Israeli government officials were caught off guard by the announcement of a ceasefire with Iran, formally declared by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hours after US President Donald Trump made the initial announcement. The surprise stemmed from the fact that, just hours before the ceasefire was made public, various Israeli sources were still discussing the strategic objectives that could be achieved and the momentum Israel had built in the conflict.
In a statement issued overnight, Netanyahu declared: "Last night, I convened the Diplomatic-Security Cabinet together with the defense minister, the IDF chief of staff and the head of the Mossad to report that Israel achieved all the objectives of Operation Rising Lion – and far beyond them.
"Israel has removed an immediate dual existential threat – both nuclear and ballistic. In addition, the Israel Defense Forces gained full air superiority over Tehran, dealt a severe blow to the top military leadership, and destroyed dozens of key government targets in Iran.
"In the past 24 hours, the IDF struck central government targets in the heart of Tehran, eliminated hundreds of Basij operatives – the enforcement arm of the terror regime – and killed another senior nuclear scientist. Israel thanks President Trump and the United States for their support in our defense and their role in eliminating the Iranian nuclear threat.
"In light of the achievement of the operation's objectives, and in full coordination with President Trump, Israel has accepted the president's proposal for a bilateral ceasefire. Israel will respond forcefully to any violation of the ceasefire. Israeli citizens must continue to follow Home Front Command instructions until the ceasefire's full implementation is confirmed. Our hearts are with the families who lost their loved ones, and we wish the wounded a full recovery.
"Operation Operation Rising Lion brought Israel historic and extraordinary achievements and positioned us alongside the world powers. This is a tremendous success for the people of Israel and for our fighters who removed two existential threats to our state and ensured the eternity of Israel."
The official statement hinted at a ceasefire framework similar to the model applied in Lebanon, underscoring that Israel would react with force to any breach. Reactions from across the Israeli political landscape were expected later in the day, with Netanyahu anticipated to deliver an additional statement.
