Morning Brief: Trump Announces Israel-Iran Ceasefire as Fighting Continues on Both Sides

· SOFREP News Team

Ruins of a residential building in Be’er Sheva hit by an Iranian missile just before the ceasefire. (Image grab via X)

Good morning! Kick off your Tuesday with SOFREP’s Morning Brief for June 24, 2025, your frontline update on global conflict and defense. Trump’s Israel-Iran ceasefire is already fraying as new strikes hit both sides. The Supreme Court greenlit fast-track deportations. Russia’s deadly barrage killed 14 in Ukraine. At the NATO summit, Trump’s defense demands stirred tensions. Thailand sealed borders with Cambodia amid rising disputes. Meanwhile, China readies a hypersonic weapons parade, and Japan just test-fired its first missile on home soil. Let’s dive in.

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Trump Announces Israel-Iran Ceasefire as Fighting Continues on Both Sides

US President Donald Trump declared early Tuesday that a ceasefire between Israel and Iran is now in effect, urging both nations to honor the agreement following 12 days of escalating conflict.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed Israel’s acceptance of the deal, asserting that Israel had achieved its goal of neutralizing Iran’s nuclear and missile capabilities, but warned it would retaliate if attacked.

Despite the announcement, violence persisted. Iran launched a final barrage of missiles before the ceasefire deadline, killing four people in Beersheba, according to Israeli officials. Simultaneously, an explosion in Iran’s Gilan province killed nine and injured 33, with reports indicating Israeli involvement and the death of nuclear scientist Mohammadreza Sediqi.

The ceasefire, reportedly brokered by Trump through calls with Netanyahu and coordination with Qatar, involved staged implementation.

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said Tehran agreed to halt its attacks if Israel ceased hostilities by 4 a.m. local time, but added that a final decision would follow later.

The conflict surged after US stealth bombers struck three Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend, leading Iran to retaliate with missiles targeting a US base in Qatar. Trump downplayed the Iranian response and credited early warning for avoiding casualties.

The White House stated that Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, and envoy Steve Witkoff played roles in negotiating the ceasefire.

Trump praised both countries for ending what he termed the “12-Day War.”

Meanwhile, the market responded positively to the ceasefire. S&P 500 futures rose and US crude oil prices dropped on easing fears of regional supply disruptions.

The ceasefire leaves open questions about its durability, with deep-rooted hostility between Israel and Iran unresolved.

Trump and US officials maintain that the mission’s goal was to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities, which Iran denies ever seeking to weaponize. Intelligence discrepancies remain, as US agencies continue to assess that Iran is not currently building a nuclear weapon.

 

Israel Orders New Strikes on Tehran, Citing Ceasefire Violation by Iran

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz ordered fresh military strikes on Tehran Tuesday, accusing Iran of violating the US-brokered ceasefire announced just hours earlier by President Donald Trump.

Katz stated the Israeli military would resume “high-intensity operations targeting regime assets and terror infrastructure” in response to what he claimed was an Iranian missile launch.

Iran denied the accusation. Its military general staff told state-affiliated Nour News there had been no missile launches toward Israel and insisted it had upheld the ceasefire terms. Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said the Islamic Republic had forced Israel into accepting the ceasefire and warned it remained ready to respond to any new aggression.

The conflicting claims quickly cast doubt on the durability of the ceasefire meant to end 12 days of hostilities. President Trump had declared the ceasefire active early Tuesday as previously mentioned, urging both sides not to violate it.

 

Supreme Court Backs Trump on Fast-Track Deportations to Third Countries

The US Supreme Court on Monday allowed the Trump administration to resume fast-track deportations of migrants to third countries, lifting a lower court’s order that had temporarily blocked the policy.

The decision enables the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to bypass additional legal reviews for migrants facing removal to countries other than their homelands.

The majority did not explain its reasoning, but Justice Sonia Sotomayor issued a sharp dissent joined by Justices Elena Kagan and Ketanji Brown Jackson, warning the ruling endangers migrants at risk of torture or death. She accused the government of acting “unconstrained by law” and ignoring due process.

DHS spokeswoman Tricia McLaughlin praised the ruling, calling it a “victory for the safety and security of the American people” and said deportation operations would soon resume. However, US District Judge Brian Murphy’s prior order still protects a group of migrants—including individuals from Myanmar, Vietnam, and Cuba—who were diverted to Djibouti instead of South Sudan. These individuals, some convicted of serious crimes, argued deportation to South Sudan posed severe human rights risks.

The case is part of President Trump’s broader immigration crackdown, including deals with countries like Panama and Costa Rica to house deportees when their home nations refuse repatriation. Justice Department officials are still weighing next steps, while rights groups warn of legal and humanitarian violations.

The ruling adds to a series of Supreme Court wins for the Trump administration on immigration and executive authority, including previous decisions on transgender military bans and scaling back federal regulations.

The administration has also used emergency deportations under an 18th-century law and returned at least one deported asylum seeker to US custody following judicial intervention.

 

Russian Airstrikes Kill 14 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy Visits UK

Russian drone and missile attacks overnight killed at least 14 civilians and injured dozens across Ukraine, with nine deaths in Kyiv after a missile strike caused a five-story apartment building to partially collapse.

The assault came as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy visited the United Kingdom for meetings with King Charles III and Prime Minister Keir Starmer ahead of the NATO summit.

Ukraine’s air force reported that Russia launched 352 drones and 16 missiles; air defenses intercepted or jammed most of them. A separate ballistic missile strike later destroyed a high school in Odesa, killing two staff. Drone and missile strikes also hit hospitals, residential buildings, and infrastructure in Kyiv, with more than 30 people wounded citywide.

Zelenskyy claimed preliminary evidence showed Russia used North Korean missiles in the Kyiv attack, labeling Russia, Iran, and North Korea a “coalition of murderers.” He said the UK visit would focus on strengthening Ukraine’s defenses and increasing pressure on Moscow.

Additional strikes in Chernihiv and Bila Tserkva killed three and injured 18, including children. Kyiv authorities continue search-and-rescue operations amid damage to subway stations and neighborhoods.

Meanwhile, Ukraine is processing the return of thousands of fallen soldiers’ remains from Russia. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said some bodies belonged to Russian troops mistakenly included in the exchange. French officials condemned the strikes, pledging further European sanctions against Moscow.

 

Trump’s NATO Return Overshadowed by Iran Strikes, Ceasefire, and Spending Demands

US President Donald Trump’s return to the NATO stage in The Hague was expected to center on a landmark defense spending pledge secured under US pressure. Instead, his recent military action against Iran and the surprise announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Tehran are dominating the summit’s agenda.

Just hours before departing for the summit, Trump declared a “complete and total ceasefire” between Israel and Iran, following US strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities. While NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte has tried to refocus attention on alliance priorities, protests and geopolitical tensions have overshadowed the event.

Trump has long criticized NATO, questioning Article 5 mutual defense guarantees and berating allies over spending. He now pushes for a 5% gross domestic product (GDP) defense investment target, split between 3.5% for military assets and 1.5% for infrastructure. While most NATO members are preparing to endorse it, Spain remains a holdout, concerns linger over Trump’s unpredictability and past threats to abandon the alliance.

Senator Jeanne Shaheen warned that any division Trump causes within NATO benefits adversaries like China.

Experts say Trump’s confrontational style is producing results, but European leaders remain uneasy, fearing US disengagement or troop reductions in Europe in favor of Indo-Pacific priorities.

Despite public reassurances from Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Ambassador Matt Whitaker about US commitment, analysts note a lack of cohesive strategy from the Trump administration.

Meanwhile, Trump’s tariff threats loom over US-EU trade talks, adding to the tensions as the July 9 deadline for a deal approaches. It remains unclear if Trump will meet Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy during the summit.

 

Thailand Imposes Border Restrictions Amid Escalating Tensions with Cambodia

Thailand began enforcing strict land border controls with Cambodia on Monday, blocking tourist travel in response to a growing diplomatic and territorial dispute.

The move follows a May 28 armed clash that left one Cambodian soldier dead in contested border territory.

Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra announced that only individuals with essential needs—such as students, patients, and shoppers—would be allowed to cross the border. The Thai army confirmed it had implemented the policy across all land checkpoints in five provinces. The move targets tourist travel, particularly those heading to Cambodian casinos.

In retaliation, Cambodia has boycotted Thai internet services and halted imports of Thai electricity and fuel, which previously accounted for 30% of its supply. Thailand now threatens to block exports that could support scam operations based in Cambodia, echoing similar measures it enacted earlier this year against online fraud networks in Myanmar.

Cambodia has been identified by the United Nations as a hub for online scams involving romance fraud, bogus investments, and illegal gambling. Thailand plans to coordinate with other countries and international agencies to combat cybercrime across Southeast Asia.

Paetongtarn faces political backlash at home, especially from nationalist groups angered by her perceived leniency toward Cambodia and a leaked phone call with Cambodian Senate President Hun Sen.

Critics claim the call undermined Thai sovereignty, prompting rallies demanding her resignation.

 

China to Showcase Hypersonic Weapons in Military Parade Marking WWII Anniversary

China will hold a major military parade on September 3 to mark the 80th anniversary of Japan’s World War II surrender, featuring the People’s Liberation Army’s (PLA) latest weaponry, including hypersonic missiles and advanced electronic warfare systems.

President Xi Jinping, also head of the PLA, will deliver a keynote address during the event.

The parade will highlight “new-type combat capabilities” and reinforce the PLA’s readiness for future conflicts, senior officer Wu Zeke told state media. China’s military, the world’s largest standing force with over 2 million personnel, continues to expand its missile, naval, and air capabilities.

Military parades remain a signature element of Xi’s leadership, often commemorating national milestones and projecting power. This year’s event also underscores China’s ongoing military modernization, much of it focused on asserting control over Taiwan and challenging US dominance in the Asia-Pacific.

 

Japan Conducts First-Ever Domestic Missile Test

Japan’s Ground Self-Defense Force conducted its first-ever missile test on domestic soil Tuesday, firing a Type-88 surface-to-ship missile from Hokkaido’s Shizunai Anti-Air Firing Range.

Approximately 300 soldiers from the 1st Artillery Brigade participated in the test, targeting an unmanned boat located about 40 kilometers (25 miles) offshore.

Officials are still analyzing the test results. The move marks a significant shift as Japan ramps up its military capabilities in response to regional threats, particularly from China.

Japan plans to begin deploying long-range cruise missiles, including US-made Tomahawks, later this year.

Until now, Japan has conducted missile testing abroad in cooperation with defense allies like the United States and Australia. This latest test signals Tokyo’s commitment to expanding its strike-back and deterrence capabilities.

 

Sources: News Agencies