TEL AVIV, Israel – Just hours before a widely announced ceasefire between Israel and Iran was set to take effect, Iran launched a final volley of missiles at Israeli targets early Tuesday, resulting in at least four fatalities in southern Israel and casting doubt over the stability of the truce.
The Israeli military confirmed that missiles were fired shortly after 4 a.m. local time, with sirens sending residents in Tel Aviv and Beersheba scrambling for shelter.
Iranian state media SNN said the strike was Tehran’s “last round” of retaliatory fire before adhering to the ceasefire timeline.
The attack followed an earlier declaration by Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stated that Iran would halt its offensive if Israel stopped its aerial bombardments — a condition that appears to have been met later in the morning.
Fatalities Reported in Beersheba
According to Israeli emergency services, a building in Beersheba was struck, killing four people and injuring others.
The deaths mark the first confirmed Israeli casualties since U.S. President Donald Trump declared that a “complete and total ceasefire” between the two nations was agreed upon and in motion.
Eyewitnesses in central Israel also reported hearing explosions near Tel Aviv, although no casualties were immediately confirmed there.
Conflicting Timelines and Ceasefire Confusion
President Trump had announced Tuesday morning that the ceasefire was “now in effect”, stating on Truth Social:
“The ceasefire is now in effect. Please do not violate it!”
But the Iranian missile barrage appeared to come after Trump’s post, suggesting a breakdown in communication or differing interpretations of the truce’s effective timing.
Tehran had insisted its attacks would end only once Israeli airstrikes stopped.
Israel Confirms Ceasefire, Warns of Consequences
Later in the day, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office confirmed that Israel had suspended its operations against Iran “after the operation’s goals have been reached,” and in “full coordination with U.S. President Trump.”
“The two existential threats — Iran’s nuclear programme and its ballistic missiles — were removed,” the statement said, adding that Israel would respond “fiercely” to any violation of the ceasefire.
The Prime Minister’s office did not directly address the early-morning missile attack or whether Israel considers it a breach of the truce.
A Ceasefire Under Strain
The 12-day conflict has pushed the region to the brink of a broader war, with U.S. military involvement, strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities, retaliatory attacks on American bases in Qatar and Iraq, and rising civilian tolls on both sides.
While the ceasefire announcement was welcomed cautiously by international observers, Tuesday’s missile strike underscores the fragility of the deal and the deep mistrust that continues to define the Iran-Israel dynamic.
Whether the ceasefire holds in the coming hours may depend on both sides exercising restraint amid provocation and grief.
With casualties now reported after the truce was publicly declared, calls for accountability and clarity on timelines are mounting.
Diplomats are expected to convene within days to discuss the next steps in stabilizing the region, possibly under the auspices of the UN or an international coalition.
