Australia news and politics recap June 24: Israel, Iran ceasefire hangs in balance as new missiles launched

This concludes our live news and politics coverage for the day.

Scroll back through for all the updates on the Israel-Iran war and ceasfire declared by Donald Trump that lasted about three hours.

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Enjoy your evening!

Iran’s military has denied that it fired missiles at Israel hours after a ceasefire proposed by President Donald Trump began, Iranian state television reported.

The report cited the general staff of Iran’s armed forces, which includes its regular military and its paramilitary Revolutionary Guard.

Israel reported missile fire some two and a half hours after the ceasefire began. Israeli officials have ordered a strike on Iran in response, though there’s no immediate report of an attack there.

-- AP

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz says Iran has “completely violated” the ceasefire agreement by launching missiles more than two hours after the truce was meant to begin.

In response, Mr Katz said he has instructed the Israeli military to resume strikes on Iranian government and paramilitary targets in Tehran, AP reported.

The renewed action comes after Israel launched a major offensive overnight — just before the ceasefire took effect — firing more than 100 munitions at dozens of sites across the Iranian capital, including missile launchers.

Tensions remain high as both sides exchange fire despite diplomatic efforts to de-escalate.

Just hours after a ceasefire between Israel and Iran was announced, the Israeli military says it detected an “incoming barrage” of missiles launched from Iran — highlighting just how fragile the situation remains.

According to the Israeli army, the fresh wave of missiles was fired roughly two and a half hours after the ceasefire officially began.

Sirens were heard in northern Israel as air defence systems activated, with explosions reported across the region.

Despite diplomatic efforts to calm tensions, the renewed fire suggests the ceasefire may be far from holding.

Israel has agreed to a ceasefire with Iran following a proposal from US President Donald Trump, declaring that it has “achieved all the objectives” of its military operation.

In a statement released overnight, the Israeli Government said it had successfully removed what it called a “dual existential threat” from Iran, referring to both nuclear and ballistic missile risks.

“Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Cabinet together with the Defence Minister, the IDF Chief of Staff and the Mossad director, to report that Israel has achieved all the objectives of Operation ‘Lion’s Courage’,” the statement read.

“Israel has removed an immediate dual existential threat – both in the nuclear domain and in the ballistic missile domain.”

The ceasefire comes “in full coordination with President Trump,” according to the statement.

However, Israeli citizens have been urged to continue following Home Front Command guidance until the ceasefire is fully implemented.

US President Donald Trump has taken to Truth Social to request that Israel and Iran do not violate the ceasefire he announced.

“THE CEASEFIRE IS NOW IN EFFECT,” he wrote in all caps.

“PLEASE DO NOT VIOLATE IT!”

It came after the US President said the “deal” would not have been possible if bunker buster bombs were not dropped on Iran’s nuclear facilities.

“We couldn’t have made today’s ‘deal’ without the talent and courage of our great B-2 pilots, and all of those associated with that operation,” he wrote.

“In a certain and very ironic way, that perfect ‘hit’, late in the evening, brought everyone together, and the deal was made!”

Israelis have been told to run to bomb shelters as an intense barrage of missiles continues from Iran.

Multiple strikes have been intercepted, however, some have evaded air defence systems, with deaths already reported.

A sixth wave of missiles has reportedly been fired by Iran.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not yet commented on the ceasefire that US President Donald Trump announced, or the strikes.

Video has emerged of the moment an Iranian missile struck Israel in the moments before a ceasefire officially commenced.

Reports have emerged that eight people have been killed, however, Magen David Adom have only confirmed the deaths of three people.

The missile struck an apartment building in the south of Israel.

Intense volleys of missile fire between Israel and Iran have raged on throughout the morning after US President Donald Trump claimed the two nations had agreed to a ceasefire.

In his announcement, Mr Trump said that the countries would finish their “final missions” before the ceasefire’s start, which was set to commence from 2pm AEST.

Iran State TV has broadcast details of the ceasefire and Iran’s foreign minister has said the country would agree if Israel stops its attacks.

Now, the world waits to see if the recent barrage was a final flurry or a failed attempt at a ceasefire.

Just minutes after US President Donald Trump declared a ceasefire had been brokered between Iran and Israel, a fourth wave of airstrikes struck across Israel early this morning.

The attacks began around 6:30am local time, with residents once again forced to flee into bomb shelters.

Local media reports that at least three people have been killed, and an apartment building in southern Israel has been hit.

This marks the fourth wave of strikes in just 90 minutes, following a barrage of ballistic missiles launched by Iran.