The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) on Wednesday said it has suspended attacks on Iranian targets following the announcement of a two-week ceasefire with Tehran.

This is signalling a pause in direct hostilities between the two countries.

“In accordance with directives from the political echelon, the IDF has ceased fire in the operation against Iran,” the military said in a statement.

It added that it remains “highly prepared” to respond to any violations of the truce.

Despite the agreement, tensions persisted overnight as Iran launched additional rockets toward Israel in the hours immediately after the ceasefire was announced, underscoring the fragile nature of the arrangement.

The Israeli military said its recent operations in Iran had focused on “missile launch sites and launchers,” part of a broader campaign targeting Tehran’s military capabilities.

While halting strikes on Iran, Israel indicated it would continue its operations against the Iran-backed Hezbollah militia in Lebanon.

Israeli officials argue that Lebanon is not covered by the ceasefire agreement, leaving the northern front active.

However, Shehbaz Sharif, whose country played a mediating role in the ceasefire, suggested otherwise.

Writing on social media platform X, he stated that the agreement does extend to Lebanon, highlighting apparent differences in interpretation among the parties involved.

The conflicting positions add to uncertainty surrounding the scope and durability of the ceasefire, as regional actors continue to assess its terms and implications. 

(Xinhua/NAN)