The storm before the calm: Explosions ring out across the Middle East as clock ticks down to 'complete ceasefire' that Trump says Iran and Israel will announce later today

Daily Mail​

4 hours ago

As explosions rock cities across the Middle East, the region is waiting with baited breath for the 'complete ceasefire' that US president Donald Trump has promised Israel and Iran will announce later today.
Since June 13, the tumultuous region has seen Iran and Israel send wave after wave of drones and missiles at each other, killing civilians across both nations and further escalating the risk of an all-consuming conflict.
Qatar was yesterday dragged into the conflict, after the American Al-Udeid airbase was attacked by Iranian missiles.
Now, the so-called '12 Day War' appears to be coming to an end, after Trump last night claimed Iran and Israel had agreed a 'complete and total ceasefire'.
In a post on his Truth Social platform, the US President said that both sides will remain 'peaceful and respectful'.
He wrote: 'Congratulations to everyone! It has been fully agreed by and between Israel and Iran that there will be a complete and total ceasefire (in approximately 6 hours from now, when Israel and Iran have wound down and completed their in progress, final missions!) for 12 hours, at which point the war will be considered ended!'
The ceasefire is set to kick in at 5am UK time today (12am NY time; 2pm Sydney time), giving both Israel and Iran just a few hours to wrap up military hostilities.
So far, the conflict doesn't appear to be slowing down.
Residents in Tehran reported just after midnight UK time that intense explosions are being heard, with Israeli officials warning civilians to leave the centre of the city, which is home to Iran's Central Bank and National Bank, along with some military and intelligence headquarters. There were also reports of explosions in the cities of Urmia and Rasht.
On top of this, video footage appeared to show a massive explosion at the Taji military base, which lies north of Iraq's Baghdad, which has reportedly been hit by a drone strike. No group or nation has yet claimed responsibility for the attack.
The Israeli military declined to comment on Trump's statement and the office of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu did not immediately respond to a message seeking comment. There was also no official comment from Iran.
Footage taken in a Doha shopping centre showed civilians running in peril amid the missile attack
Video footage showed Taji base in Iraq on fire following a reported drone strike
But an Iranian official earlier told CNN that his nation had no intention of backing down from the fight: 'The enemy is committing aggression against Iran, and Iran is on the verge of intensifying its retaliatory strikes, with no ear to listen to the lies of its enemies.'
Tehran fired 14 missiles across the Persian Gulf towards Qatar 's Al Udeid coalition base just outside Doha yesterday in response to US bombardment of Iran's nuclear facilities.
Iran said the volley matched the number of bombs dropped by the United States on Iranian nuclear sites over the weekend. Iran also said it targeted the base because it was outside of populated areas.
All the missiles were shot down without hitting their target and there were no casualties, officials said.
Amid the strikes on Doha, footage taken inside a shopping centre in the Qatari capital showed civilians running in terror as bombs soared overhead.
Frightened mothers were seen clutching at their children as they ran out of the Villaggio Mall, an exuberantly expensive shopping centre catering to the richest of Doha's elites.
But amid reports that Iran had warned Qatar, and by extension the US, of the attacks, Trump bizarrely 'thanked' Iran for the early warning.
He had again written on his Truth Social platform: 'They've gotten it all out of their 'system', and there will, hopefully, be no further hate. I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured.'
Tehran said it had launched Operation Promise of Victory to avenge the US's Operation Midnight Hammer on Saturday.
Preparations for the attacks had been identified by satellite surveillance, and last night US security sources confirmed the Iranians had signalled their intentions, tipping off the Qatari authorities.
Mr Trump and his team watched events from the White House War Room as Qatar closed its airspace for more than an hour. It has been reopened.
The base is home to US troops and also the regional headquarters of the Royal Air Force. All US and coalition aircraft had been moved into protective shelters some time ago.
Iran said the attack was carried out by its Revolutionary Guard Corps, announcing that 'we warn our enemies that the era of hit and run is over'.
An Iranian official said the country would continue its retaliatory strikes but did not offer details of whether it plans to continue striking US military bases or will look to other targets in the region.
A White House official told CNN that Mr Trump 'knew they'd retaliate'. In a statement Iran insisted its military had targeted Al Udeid with a 'devastating and powerful' missile attack.
Kuwait and Bahrain also closed their airspaces in anticipation of an attack but none was forthcoming.
Earlier in the day, Tehran's broadcasting mouthpiece, TV host Mehdi Khanalizadeh, had warned President Trump had chosen to 'spill the blood' of his soldiers with the surprise US attack at the weekend.
Russia offered its support for Iran, but stopped short of offering Tehran military assistance.
On the 11th day of the conflict, Israel and Iran traded airstrikes that have become a reality for civilians in both countries since Israel started the war to target Tehran's rapidly advancing nuclear program.
Iran struck Israel with a barrage of missiles and drones while Israel said it attacked 'regime targets and government repression bodies in the heart of Tehran.'
But Israeli officials insisted they did not seek the overthrow of Iran's government, their archenemy since the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution.
Yesterday, Israel flew yet more bombing missions through enemy territory, broadening its targets from military infrastructure.
An Israeli rocket attack targeted Tehran's notorious Evin prison, used by the regime to incarcerate its opponents, including joint UK-Iranian citizen Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe who was held by the regime for six years.