NAIROBI, Kenya – The 12-day war may have paused on paper, but on the ground, it’s a different story—and former U.S. President Donald Trump isn’t thrilled.
Just hours after brokering what he called a “total and complete ceasefire” between Israel and Iran, Trump lashed out publicly at Tel Aviv, accusing it of breaking the truce.
“They violated it, but Israel violated it too,” Trump told reporters on his way to the NATO summit.
A few hours later, he took to Truth Social in full caps: “DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO IT IS A MAJOR VIOLATION. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!”
Yes, that’s the same Trump who just two days ago was taking a victory lap for ending what he dubbed the 12-Day War—a conflict that nearly plunged the Middle East into a full-scale meltdown.
Despite a ceasefire agreement reportedly accepted by both sides, the fragile peace appears to be hanging by a thread. Sirens rang out across northern Israel Tuesday morning, and while Iran’s state media insisted they didn’t do it, Israel’s top brass wasn’t buying it.
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz doubled down in response, ordering “intense strikes” against Tehran. He accused Iran of violating the ceasefire—never mind Trump’s calls for calm.
“We will respond forcefully to any violation,” Katz posted on X (formerly Twitter), fueling questions about whether Israel’s war cabinet is on the same page with its biggest backer.
Meanwhile, Trump insists the ceasefire is still active, posting again on Truth Social: “THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT. PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”
The back-and-forth raises a critical question: Was there ever really a ceasefire at all? Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi says not quite. In a vague but telling post, Araghchi stated there’s no formal agreement unless Israel halts aggression by 4 a.m. Tehran time.
“We have no intention to continue our response afterwards,” he added. Translation? Iran might be pausing—but only conditionally.
Let’s rewind. This escalation reached its boiling point when Trump greenlit massive airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities last weekend. Iran retaliated by targeting Al-Udeid Air Base in Qatar—home to U.S. Central Command.
The strike caused no casualties, thanks to what officials are calling early warning from Tehran. That move reportedly helped nudge both sides toward the now-iffy ceasefire, with Qatar playing peacemaker behind the scenes.
Still, the human cost of the short war is staggering. In Israel, at least 28 people have died, with over 1,000 wounded. Iran’s toll is far worse.
According to Human Rights Activists, a U.S.-based group, 974 Iranians have been killed and more than 3,400 injured. That figure includes at least 387 civilians.
The U.S. has since airlifted over 250 American citizens and their families out of Israel, with some 700,000 Americans—mostly dual nationals—still in the country.
And the war drums aren’t the only thing echoing in the region. Trump’s public rebuke of Netanyahu’s government may signal the beginning of a foreign policy shift—or just another classic Trump twist. Either way, the ceasefire remains more of a slogan than a settled reality.
