President Donald Trump publicly criticized both Israel and Iran, accusing them of breaching a recent ceasefire agreement. "We're basically looking at two countries that have been fighting for so long and so violently that they don't know what the hell they're doing anymore," Trump told reporters at the White House on 24/6.
While asserting his disbelief that the ceasefire had completely collapsed, Trump expressed strong disapproval of Israel's actions. He claimed Israel quickly violated the agreement. "Israel, the second we made the deal, they went out and dropped a tremendous amount of bombs, the likes of which I’ve never seen before. The biggest amount we’ve ever seen," Trump stated before departing Washington for a NATO summit in the Netherlands.
"I’m not happy with Israel. When I said 'you have 12 hours now,' that doesn't mean in the first hour you go out and drop every bomb you have. So I'm not happy with them. I'm not happy with Iran either," he added.
 |
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on 24/6. Photo: AP |
US President Donald Trump speaks to reporters at the White House on 24/6. Photo: AP
The president's anger continued on social media platform Truth Social. "ISRAEL, DO NOT DROP THOSE BOMBS. IF YOU DO, IT WILL BE A SERIOUS BREACH. BRING YOUR PILOTS HOME, NOW!" he wrote in all caps.
In a subsequent post, Trump urged, "ALL PLANES SHOULD TURN AROUND AND WAVE FRIENDLY TO IRAN. NOBODY WILL GET HURT, CEASEFIRE STILL IN EFFECT!"
Shortly after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed the ceasefire agreement with Iran, brokered by Trump, on 24/6, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) reported detecting at least two more ballistic missiles fired by Iran towards northern Israel. The IDF stated all missiles were intercepted and that citizens could leave their shelters.
Israeli Defense Minister Katz ordered the IDF to "respond forcefully to Iran's violation of the ceasefire". He declared Israel would launch a fierce attack "directly targeting central government targets in Tehran".
However, Iranian state television IRIB and the ISNA news agency, citing government sources, denied reports of further missile launches towards Israel.
