Morning Briefing: June 24, 2025
Anadolu’s recap of top stories from around the globe
ISTANBUL
Here is a rundown of all the news you need to start your Tuesday with, including US announcing ceasefire between Iran and Israel, Iran launching missile attacks at US airbase in Qatar, and NATO chief reaffirming Ukraine's 'irreversible' path to membership ahead of key summit.
TOP STORIES
A ceasefire between Israel and Iran came into effect at 0400 GMT Tuesday following hours of intensified hostilities during which Iran launched six waves of missile attacks targeting Israeli territory.
The Israeli army confirmed that a total of 11 missiles were fired in six successive waves from Iran in the hours leading up to the ceasefire.
According to the Israeli emergency medical service, at least six people were killed and 15 injured, some critically, after a rocket struck a residential building in the southern city of Beersheba.
Explosions were also reported in Tel Aviv and central Israel, Israeli media said.
Iranian media also confirmed the start of the ceasefire, stating it came into effect after the "final salvos" of missile fire.
The Israeli Broadcasting Authority and military radio earlier reported that the ceasefire had begun, while Israeli officials continued to refrain from formal comment.
US President Donald Trump announced Monday that a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Iran.
"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!
"Officially, Iran will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 12th Hour, Israel will start the CEASEFIRE and, upon the 24th Hour, an Official END to THE 12 DAY WAR will be saluted by the World," Trump said on his Truth Social platform.
Trump said that during each ceasefire, the other side will remain "peaceful and respectful.
Iran launched a barrage of missiles at the US military’s Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar on Monday, marking a dramatic escalation in tensions following the US targeting of three Iranian nuclear sites in Iran late Sunday.
“Iranian Armed Forces carried out a destructive and powerful missile attack on Al Udeid base in Qatar in response to US aggression,” according to Iranian media.
The number of missiles launched was equal to “the number of bombs the US used in its attack on our nuclear facilities,” Iran’s Supreme National Security Council said.
Qatar confirmed Monday evening that one Iranian missile struck the US’ Al Udeid Air Base on Qatari territory without causing casualties or damage, while the remaining 17 missiles were intercepted and fell in the sea, Brig. Gen. Shayeq al-Hajri, the Qatari Armed Forces deputy chief of Staff, during a press conference in Doha.
On the eve of a two-day NATO summit, the alliance chief on Monday reaffirmed that Ukraine's path to NATO membership, declared "irreversible" at last year’s summit in Washington, remains unchanged.
"Last year in Washington, NATO allies agreed that for Ukraine there is an irreversible path of Ukraine to enter NATO. And that is still true today, and it will still be true on Thursday after this summit," Secretary General Mark Rutte told a press conference in The Hague ahead of the summit, set to start tomorrow.
Rutte said the alliance is meeting at a "historic moment" amid a deteriorating security environment. "As the world grows more dangerous, allied leaders will take bold decisions to strengthen our collective defense, making NATO a stronger, a fairer, and a more lethal alliance," he said.
NEWS IN BRIEF�
- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Monday condemned Iran's missile attacks on a US military base in Qatar.
- The Israeli army announced Tuesday that it has intercepted four Iranian drones, just hours before a US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Iran is expected to take effect.
- A drone attack targeted a section of the Taji military base operated by the Iraqi army north of the capital Baghdad, authorities said Tuesday.
- A 6.3 magnitude earthquake struck offshore of the Philippines on Tuesday with no immediate reports of damage, the GFZ German Research Centre for Geosciences said.
- Qatar has resumed air traffic and restored its airspace to normal operations following a temporary suspension prompted by regional developments, the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced Monday.
- China’s foreign minister said Monday that the US bombing of Iranian nuclear sites set a dangerous precedent with serious consequences.
- Arab countries Monday evening condemned the Iranian missile attacks that targeted the US’ Al Udeid base in the Gulf state of Qatar.
- Russia has no intention of supplying nuclear weapons to Iran due to its commitments under the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty, former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Monday, condemning a recent US strike on Iran as a "failure."
- Iran coordinated its attacks on the US airbase in Qatar with Qatari officials and provided advance warning to minimize potential casualties, The New York Times reported Monday, citing anonymous Iranian sources familiar with the operation.
- Ukraine’s security agency thwarted at least two assassination attempts against President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, the head of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) revealed during a media briefing Monday, claiming Russian intelligence operatives were behind the plots.
- Türkiye is making intense efforts to prevent attacks by Israel and its supporters against Iran from turning into "a greater disaster," said President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Monday.
- Israeli warplanes carried out a series of airstrikes in southern Lebanon on Monday evening despite a ceasefire agreement, Lebanese media reported.
- At least 55,998 Palestinians have been killed in Israel’s genocidal war since October 2023, the Health Ministry said on Monday.
- Türkiye and the UN agency for Palestinian refugees (UNRWA) signed an agreement on Monday to establish a UNRWA office in the country, according to the agency.
- The ongoing conflict between the US, Iran, and Israel risks collapsing the global nuclear non-proliferation regime, warned the chief of the nuclear watchdog on Monday.
SPORTS
- Oklahoma City Thunder win NBA title, defeat Indiana Pacers in Game 7
he Oklahoma City Thunder defeated the Indiana Pacers 103-91 in Game 7 of the NBA Finals to be crowned champions of the 2024–25 season.
In Game 7 of the NBA Finals at Paycom Center, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander led the Thunder with a double-double, recording 29 points and 12 assists.
Jalen Williams had 20 points, Chet Holmgren had 18 points, while Alex Caruso and Cason Wallace each scored 10 points.
BUSINESS & ECONOMY
- EU plans to approve 18th package of Russia sanctions this week
The European Union will approve the 18th package of sanctions on Russia this week, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday.
"By the end of this week, we aim to approve the 18th package of sanctions on Russia," Kallas announced after the Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels.
Kallas said a "tough new oil price cap" on Russian oil remains on the table.
- Zimbabwe formally initiates process to join BRICS
Zimbabwe formally initiated the process to join the BRICS grouping of emerging economies Monday after a high-level diplomatic engagement with Brazil, the bloc’s current chair, in the capital Harare.
The engagement was between Zimbabwe’s Foreign Affairs and International Trade Minister Amon Murwira and Brazil’s Ambassador to Zimbabwe, Vilmar Rogeiro Coutinho Jr.
Speaking to reporters after the talks, Murwira said they discussed Zimbabwe’s formal application to be associated with BRICS, with Brazil guiding on the steps to be taken by the southern African nation.
