Three Dead in Be’er Sheva as Iranian Ballistic Missile Strikes Amid Conflicting Ceasefire Claims

Despite ongoing international efforts and a dramatic declaration by US President Donald Trump of a “complete and total ceasefire,” tensions between Israel and Iran reached a deadly peak early Tuesday morning as an Iranian ballistic missile struck an apartment block in Be’er Sheva, southern Israel. The impact has resulted in at least three confirmed fatalities and multiple injuries, according to initial reports.

The strike on Be’er Sheva came as sirens blared across central and southern Israel, indicating a third salvo of ballistic missiles launched from Iran in less than an hour, as reported by the Times of Israel. This renewed offensive directly contradicts President Trump’s earlier assertion on Truth Social that a ceasefire was set to take effect within hours, bringing an “Official END” to what he termed “THE 12 DAY WAR.”

President Trump had posted, “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!”

However, Tehran’s foreign minister had previously stated that Iran had not received any ceasefire agreement or proposal from the US, adding that attacks would only cease if Israel halted its military operations. The latest missile strikes underscore the deep disconnect between the US announcement and the ground reality of the conflict.

The 12-day-long conflict began with Israel’s ‘Operation Rising Lion,’ targeting Iranian military bases and nuclear facilities. Since then, both nations have engaged in regular exchanges of fire and missile attacks, which have tragically claimed around 400 lives in Iran and approximately 24 in Israel prior to today’s strike. The United States also joined the conflict, carrying out strikes on three Iranian nuclear facilities over the weekend, further escalating the regional instability.

Emergency services are currently on the scene in Be’er Sheva, attending to the injured and assessing the damage to the residential area. The latest fatalities further compound the humanitarian toll of the conflict and raise serious questions about the feasibility of any immediate ceasefire.