Evening Brief: Fragile Israel-Iran Ceasefire Holds as Trump Presses Both Sides to Stand Down

Good evening! Welcome to SOFREP’s Evening Brief for Tuesday, June 24, 2025. Tensions remain high across the globe as a fragile Israel-Iran ceasefire faces early cracks, Trump pushes NATO allies toward record defense spending, and Russian missiles pound Ukrainian cities. In Gaza, Israeli forces are under fire for deadly strikes on aid seekers, while the US boosts support for a controversial aid group. Meanwhile, the Pentagon advances missile defense in Alaska, and US Arctic troops train for extreme conflict. Here’s what you need to know.

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Fragile Israel-Iran Ceasefire Holds as Trump Presses Both Sides to Stand Down

A tenuous ceasefire between Israel and Iran held on Tuesday after early violations, with US President Donald Trump expressing visible frustration over continued hostilities.

The truce followed 12 days of conflict that began with Israeli strikes on Iranian nuclear facilities and escalated with retaliatory missile attacks from Tehran.

Israel accused Iran of firing two missiles early Tuesday, which were intercepted. Iran denied launching missiles after the ceasefire began but acknowledged that an Israeli strike killed senior nuclear scientist Mohammad Reza Sedighi Saber.

Explosions were reported across northern Israel, and four civilians were killed in Beersheba following a separate Iranian barrage prior to the ceasefire.

Trump initially blamed both sides for breaching the agreement, stating they had fought “so long and so hard they don’t know what the f—- they’re doing.” However, he later confirmed the ceasefire was intact and announced that all Israeli warplanes had turned back.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the truce was coordinated with Trump and declared that Israel had met its objectives: crippling Iran’s nuclear and missile programs and eliminating top military figures. Iran has not confirmed its leadership’s role in the negotiations and continues to deny any offensive missile use post-ceasefire.

The US intervened earlier by bombing Iranian nuclear sites with bunker-buster munitions. Trump told Netanyahu the US would not conduct further strikes and urged a diplomatic solution. China condemned the US action and warned of potential escalation, particularly if Iran threatened the Strait of Hormuz.

Meanwhile, the US military reported intercepting drone attacks on bases in Iraq, including Ain al-Assad and a site near Baghdad Airport. No casualties were reported.

The conflict has killed at least 28 in Israel and wounded over 1,000. Iranian casualties total at least 974 dead and over 3,400 injured, according to Human Rights Activists. The US has evacuated about 250 citizens and their families from Israel, where roughly 700,000 Americans are believed to reside.

Trump Lauded at NATO Summit as Allies Push 5% Defense Spending Goal

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte praised President Donald Trump on Tuesday for pressuring European allies into committing to a historic 5% defense spending goal, calling it a moment no US president had achieved in decades.

Trump posted a private message from Rutte stating that “Europe is going to pay in a BIG way,” with NATO confirming the message’s authenticity.

Donald J. Trump Truth Social 06.24.25 09:36 AM EST pic.twitter.com/gIRfFDkIiF

— Commentary Donald J. Trump Posts From Truth Social (@TrumpDailyPosts) June 24, 2025

As the 32-member alliance convened in The Hague, leaders prepared to endorse the 5% GDP defense target by 2035, despite pushback from Spain and Slovakia. Trump criticized Spain’s refusal as “very unfair,” while most major NATO members, including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, voiced support.

Trump’s appearance, his first since returning to office, came amid ongoing concerns about his commitment to NATO’s Article 5 mutual defense clause. He declined to affirm it explicitly, saying it “depends on your definition,” while Rutte maintained confidence in US obligations.

The summit’s agenda, originally centered on military spending, shifted sharply due to Trump’s recent order to strike Iranian nuclear facilities and his announcement of a ceasefire between Israel and Iran. The resulting diversion of resources and attention has impacted Ukraine, which continues to face critical shortages in weapons and ammunition.

Q: “Are you still committed to article 5 of NATO?”

President Trump: “Depends on your definition…I’m committed to being their friends…I’m committed to saving lives. I’m committed to life and safety.” pic.twitter.com/SQLvtUqWNC

— CSPAN (@cspan) June 24, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy attended meetings in The Hague but was excluded from the primary leaders’ session. His summit engagements focused on bilateral support, including a new Dutch aid package of 100 drone-detection radars and plans to produce drones for Ukraine using Kyiv’s designs.

Zelenskyy urged greater European investment in Ukraine’s defense industry and supported NATO’s 5% spending goal. However, Ukraine’s stalled bid for NATO membership remains in limbo under Trump’s administration, which has offered no new public aid pledges to Kyiv since his return to office.

Rutte defended NATO’s ability to manage both the Middle East and Ukraine, insisting the alliance can handle multiple crises. Still, the summit highlighted shifting priorities and growing uncertainty around long-term support for Ukraine.

US Army Trains Arctic Troops in Alaska, Applies Lessons from Ukraine War

The US Army is conducting Arctic warfare training in Alaska, using lessons from the Ukraine-Russia war to improve airborne troop readiness in extreme conditions.

The exercise focuses on cold-weather combat, rapid equipment deployment, resilient communications, and the use of snow machines and all-terrain vehicles for mobility and logistics across deep snow.

Troops are also testing new low-temperature gear and undergoing frozen tundra survivability certification at the remote Black Rapids Training Site, overseen by the Northern Warfare Training Center.

The US Army has announced a new arctic strategy to establish a dominant presence and compete against countries like Russia and China pic.twitter.com/mZyDSCIsCk

— Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) June 19, 2025

The training is led by the 11th Airborne Division (Arctic Angels), a World War II-era light infantry unit specialized for airborne and high-altitude operations. Col. James Howell, commander of the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, emphasized that Alaska’s harsh terrain provides a critical proving ground for innovations to sustain combat effectiveness in temperatures as low as “negative 35 [degrees].”

Howell said the Army is actively adapting to cold-weather challenges revealed in the Ukraine conflict and exploring new systems for future Arctic operations.

Pentagon Successfully Tests Long-Range Missile Defense Radar in Alaska

The Pentagon announced Tuesday it has successfully tested the Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) in Alaska, marking a key milestone in US missile defense capabilities.

The radar, built by Lockheed Martin, tracked and reported missile target data during a flight test over the Northern Pacific, demonstrating its potential to detect threats from Russia or China.

The LRDR, stationed at Clear Space Force Station, is part of the Ground-Based Midcourse Defense system and enhances the effectiveness of interceptors based in Alaska and California designed to counter long-range missile threats from adversaries like Iran or North Korea.

In a recent test with the Missile Defense Agency, the @LockheedMartin-built Long Range Discrimination Radar (LRDR) successfully detected, tracked and discriminated a live ballistic missile threat in a complex environment. 🔗⬇️

— Lockheed Martin News (@LMNews) June 24, 2025

The system is also being considered as a critical sensor for the $175 billion Golden Dome missile defense shield, a proposed US-led satellite-based network modeled after Israel’s Iron Dome.

Golden Dome aims to provide early detection and interception of ballistic missiles but faces political and budget challenges. The Pentagon hopes to have it operational by January 2029.

Russian Strikes Kill 26 Civilians in Ukraine as Zelenskyy Seeks NATO Support

Russian missile, drone, and artillery attacks killed at least 26 civilians and injured over 200 across Ukraine on Tuesday, as President Volodymyr Zelenskyy appealed for additional Western military aid at the NATO summit in The Hague.

A Russian ballistic missile barrage hit multiple civilian sites in Dnipro, killing 17 and injuring over 200. The attack damaged schools, medical centers, and a passenger train with 500 aboard. Another strike in nearby Samar killed two and wounded 14.

Zelenskyy urged tighter sanctions on Russia, calling for a crackdown on foreign components used in missile production.

Right now, in the Dnipro region, assistance is being provided to everyone affected by the Russian ballistic missile strike. As of now, over 160 people have been reported injured. Tragically, 11 people have been killed. The rubble is still being cleared, so unfortunately, the… pic.twitter.com/Rs5bbTbXWb

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 24, 2025

Additional Russian attacks killed four civilians in Kherson and three, including a 5-year-old boy, in Sumy. Drone strikes injured children and destroyed critical infrastructure.

Meanwhile, Ukraine’s long-range drones struck back, with one hitting a residential tower near Moscow. Russia claimed to have downed 20 Ukrainian drones overnight, triggering temporary flight disruptions at two major Moscow airports.

Zelenskyy pressed NATO leaders for more security guarantees as US aid from the Biden era nears exhaustion and uncertainty grows over the Trump administration’s future support. NATO unity and sustained backing for Ukraine remain at the forefront of the summit’s agenda.

Israeli Troops Fire on Aid Seekers in Gaza, Kill at Least 44 as Death Toll Tops 56,000

Israeli forces and drones opened fire on crowds of Palestinians seeking food aid in central and southern Gaza early Tuesday, killing at least 44 people and wounding hundreds, according to witnesses and hospital officials.

The shootings occurred near US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF) food distribution sites, which have seen repeated incidents of chaos and violence since opening.

In central Gaza, witnesses described tanks and drones firing on civilians approaching aid trucks near Wadi Gaza. Awda and Al-Aqsa hospitals reported at least 31 dead and over 190 injured.

In southern Rafah, Israeli troops reportedly opened fire as thousands approached another GHF site, killing 19 and injuring 50, according to Nasser hospital and Gaza’s Health Ministry.

“When I carry a bag of flour, it feels like I’m carrying life, not just a sack.”

Ehab Nuor is a young man from Palestine’s Gaza.

He shares his harrowing journey to secure a single sack of flour, which in Gaza is a fight for survival under threat of Israeli strikes that can… pic.twitter.com/pUq2x5WW9Z

— TRT World (@trtworld) June 24, 2025

The Israeli military said it is reviewing the incidents but has previously claimed to fire only warning shots at individuals acting suspiciously. The GHF, backed by the US and Israel, aims to replace the UN-coordinated aid system, which Israel alleges is compromised by Hamas—claims the UN denies.

Gaza’s Health Ministry said the overall death toll from Israel’s 21-month military campaign now exceeds 56,000, with over 5,700 killed since fighting resumed in March after a brief ceasefire.

Israel claims it targets Hamas fighters and asserts more than 20,000 militants have been killed, though it has provided no evidence. More than half of those reported dead are women and children.

The October 7, 2023 Hamas attack that triggered the war killed around 1,200 people in Israel and led to the abduction of 251 hostages.

Trump Administration Approves $30 Million for Israeli-Backed Gaza Aid Group

The Trump administration has approved $30 million in funding for the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation, an Israeli-backed group distributing food in Gaza, a US official confirmed Tuesday. This marks the first known US government support for the group’s operations amid the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

The funding follows a request by the American-led group, which sought US assistance to sustain its aid efforts.

The program has drawn criticism from the United Nations and various humanitarian organizations, who have questioned its neutrality and effectiveness. The official spoke anonymously due to the sensitive diplomatic nature of the decision.

Sources: News Agencies