immediately provide updated figures for 2023 or 2024.
Meteorologist Matthew Chyba of the National Weather Service in Reno, Nevada, said the storm that engulfed the southern part of Lake Tahoe shortly after 3 p.m. on Saturday came on stronger than expected. Although some rain had been forecast, the intensity of the thunderstorm — with wind gusts over 35 mph and wave swells surpassing eight feet — exceeded predictions.
“We weren’t expecting it to be so strong,” Chyba said, noting that the cold, unstable air mass contributed to the severity of the storm. “Eight-foot waves on Tahoe is pretty significant. They were really rocking the lake.”
Brittany Glick, who was celebrating a friend’s bachelorette party on a rented pontoon boat Saturday, said the weather shifted dramatically within minutes. What began as a sunny day quickly turned into a nightmare as visibility dropped, temperatures plummeted, and waves intensified.
“It felt like we were in a tsunami that was starting,” Glick told reporters. “We were shaking uncontrollably. Our feet were numb. That was probably one of the scariest moments I’ve had in my 30 years.”
As Glick’s group returned to the dock, hail began to fall and boats nearby began colliding in the chaos. Video captured by KCRA-TV showed vessels slamming into one another at a nearby marina.
Authorities have not yet released information on whether the vessel involved in the fatal accident was privately owned or rented, nor have they shared details about the occupants.
Lake Tahoe, with its stunning scenery and deep, cold waters, is a top summer destination for recreational boaters, kayakers, and paddleboarders. But the lake’s high elevation and unpredictable weather can pose serious dangers, particularly during sudden storms.
Saturday’s storm cleared within about two hours, but the aftermath has left a community shaken — and a stark reminder of the risks that come with navigating one of America’s most beautiful, yet unforgiving, lakes.
WASHINGTON (BN24) — President Donald Trump travels to The Hague this week for a high-stakes NATO summit, just hours after unveiling a sudden and dramatic ceasefire agreement between Israel and Iran — a move that has already upended the summit’s agenda and spotlighted the unpredictable nature of U.S. foreign policy under his leadership.
The president’s first appearance at NATO since returning to office was expected to center on his administration’s push to pressure allies into committing to a historic increase in defense spending. Instead, the headlines have been dominated by Trump’s authorization of U.S. airstrikes on three Iranian nuclear enrichment sites and his subsequent declaration that Israel and Iran had reached a “complete and total ceasefire.”
The ceasefire announcement, which caught both allies and adversaries by surprise, is certain to dominate closed-door meetings in The Hague, where NATO leaders are gathering to discuss rising security threats and the alliance’s long-term cohesion.
The Israeli-Iranian truce, brokered just days after U.S. strikes targeted Iranian nuclear infrastructure, is expected to cast a long shadow over the summit. Although NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte had hoped to keep the focus on increased military budgets, the conflict’s sudden de-escalation has shifted priorities.
Hundreds of protesters had already gathered in The Hague over the weekend to denounce both the Iran strikes and Trump’s aggressive posture, reflecting wider European concerns that the U.S. president could destabilize the fragile security balance.
Rutte, now serving in the alliance’s top role, has sidestepped questions on whether Trump consulted NATO partners before launching the strikes.
Trump has made clear that he intends to use the summit to tout a breakthrough defense spending pledge: a proposed requirement for NATO nations to allocate 5% of their GDP to defense-related spending by 2035. The proposed split — 3.5% for military hardware and operations, and 1.5% for dual-use infrastructure like roads and bridges — is ambitious and already generating resistance among some member states, particularly Spain.
While the U.S. already spends about 3.4% of GDP on defense, Trump has argued that Washington should be exempt from the 5% target altogether.
Still, many European leaders are bracing for Trump’s signature bombast. In previous summits, he has questioned NATO’s relevance, criticized allies for underinvesting, and even threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the alliance. His 2018 suggestion that members aim for 4% spending was once viewed as radical. Now, some believe his demands are reshaping the NATO consensus.
“There’s a genuine fear in Europe that unless they meet Trump’s expectations, the United States might walk away,” said Matthew Kroenig of the Atlantic Council. “Whether they like it or not, his tougher approach has yielded results.”
Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, the ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and a summit attendee, warned that Trump’s behavior could hand strategic victories to adversaries like China.
“If the president uses this moment to divide our allies or undermine NATO unity, it plays right into the hands of Xi Jinping and Vladimir Putin,” Shaheen said.
Those fears are amplified by signals that the Trump administration may reduce U.S. troop levels in Europe to bolster forces in the Indo-Pacific, a move interpreted by some as a strategic pivot away from the transatlantic alliance.
Secretary of State Marco Rubio and U.S. Ambassador to NATO Matt Whitaker have both insisted the administration remains committed to NATO, arguing that calls for more defense investment are meant to strengthen, not fracture, the alliance.
Trump’s past rhetoric continues to haunt NATO capitals. As a candidate in 2016, he openly questioned whether the U.S. would honor NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause. During his 2024 campaign, he recounted telling an unnamed leader that if their country failed to meet defense targets, he would “encourage Russia to do whatever the hell they want.”
Those remarks alarmed U.S. allies, many of whom now view Trump’s return to the NATO stage with a mix of caution and resignation.
“The alliance has learned to expect the unexpected with Trump,” said Max Bergmann, director of the Europe, Russia and Eurasia Program at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. “There’s no coherent strategy — just moment-to-moment instinct and pressure.”
Although NATO does not handle trade issues, Trump’s concurrent threats to slap 50% tariffs on European goods loom large in the background. He has set a July 9 deadline for the U.S. and European Union to finalize a new trade agreement, but has warned that the EU’s offers have so far been insufficient.
Rutte has insisted that the transatlantic tariff standoff will not interfere with the alliance’s military agenda, though few believe it will remain entirely separate from summit conversations.
It remains unclear whether Trump will meet with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who is also attending the summit. A planned meeting between the two leaders at the recent G7 summit in Alberta was scrapped when Trump abruptly left early to return to Washington.
For now, the NATO summit — originally framed as a turning point in transatlantic burden-sharing — has become a broader referendum on Trump’s foreign policy, on his ability to unite allies, and on the future direction of an alliance still grappling with war on its eastern border and discord within its ranks.
JERUSALEM (BN24) — Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant on Monday ordered the military to launch a series of intense airstrikes on Tehran, accusing Iran of violating a newly implemented ceasefire agreement with missile attacks targeting Israeli territory. The move threatens to unravel the fragile truce reached just hours earlier and reignite full-scale hostilities between the two regional adversaries.
“The Iranian regime has flagrantly violated the ceasefire,” Gallant said in a statement. “I have instructed the IDF to respond with powerful strikes targeting strategic regime infrastructure in central Tehran.”
His order came after the Israel Defense Forces confirmed detecting missile launches from Iranian territory, prompting air raid sirens and warnings for Israeli civilians to take cover. Israeli air defense systems were activated to intercept the incoming threats, though the full scale of the assault and its impact remained unclear.
Chief of General Staff Lt. Gen. Herzi Halevi backed the retaliatory strikes, saying in a post shared by the IDF that Israel “will respond with force” to what it calls Iran’s “severe violation” of the ceasefire terms.
“The ceasefire was an opportunity to de-escalate, not a license for renewed aggression,” Halevi said. “Tehran will feel the consequences.”
Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich echoed those sentiments, posting on social media: “Tehran will shake.”
Despite the Israeli accusations and incoming strikes, Iran’s state media has denied launching missiles toward Israel, stating that reports of such an attack were “false.” General Abdolrahim Mousavi, Iran’s top military commander, reiterated that no missiles had been fired in recent hours, according to state-run IRNA.
Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi previously said Tehran was abiding by the ceasefire on the condition that Israel also halted its strikes. Araghchi noted that if Israel ceased operations by 4 a.m. local time, Iran would reciprocate.
However, Iranian civilians reported intense overnight bombardments, particularly in Tehran and the northern province of Gilan. Residents described hearing a wave of “heaviest explosions” since the beginning of the conflict. As of early morning, the situation appeared to have calmed.
Iran’s Ministry of Health reported approximately 500 fatalities since the outbreak of hostilities, though it remains unclear how many were civilians. The Iranian regime has labeled all victims as “martyrs,” whether they were combatants or not, making a precise civilian death toll difficult to determine.
Despite the renewed escalation, Iran has not confirmed any military retaliation since the ceasefire took effect, casting further doubt over whether it violated the truce or was targeted preemptively by Israel based on intelligence assessments.
The apparent collapse of the ceasefire marks a dramatic reversal just hours after U.S. President Donald Trump announced that Israel and Iran had agreed to a phased 24-hour ceasefire, aiming to officially end a 12-day war triggered by a series of airstrikes on Iranian nuclear facilities.
With both sides now exchanging accusations and fire, the future of diplomatic efforts remains in question. International observers are closely watching for further statements from Tehran and Jerusalem as the region braces for what could become an even more destructive phase of the conflict.
