Iran has announced the cessation of its military operations against Israel following an exchange of missile and air strikes, marking the first direct confrontation since an April ceasefire. The Iranian armed forces stated they delivered a significant retaliatory blow for a recent strike in Beirut, warning Israel against further aggression, particularly in southern Lebanon. An Israeli official indicated that strikes on Iran had paused at the request of US President Donald Trump, who urged both nations to cease hostilities to avoid jeopardizing ongoing peace negotiations. The conflict, which began on February 28th with a joint US-Iran attack that killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has escalated across the Middle East, impacting vital waterways and leading to numerous casualties. This latest exchange saw Iran launch approximately 30 missiles, with Israel responding with air strikes on Iranian targets.