Donald Trump has issued a direct warning to Benjamin Netanyahu after accusing both Israel and Iran of violating a ceasefire he announced just hours earlier.
He warned Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu not to drop any more bombs on Iran, as the countries again risk plunging the entire Middle East into a conflict.
"Israel. Do not drop those bombs. If you do it, it is a major violation. Bring your pilots home, now!" Trump wrote in a post on his social media shortly after he left the White House for a trip to the Nato summit in the Hague.
He then told reporters outside the White House that "Israel has to calm down. I have to get Israel to calm down."
The 47th President of the US added: "I'm going to see if I can stop it."
Trump also suggested he didn't like that Israel "unloaded" right after agreeing to a ceasefire, saying: "I’m not happy with Israel. You don’t go out in the first hour and just drop everything you have on them.
"I’m not happy with Iran either. But I’m really not happy with how Israel went out this morning.
"We basically have two countries that have been fighting for so long and so hard that they don’t know what the f*** they’re doing."
Trump issued a warning to Israel and Iran after they 'both violated the ceasefire'
REUTERS
In an update following a call to Netanyahu, Trump explained Israel is not going to attack Iran and that any planes heading to conduct strikes would "turn around and head home".
He added that "nobody will be hurt" and that the "ceaseire is in effect".
However, it is understood Netanyahu told Trump during the brief call that he could not cancel the attack and that some response was needed to Iran's violation of the ceasefire.
Axios reports that the attack would be significantly scaled back and would only strike one Iranian target.
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Donald Trump speaking outside the White House before travelling to the Hague for a Nato summitREUTERSTrump's direct warning comes just hours after Israeli officials said defensive systems were working to intercept missiles launched from Iran, and told the public to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice.
Despite Iran denying violating the ceasefire, Israel responded by instructing the military to launch "high-intensity strikes against targets in the heart of Tehran".
Four Israelis were killed by Iranian missiles in the southern city of Beersheba just moments before the ceasefire took effect and nine Iranians were killed in the early hours of Tuesday in Israeli strikes on residential buildings in the northern province of Gilan.
An IDF spokesman said at the time: "The IDF has identified that missiles were launched from Iran towards the territory of the State of Israel a short time ago.
"The defence systems are working to intercept the threat. You must enter the protected areas upon receiving the alert, and remain there until further notice.
"Exiting the protected area will be possible only after receiving explicit instructions. You must continue to act according to the Home Front Command's instructions."
Aftermath of Iran's strike on Israel
REUTERS
A major turn in the conflict came yesterday afternoon after the Islamic regime launched six missiles at a US military base in Qatar.
Britons in the country were issued a warning by the Foreign Office just minutes before airspace over the country was closed and Iran unleashed a number of ballistic rockets at Al Udeid Air Base.
The missiles were launched in retaliation for US bunker bombing raids on the country's nuclear-making facilities.
Several explosions were heard over Doha just minutes after the missiles' launch.
PICTURED: Traces of missiles in the sky after Iran launched strikes against a US base in QatarREUTERSSpeaking to reporters on a jet to the Hague, Sir Keir Starmer also gave an update on Britain's stance on the conflict.
He told reporters: "Well, I want the ceasefire to continue, and therefore, obviously, the sooner we get back to that, the better.
"And that's the message that I'm discussing with others leaders today.
"We need to get back to that ceasefire, which is consistent with what I've been saying about de-escalation for quite some time now.
"I should just say that I exchanged messages with the Emir of Qatar yesterday as well in relation to the attack yesterday."
Keir Starmer told reporters on the flight to the Hague that he wants the ceasefire to continue
PA
During the upcoming summit, Turkish President Tayyip Erdogan is set to hold a private meeting with Trump, Turkish broadcasters have said.
Despite swearing during his briefing to reporters, Trump said the US had achieved its goal of ensuring Iran no longer has nuclear capabilities.
Trump said Iran's capacities "are gone" and Tehran will never be able to rebuild its nuclear programme.
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