In a classified briefing made available to the media, Mr. Netanyahu declared that Israel had “removed two immediate existential threats” to its national security, describing the campaign’s opening manoeuvres as “a blow that will be inscribed in the annals of history”. The Prime Minister stated that Israeli forces, in coordinated action, had not only neutralised key nuclear infrastructure but had also decapitated Iran’s senior military and scientific leadership.

According to Mr. Netanyahu, the operation entailed the elimination of Iran’s top brass—including three chiefs of staff and additional senior figures—as well as leading nuclear scientists allegedly responsible for the country’s atomic weapons programme. He asserted that “in one swift action we eliminated Iran’s senior command… and the senior nuclear scientists who led the nuclear programme and sought to bring destruction and death upon us”.

Targets included some of the most fortified and symbolically significant facilities in Iran’s nuclear apparatus: the uranium enrichment centre at Natanz, the conversion plant at Isfahan, and the heavy water reactor at Arak. Under U.S. directive, Netanyahu claimed, American forces destroyed the subterranean Fordow facility, while Israeli assets concurrently struck “dozens of facilities, including laboratories and centrifuge production sites”. Israel, he said, also obliterated what he described as “the entire archive” of Iran’s nuclear knowledge—allegedly the sum total of its research and technological expertise necessary for atomic weaponisation.

In a sweeping assertion of strategic achievement, Mr. Netanyahu claimed that the operation had also neutralised Iran’s ballistic missile threat. “Iran’s intention to threaten Israel with thousands of ballistic missiles has been removed”, he said. He outlined strikes on Revolutionary Guard installations, Basij paramilitary compounds, command-and-control hubs, and what he called “symbols of the regime”. The most severe blow, according to the Prime Minister, was delivered in the final hours prior to the ceasefire: a coordinated assault which he claimed resulted in “hundreds of regime operatives” being killed in what he described as “the most devastating attack Tehran has witnessed in fifty years”.

Despite clear diplomatic strain, Mr. Netanyahu expressed public gratitude to President Trump for what he characterised as the unprecedented level of U.S. military cooperation. “On behalf of the State of Israel, I thank my friend President Trump and the United States for their role in defending Israel and in removing the Iranian nuclear threat”, Netanyahu said. “The participation of the United States—not merely in a defensive posture but as an operational partner—is without historical precedent. Israel has never had a greater friend in the White House”.

Yet that friendship was sorely tested behind closed doors—and, increasingly, in public. While the ceasefire officially came into effect at 7:00 a.m., President Trump expressed pointed dissatisfaction with Israel’s conduct scarcely two and a half hours later. Speaking before departing for the NATO summit in The Hague, he remarked, “I’m not satisfied with both sides, and especially not with Israel. Both countries violated the ceasefire. I didn’t like that Israel discharged ammunition after declaring it”.

Tensions escalated further when the President took to his social media platform, issuing a blunt warning: “Don’t drop the bombs. If you do this, it’s a serious violation. Bring your pilots home now”. He continued, “Israel needs to calm down. I have to make it happen. I’ll see if I can make this happen”.

Sources in both Washington and Jerusalem confirmed that President Trump had personally intervened to halt a planned Israeli airstrike on Tehran, demanding its immediate cancellation. In a reportedly tense telephone exchange, Netanyahu ultimately acceded to the President’s demand, agreeing to limit Israel’s retaliation to a symbolic strike on an Iranian radar installation. Israeli aircraft, already en route, were ordered to return to base after being designated “friendly” by U.S. command.

The Israeli Cabinet formally endorsed the ceasefire more than two hours after its implementation, releasing a statement declaring that “Israel has removed a double immediate existential threat: both in the nuclear domain and in the ballistic missile domain”. The Iranian missile salvos that preceded the truce—intercepted successfully by Israeli defence systems—prompted calls within the Israeli defence establishment for retaliatory action. Yet President Trump, refusing to assign culpability to Tehran, publicly chastised Israel for its response, however limited in effect.

Despite the declared military success, Mr. Netanyahu stressed that the threat to Israel’s security had not been wholly extinguished. Citing the continued presence and activity of Hamas in Gaza, he reaffirmed Israel’s commitment to securing the release of hostages held by the militant organisation. “We must defeat Hamas and free all the hostages”, the Prime Minister stated. “To the families of the hostages, I say this: we have not ceased for a single moment—even during the height of the war—in our efforts to bring your loved ones home. We shall not relent in this sacred mission”.

Framing Lion’s Den as a paradigm-shifting military operation, Mr. Netanyahu described it as a “historic victory” that would shape military doctrine globally. “The opening blow,” he declared, “will be studied in the world’s military academies for generations to come”. He issued a stark warning to Tehran and its allies: any attempt to reconstruct Iran’s nuclear capacity would be met “with the same determination and power to cut down any such effort at its inception”.

The episode has laid bare the fragility of even the closest alliances. While Netanyahu’s language towards President Trump remained laudatory, the American President’s evident displeasure underscores a new phase of complexity in the U.S.–Israel strategic relationship. Whether this divergence marks a temporary strain or a more enduring recalibration remains to be seen, but it is clear that the geopolitical reverberations of Lion’s Den will not end with the last bomb dropped.

Photo: Office of the Prime Minister – Israel

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In a dramatic tweet published at night, Trump wrote: “I am happy to congratulate the courage and wisdom to end the ’12-day war'”. According to him, a graduated framework was achieved whereby, if everything “goes well”, an official declaration ending the war with Iran is expected to be received on Wednesday around 7:00 AM. Trump added: “This will last forever. A wonderful day for the world”.

Following the announcement, it emerged that behind the scenes a complex diplomatic process had been conducted through Qatar’s mediation. An official Reuters source revealed that Trump spoke with the Emir of Qatar and told him that Israel had agreed to the proposal, while Qatari Prime Minister Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani in turn secured Iran’s agreement. White House sources confirmed that Prime Minister Netanyahu approved the proposal in a conversation with Trump, with the central condition being the cessation of attacks by Iran.

The official Iranian response came in the early morning hours from Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who explicitly denied the existence of a formal agreement. “As of now, there is no agreement, ceasefire, or halt to military operations”, Araghchi wrote on social media. However, in the continuation of his statement he left a significant opening: “If the Israeli regime stops its aggression against the Iranian people no later than 4:00 Tehran time, we have no intention to continue our response”. Araghchi added that “the final decision on stopping our operations will be made later”. It should be noted that the tweet was published after 4:00 in Iran, raising questions about the practical meaning of the ultimatum.

In support of the president’s announcement, a senior Iranian official confirmed in a conversation with foreign media that Tehran had indeed agreed to the proposal, though he did not detail its exact conditions. The apparent contradiction between the minister’s and the official’s statements indicates internal disagreements in Iran’s decision-making mechanism.

Parallel to the diplomatic announcements, the military reality continues to be turbulent. The Israeli Air Force conducted “heavy strikes” at noon on dozens of targets across Iran, with more than 50 fighter jets participating in the operation. The main focus was the extensive attack on Tehran, which included hitting Revolutionary Guard headquarters and strategic infrastructure. Among the prominent targets was also the entrance to the notorious “Evin” prison, where Iranian regime opponents are held.

An IDF spokesperson detailed that the wave of attacks targeted missile production sites, radars, and missile storage infrastructure in the Tehran area. The strikes are being carried out against the backdrop of Israeli preparations for possible barrages, with security forces at maximum alert level.

In Jerusalem, the narrow security cabinet convened in a bunker for an emergency discussion. Prime Minister Netanyahu instructed ministers not to comment on the matter until discussions were completed. Sources in the Prime Minister’s Office refrained from any official reference to Trump’s announcement, emphasizing that Israel would continue to act according to its security considerations.

In Washington, the American Vice President defined the “12-day war” as “an important reset for the entire region”, emphasizing the strategic importance of the ceasefire agreement. U.S. Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee welcomed the announcement in an emotional post, writing: “It’s 3:00 AM in Israel, and I woke up to a phone call instead of a ballistic missile. President Trump announced wonderful news to the world about a ceasefire that will soon take effect – these 12 days felt like 12 years. The President didn’t just ‘pray for the peace of Jerusalem,’ he delivered it”.

Despite the diplomatic announcements, the civilian reality in Israel remained unchanged. The Home Front Command clarified that there was no change in guidelines for the public, and that people should continue to follow instructions given through official channels. Following the attacks, the IDF decided to tighten defense policy and move all areas of the country from partial and limited activity level to essential activity level at least until evening. The prohibition includes educational activities, gatherings, and conducting activities in workplaces, except for vital economy.

The tension between diplomatic announcements and military reality continues to cast a shadow over the implementation of the ceasefire. While Trump promises “a wonderful day for the world”, Israeli attacks continue and Iran maintains deliberate ambiguity regarding its future response. The coming hours are expected to determine whether an agreement is indeed crystallizing that will bring an end to tensions, or whether this is a temporary respite in what could become a longer war.

Photo: AP

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In his statement on X, Musk thanked President Trump for selecting him for the position while emphasizing that the Department of Government Efficiency “is only expected to strengthen over time”. He described efficiency as a “way of life in government”, though the seemingly diplomatic language has done little to mask the sudden nature of his exit from the administration.

The departure raises significant questions about the circumstances surrounding Musk’s decision. According to a Reuters report, the Tesla and SpaceX CEO did not meet with President Trump personally before announcing his resignation, a detail that has intensified speculation about the real reasons behind the separation. The lack of direct communication between Musk and the president before such a major announcement suggests potential tensions within the administration.

Musk’s appointment to lead the Department of Government Efficiency had been viewed as a revolutionary move by the Trump administration, representing an ambitious attempt to bring Silicon Valley innovation and business acumen to federal government operations. The world’s most prominent technology entrepreneur, who has transformed industries from electric vehicles to space exploration, was expected to spearhead sweeping reforms designed to streamline bureaucratic processes and reduce government waste.

The timing of Musk’s departure proves particularly challenging for the Trump administration, which is currently navigating multiple political and economic pressures. The Department of Government Efficiency, conceived as a cornerstone of the administration’s reform agenda, now finds itself without permanent leadership at a critical juncture.

Musk’s decision to announce his resignation through X, the platform he acquired in 2022 for $44 billion and rebranded from Twitter, continues his pattern of using social media for major communications. However, the unilateral nature of this announcement, made without prior coordination with the White House or a face-to-face meeting with the president, appears to represent a significant breach of traditional protocol.

The manner of Musk’s departure has been interpreted by political observers as a public humiliation of President Trump. By choosing to announce his resignation through social media without advance notice or coordination, Musk has effectively blindsided the administration and created an uncomfortable public spectacle.

This development represents a significant test for the stability of the Trump administration and may influence investor confidence in government technology and innovation initiatives. The departure of such a high-profile figure raises questions about the administration’s ability to retain top talent and maintain coherent policy direction.

The immediate focus now turns to identifying Musk’s replacement and determining the future trajectory of the Department of Government Efficiency. The administration faces the challenge of maintaining momentum on its reform agenda while addressing the public relations fallout from this unexpected resignation.

Musk’s brief but turbulent political career has concluded as dramatically as it began, leaving the Trump administration to manage the consequences of losing one of its most prominent and influential appointees.

Photo: AP

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