The tense 12-day conflict between Iran and Israel has come to a halt after a ceasefire, calming fears of a possible global war. The ceasefire followed a series of events, including U.S. airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites and a last-minute missile attack by Iran on Israeli cities. While the truce has brought temporary relief, questions remain about what comes next.

Just days ago, U.S. President Donald Trump had said that America would decide within two weeks whether to join the Iran-Israel conflict. However, the situation changed quickly. In less than 48 hours, the U.S. launched "Operation Midnight Hammer," deploying B-2 stealth bombers to strike three nuclear facilities deep inside Iran. These strikes raised global alarm about the possibility of a larger war breaking out.

Iran’s immediate response was to launch a missile attack on the Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar—the largest U.S. base in the Middle East. Though tensions skyrocketed, a sudden announcement followed. President Trump declared that both Iran and Israel had agreed to a ceasefire, halting further attacks. Interestingly, the Iranian missiles hit just minutes before the truce was made official—perhaps as a final show of strength.

Who won? Everyone claims victory

The U.S. narrative

From Washington’s point of view, the U.S. achieved its goals without losing a single soldier. The airstrikes, which President Trump said "completely and totally obliterated" Iran’s nuclear facilities, were a show of American strength. However, U.S. officials described the damage as "extremely severe" rather than total destruction.

After Iran fired missiles at the Al Udeid base, Trump thanked Tehran for giving a warning. “I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done... there will, hopefully, be no further hate,” he posted. The U.S. avoided a prolonged conflict, displayed its military might, and now Trump can play the role of peacemaker.

Israel’s military gains

Before the U.S. entered the fight, Israel had already made major moves. Israeli airstrikes targeted Iranian military and nuclear facilities, eliminating key leaders in Iran’s elite Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These actions helped Israel prove its strength and gave Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu a boost ahead of upcoming elections.

The biggest win for Israel, however, was convincing the U.S. to join the fight. This shifted the narrative from a regional clash to an international stance against Iran.

Iran’s 'stand tall' message

Iran, caught between showing strength and avoiding further destruction, found a careful way to respond. Though it needed to react to the U.S. airstrikes, it did so with caution. The Iranian leadership reportedly ordered a controlled strike on the U.S. base in Qatar—and even gave advance notice. This allowed Qatar to shut its airspace and the U.S. to prepare.

Trump later said, “Iran has officially responded to our Obliteration of their Nuclear Facilities with a very weak response… and have very effectively countered,” once again thanking Iran for the heads-up. For Iran, this allowed a way to save face without escalating the fight.

Iran also continued firing missiles at Israeli cities until minutes before the ceasefire began. While those attacks caused no deaths, they helped Tehran appear defiant until the last moment.

While the ceasefire has brought relief to many, it is not without concern. Iran denies that its nuclear sites were badly hit. Western intelligence agencies say they don’t know what happened to Iran’s uranium stockpile. These unknowns add to the uncertainty ahead.

The truce has paused the violence, but global leaders are hoping that talks resume soon and diplomacy wins over further aggression.

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