Trump announces total ceasefire, official end to '12-day war' in 24 hours
US President Donald Trump said Iran and Israel have agreed to a "total ceasefire", which will begin in approximately 6 hours.
The US President said "Iran will start the ceasefire, and after 12 hours, Israel will start the ceasefire." Within 24 hours, "an official end to the 12-day war will be saluted by the world," Trump said on a Truth Social post.
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The National
18 minutes ago
- The National
Cyber threats increase amid Israel–Iran war and US military involvement
Cyber attacks, hacktivism and disinformation campaigns have become a defining feature of the escalating conflict between Israel and Iran, according to Israeli threat intelligence firm Radware. Both countries, along with aligned hacker groups, are using cyber space to disrupt vital systems, spread panic, and influence global opinion. With the US now involved, analysts said the threat could soon extend beyond the region, endangering critical infrastructure worldwide. Since Israel's missile attacks on Iran on June 12 and 13, aggression has spread. Radware reported a significant rise in state-backed cyber operations, co-ordinated disinformation, and nearly 100 hacktivist groups joining the fray, with more than half of these groups supporting Iran. The surge reflects a long-standing rivalry between Israel and Iran. Bassant Hassib, a political cyber security expert, said that both nations view cyber power as essential to their military and political strategies. Ms Hassib told The National that Israel views cyber power as part of its military strategy, a way to enhance its global technological image and restore public trust at home. She said that Iran developed capabilities in response to attacks like Stuxnet and now uses them to retaliate and compensate for military losses on the ground. 'Internationally, it serves as both a deterrent and a commercial asset; domestically, it is instrumental in attempting to restore public trust in (Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin) Netanyahu's regime, which has been damaged by the war on Gaza,' she said. 'Iran, on the other hand, developed cyber capabilities in response to the 2010 Stuxnet attacks on its uranium enrichment facilities – widely attributed to Israel and the US.' Radware reported that Iranian cyber attacks against Israel increased by 700 per cent following the Israeli strikes. These included distributed denial-of-service attacks, phishing operations, and disinformation campaigns. Marwan Hachem, co-founder of UAE-based cyber security company FearsOff, said operations in this conflict are no longer just defensive or opportunistic. 'Cyber security is already becoming a key weapon in the intensifying Iran and Israel war,' he said. One example involved spoofed text alerts designed to look like messages from the Israeli military, warning of terrorist threats near bomb shelters. Hacktivist groups have also intensified operations. Mr Hachem highlighted reports of breaches against sensitive agencies, including alleged compromises of Israeli intelligence agencies' data. FearsOff cited reports of alleged breaches affecting Israeli intelligence agencies. These claims have not been independently verified. According to Radware, people like Mr Hamza, commonly associated with pro-Palestinian and pro-Iranian defacement campaigns, and Arabian Ghosts, known for targeting Israeli infrastructure through denial of service attacks, have defaced pages, leaked data, and disrupted Israeli websites. US involvement raises the stakes With the US now engaged militarily, cyber security experts and US agencies talk of heightened risks. "Especially given that Iran warned at the outset of the conflict that any US involvement would result in irreparable damage and could trigger an all-out war,' Ms Hassib said. She added that pro-Iranian hacktivist groups have already threatened cyber attacks against other countries. 'For instance, the hacktivist group Mysterious Team Bangladesh announced on its Telegram channel that it would launch cyber attacks against critical government infrastructure in Jordan and Saudi Arabia if they support Israel,' she said. , claimed responsibility for disabling Iran's Sepah Bank and attacking the cryptocurrency exchange Nobitex, destroying nearly $90 million in digital assets. The US Department of Homeland Security issued a National Terrorism Advisory System bulletin on Sunday, warning that the Iran–Israel conflict has elevated the risk of 'low-level cyber attacks against US networks by pro‑Iranian hacktivists' and that 'cyber actors affiliated with the Iranian government may conduct attacks against US networks'. Sectors most vulnerable to attack Ms Hassib said that the widespread reliance on digital technologies across economies, infrastructure, militaries, and daily life means 'nearly every sector is vulnerable to cyber attacks'. She said that in times of conflict, cyber operations focus on critical sectors to inflict maximum damage. 'Energy, water, finance, defence, health care, telecoms and media are all high on the list because of their societal impact and strategic importance,' she said. Ms Hassib added that AI-powered cyber security tools and autonomous systems, including drones, introduce risks because 'they can be manipulated, hijacked or used for unwanted attacks and surveillance'. Radware also highlighted that both sides in the conflict are using AI-generated deepfakes and doctored images to spread lies and justify military actions. Beyond encryption: building resilience While encryption remains vital, Ms Hassib said that organisations must adopt a broader resilience strategy. She said this includes backups, regular penetration testing, employee training, incident response drills, and cross-sector intelligence sharing, according to Ms Hassib. Sheadded that organisations should 'learn from past incidents, co-ordinate with others on cyber security efforts and share threat intelligence with sectors most at risk'. Consequences of a successful attack The risks of major cyber attacks extend beyond technical disruption. Ms Hassib warned of the danger of economic losses, threats to national security, and even dangers to lives, especially if critical sectors like health care are hit. 'These attacks can cause operational disruption, economic losses, damage to reputation, and a loss of public trust,' she said, noting that critical sectors face unique risks. 'In healthcare, cyber attacks could put lives at risk or trigger a public health crisis. In defence, they could lead to espionage, undermine sovereignty, compromise national security and even result in the loss of control over sensitive military technology,' she said. Industry experts warn that as the military conflict intensifies, cyber operations are likely to escalate, with businesses and governments urged to strengthen defences and prepare for more complex digital disruptions.
The National
18 minutes ago
- The National
Syria church attack shows there must be no let-up in the fight against terrorism
Scenes of panic, pools of blood and religious icons shattered by gunfire – the images from Sunday's appalling terrorist attack on worshippers gathered in Damascus's Mar Elias Church are reminiscent of previous outrageous attacks committed against vulnerable Christian communities in other Middle Eastern countries, particularly Iraq and Egypt. Mar Elias joins a long list of atrocities carried out by extremists determined to impose their dogma on the peoples of the region – and Christians are not the only targets. Civilians from various walks of life have been targeted, sometimes tourists, at other times people at religious gatherings. At a time when the crisis involving Israel, Iran and the US is rightly commanding the attention of the international community and national leaders, it is understandable that the threat posed by domestic terrorism might fall in the list of political and security priorities. This would be a mistake. The Damascus attack, which the Syrian Ministry of Health blamed on 'a suicide bomber affiliated with the terrorist group ISIS', is the latest example of extremists exploiting uncertainty and instability, particularly in fragile societies. As the global focus remains fixed on preventing the Middle East war from spreading further, attacking soft targets such as Mar Elias Church is a characteristically cruel way for militants to demonstrate their relevance and further destabilise the countries in which they operate by exacerbating sectarian divisions. More instability is the last thing the region needs at this time of acute crisis. Organisations such as ISIS need little excuse to carry out murderous attacks against those they consider to be their enemies. However, there is a real risk that similar attacks could take place while the state-level conflict playing out between Israel and Iran threatens to divert attention, intelligence and security resources away from the difficult work of containing and countering extremist radicals. If counterterrorism finds itself struggling for support as governments reckon with the risk of war, armed cells in countries such as Iraq, Syria and Yemen will have an opportunity to rebuild, recruit and carry out more attacks. Indeed, the longer the conflict between Israel and Iran plays out, the more unpredictable are its effects. Attacks from any side on targets in Iraq, Syria, Lebanon and Yemen could exacerbate an already-volatile situation. Prolonged conflict could also lead to further weapons proliferation in the Middle East, allowing ISIS and other radicals to rearm. A security vacuum in Syria, where ISIS has repeatedly tried to free thousands of imprisoned members, would be particularly dangerous. As terrorists strike at brittle societies' pressure points, the risk of additional security challenges mounts Despite their many setbacks in recent years, ISIS and its fellow travellers have proved to be worryingly resilient. The group has carried out dozens of attacks in Syria since the start of this year and ISIS affiliates have struck military and civilian targets in Afghanistan, Pakistan, Nigeria and Mozambique. The attack on Christian worshippers in a poor Damascus suburb may, at first glance, seem unconnected to wider instability in the Middle East. As terrorists strike at brittle societies' pressure points, however, the risk of additional security challenges mounts. Co-operation and intelligence sharing must not be neglected. The price for doing so is paid by ordinary people, such as the congregation of Mar Elias Church.
Zawya
31 minutes ago
- Zawya
Dollar falls in broad risk rally after Trump announces Israel-Iran ceasefire
SINGAPORE: The dollar fell on Tuesday while the Australian and New Zealand dollars rose after U.S. President Donald Trump announced a ceasefire between Israel and Iran, in news that sent investors cheering and sparked a risk rally across markets. Trump said that a "complete and total" ceasefire between Israel and Iran will go into force with a view to ending the 12-day conflict between the two nations, moments after both sides threatened new attacks. An Iranian and Qatari official confirmed that Tehran had agreed to a ceasefire, while Israel's Channel 12 reported that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had agreed in a conversation with Trump to a ceasefire as long as Iran stopped its attacks. The risk-sensitive Aussie got a lift from the news and last traded 0.35% higher at $0.6483 as did the kiwi , which rose 0.37% to $0.5998. "It's obviously positive news for risk sentiment," said Rodrigo Catril, senior currency strategist at National Australia Bank. "We need to obviously have a bit more details in terms of exactly what all this means... I suppose it will be the conditions of the ceasefire, and what are the conditions for a more longer-lasting peace deal." The dollar, which last week drew support from safe-haven demand, fell broadly in the wake of the news. Against the yen, the greenback was down 0.21% at 145.79 . The euro rose 0.21% to $1.1602 and sterling advanced 0.18% to $1.3551. Trump's comments on his Truth Social site came after Iran launched a missile attack on an American air base in Qatar on Monday that caused no injuries, in a move which he dismissed as a "weak response" to U.S. attacks. Adding to headwinds for the dollar were dovish comments from Federal Reserve policymaker Michelle Bowman, who said the U.S. central bank should consider interest rate cuts soon. Bowman's openness to cutting rates soon is supported by Fed Governor Christopher Waller, who said in a television interview last week he'd also consider a rate cut at next month's meeting. "There appears to be increasing division among the ranks of the Fed board ahead of Fed Chair Powell's testimony," said Tony Sycamore, a market analyst at IG. "The chance of a July rate cut... is still underpriced. I think it should be higher than that." Markets are now pricing in about a 20% chance the Fed could ease rates in July, up from 14.5% a day ago, according to the CME FedWatch tool. Fed Chair Jerome Powell is due to testify before the U.S. Congress on Tuesday and Wednesday, where focus will be on the outlook for U.S. rates. (Reporting by Rae Wee; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)
