"Israel, don't drop those bombs," Trump declared. "If you do it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!" The president had earlier told White House reporters that "Israel and Iran have been fighting for so long they don't know what the f*** they're doing."

Sources familiar with the situation revealed that Trump received updates throughout the night, confirming Iran had breached the ceasefire first. "Despite his harsh public criticism of Israel, the Israeli Air Force response will still proceed, with Trump containing and possibly supporting it."

However, the sources emphasized that "given the president's stance, the response will be significantly reduced from the original plans. Several Israeli Air Force aircraft already proceeding toward their targets received orders to return to Israel." Ultimately, Israel confined its action to striking one radar installation.

Trump announced on his Truth Social platform that "Israel will not attack Iran. All planes will turn around and head home, while doing a friendly 'Plane Wave' to Iran, the ceasefire is in effect!"

Nevertheless, Axios reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, during his conversation with the American president, insisted that the aircraft could not be completely recalled and that Israel required some response to Iran's ceasefire violation.

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"Rising Lion is a blueprint for future joint campaigns and suggests key investments the U.S. military will need to make to adapt to the changing character of war," Benjamin Jensen from the Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) observed. Addressing Iran's initial bombardment, Jensen emphasized that "the attack illustrates how combinations of conventional long-range strikes and unconventional operations have a unique role in modern war," he commented regarding Mossad activities on Iranian territory.

According to Jensen, drone formations and advanced intelligence systems broaden battlefield dimensions while strengthening connections between strategic, operational, and tactical levels. "It creates a new form of campaigning in which a series of audacious raids, defined by relative superiority, create operational-level effects, which in this case shocked Iran sufficiently to conduct strikes in depth across the country targeting leadership, nuclear facilities, air defense, and ballistic missiles.

"Deep integration of special operations forces, autonomous drones, and AI-enabled intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance is now the baseline for theater entry because these "ungentlemanly robots" overwhelm air defenses and disrupt command loops faster than any single strike package."

Combining clandestine positioning with extended-range firepower undermines strategic deterrence, severely compresses adversary decision-making processes, and shrinks crisis management opportunities from hours or days to minutes, effectively immobilizing opponents. "Israel's strike—dubbed Operation Rising Lion—shattered the Iranian regime's confidence in its own security apparatus," Zineb Riboua from the Hudson Institute wrote on June 13. She observed that "the Islamic Republic of Iran experienced a strategic collapse that altered the balance of power in the Middle East.

"Israel's operational concept combined a decapitation strike with cognitive disruption. The psychological warfare element—that the strike had come from Iranian soil—amplified the attack's kinetic effects, leaving Tehran paralyzed." This analyst also considers this represents more than an isolated operation, but rather a transformation in national conflict approaches. "Operation Rising Lion provides a concrete demonstration of what effective counterproliferation requires. The operation serves as a reminder that diplomacy needs to be backed by credible power, intelligence superiority, and close coordination with trusted partners.

"Israel functions as a regional nonproliferation anchor... Negotiation leverage is built on the battlefield, not at the table. Diplomatic strength is a function of prior operational advantage," she elaborated. "Operation Rising Lion demonstrated how modern warfare is shaped by perception, disruption, and initiative. Israel dismantled core elements of Iran's command structure, eliminated key personnel tied to nuclear development, and exposed the gaps in Iran's internal defenses. More critically, it disrupted the strategic logic that underpins Iran's regional posture.

"Tehran had assumed that escalation could be delayed, that its territorial depth provided insulation, and that Israel would remain constrained by political and diplomatic pressures. On June 13 those assumptions collapsed."

Graham Scarbro, a US Navy officer, conducted his own operational assessment, stating that "the opening strikes by the Israel Defense Forces on targets in Iran under "Operation Rising Lion" will be studied for years to come." He contends Israel overcame geographic challenges by securing Syrian border control and southern territorial access. "Syrian and Iraqi airspace are therefore both open and accessible to Israel, and they form the most likely axis of attack into Iran."

His detailed examination dissected Israeli operations through comprehensive technical analysis. Particularly, he highlighted that executing precision targeting against senior Iranian military commanders and Revolutionary Guard leadership demanded exceptional courage and expertise. "requiring these small, single-engine fighters to get close to their targets and maintain sensor contact until weapons impact.  This concept of operations requires a high level of proficiency by strike crews but also maximizes flexibility and precision."

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Sounds of jubilant cheering mixed with pro-Palestinian anthems filled a London restaurant as patrons celebrated Iranian missile strikes against Israel, according to disturbing video footage that has emerged. The clips, filmed at an establishment packed with anti-Israel supporters, show people rejoicing while watching television coverage of Iran's attacks on Israeli targets.

In one video, a woman enthusiastically shouts "Israel's on fire" while pointing to Arabic news broadcasts allegedly showing missile impacts across Israeli cities. The restaurant's sound system immediately begins playing Palestinian nationalist songs, including an anthem containing the phrase "my blood is Palestinian," as celebrants dance amid images of destruction in Israel. Anti-Israel activist Anika Zahir filmed the scenes.

Last night, the recently arrested ANIKA ZAHIR, exposed by @thetimes as the ringleader of a vile gang of London anti semites, was invited by HALEEM KHERALLAH to Shakeshuka's 'watch party' to celebrate Tel Aviv being bombed. Just listen to Anika sing! @MetCC @GBNEWS @DailyMail pic.twitter.com/PJJ4soKrG1

— The Kosher Kid (@gokosherkid) June 16, 2025

The establishment, called "Shakshuka," operates in central London under Palestinian owner Haleem Kheralla, who maintains a well-known pro-Palestinian stance. Palestinian flags and anti-Israel imagery decorate the interior, including maps that omit Israel entirely. Additional footage shows Zahir declaring "yalla bye bye Israel" while describing her attendance at a "viewing party," repeatedly filming split-screen news coverage of alleged missile strikes. "Look at this, how beautiful," she remarks while broadcasting images of air defense intercepts and impacts in Israeli cities, as other patrons express similar joy.

 "The restaurant owner operates as a Palestinian activist, making it shocking that such an establishment exists in central London," Dr. Amira Halperin, a European terrorism researcher who has spent years documenting extremist activities, stated. Dr. Halperin authored a book examining Palestinians in Britain through interviews with Gaza residents living in the country.

Here's Anika and her nasty gang having another free dinner at Shakeshuka before the 'watch party' dancing and celebration of innocent civilians bombed in Tel Aviv got into full swing! #antisemiteseatforfreeatShakeshuka pic.twitter.com/EFO9il4UYP

— The Kosher Kid (@gokosherkid) June 16, 2025

Dr. Halperin recently attended a conference at Westminster University, after which the academic staff organized a meeting at the same restaurant. She describes encountering a profoundly hostile environment upon entering. "Walking into the restaurant just one day after the terrorist attack against two Israeli diplomats in Washington felt like entering a Hamas command center. Since October 7, I have dedicated all my efforts to challenging Britain's permissive approach toward extremism, which motivated me to remain and document these observations.

"Gaza photographs and anti-Israel messaging covered the walls. Tables displayed Palestinian flag colors alongside 'save Gaza' slogans. One image promoted an 'Apartheid Free Zone' campaign connected to the BDS movement. The owner actively participates in Cage International alongside attorney Fahad Ansari, who represents Hamas in legal proceedings seeking to remove the organization from Britain's terrorist list. Moussa Abu Marzouk, a senior Hamas official, directs the case and advises the legal team."

Dr. Halperin, who belongs to the "Dvorah" forum, observes that security concerns for Israelis and Jews throughout London and Britain continue escalating. "Sadly, encountering Hamas supporters across London and Britain has become commonplace. Following the Iranian confrontation, Israelis face not only existential threats from pro-Palestinian elements but also growing dangers linked to Iran and the substantial British support for the Islamic Republic's extremist regime, including public demonstrations backing that radical government."

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Israeli carriers are positioning themselves to increase flight capacity while awaiting updated directives from authorities. While Home Front Command guidelines remain unchanged for now, aviation officials indicate that maintaining the ceasefire will trigger rapid expansion of flight operations in the coming days.

Ben Gurion International Airport officials are preparing to resume full operational capacity today, with 20 evacuation flights scheduled from Larnaca to Israel on Tuesday.

Airlines from the Emirates will lead the return

Nir Mazor, deputy CEO of aviation relations, explained, "Several foreign airlines have already signaled their intention to resume immediate operations, including Romanian carriers such as Flyyo, along with Greek and Cypriot companies, enabling swift capacity increases. Given that we're entering peak tourism season, other carriers' return will likely be phased. Airlines from the Emirates will probably be the first to resume operations, with European and American carriers following.

"Considering the timing – just before July begins – we anticipate vacation schedules will shift toward September and holiday periods, particularly for travelers who missed recent vacation opportunities. Limited regular service to long-haul destinations may intensify demand for closer destinations within three hours' flight time from Israel, with Greece and Mediterranean islands expected to benefit most."

Monday saw dozens of Israelis finally returning home after 11 days of anxious waiting, uncertainty, and poor accommodations, boarding an evacuation flight from Budapest. Some had been on recreational trips that became complicated, others on vacations that transformed into ordeals, but all shared profound relief at touching Israeli ground again.

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Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich condemned the Iranian attack, declaring, "If there is indeed additional firing – Iran will tremble like yesterday."

Video: Israeli air defenses intercept a ballistic missile launched from Iran. Credit: Usage under Israel's Intellectual Property Law Article 27(a)

Defense Minister Israel Katz announced he had directed the IDF to mount a powerful response, explaining, "In coordination with the prime minister, I have ordered continued intensive strikes against regime targets and terrorist infrastructure in the heart of Tehran – responding to this ceasefire violation."

Former defense minister and Yisrael Beiteinu party chairman MK Avigdor Liberman criticized the Iranian aggression, stating, "Three and a half hours after the US president announced a ceasefire, Iran fires at northern Israel. We cannot tolerate this, we cannot ignore this, we must respond immediately."

The "The Israeli Reservists - Generation of Victory" movement, representing thousands of IDF reserve officers, addressed the renewed Iranian aggression, declaring, "Despite the ceasefire, Iranian launches were detected. Now is the time to attack with maximum force and complete the mission – eliminating the murderers, destroying the nuclear program immediately, and toppling the ayatollahs' regime. We began with strength – and must conclude with greater strength. Israel cannot afford to repeat the October 6, 2023, mistakes."

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Trump's comments marked a complete reversal from Monday's position, when the president posted on his social media platform, "t's not politically correct to use the term, 'Regime Change,' but if the current Iranian Regime is unable to MAKE IRAN GREAT AGAIN, why wouldn't there be a Regime change??? MIGA!!!"

On Tuesday, Trump adopted the opposite stance. Trump informed journalists that with the ceasefire now in place, China can return to purchasing Iranian crude oil, activities that violate US sanctions against Iran.

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