Middle East Meltdown: Ceasefire Declared But War Continues

A declared ceasefire intended to end a 12-day war between Israel and Iran has failed to halt hostilities, leading to fears of a full-blown Middle East meltdown. Both sides continued to exchange fire on Tuesday morning, undermining diplomatic efforts.
The fragile nature of the truce was exposed when air raid sirens blared in northern Israel, followed by Israeli reports of an Iranian missile launch and two interceptions. This prompted Israel’s Defense Minister, Israel Katz, to order an “immediate retaliation” against “regime targets in the heart of Tehran.”
The US President had announced the ceasefire on social media, asking the warring parties not to violate it. While both Israel and Iran had publicly accepted the truce, the subsequent events demonstrate the deep-seated animosity and the significant challenges in de-escalating the conflict.
The conflict had seen intense pre-ceasefire exchanges, with Israel carrying out heavy airstrikes on Tehran and Iran launching 20 missiles that caused casualties in Beersheba. The continued violence, despite the diplomatic declaration, paints a grim picture for regional stability.