"This war will be remembered as Trump's grave strategic miscalculation. One whose consequences reshaped the region in unintended ways," Middle East scholar Fawaz Gerges told Reuters.
The US and Israel have reached a "stage of desperation," and a "request for a ceasefire indicates their defeat," Iran's nuclear chief Mohammad Eslami said.
Lebanon remains outside the ceasefire, as Israeli strikes and Hezbollah activity leave civilians displaced, vulnerable, and caught in a war they did not choose.
Open-source intelligence points to heavy military damage, casualties, and economic toll following the Israel-US campaign.
The IDF added that overnight strikes targeted two key crossings used by Hezbollah operatives to move between areas north and south of the Litani River and transfer weapons.
Trump added that he thinks it is unlikely the deal will not be complied with, but if not, then the "Shootin' Starts, bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before," he wrote.
IDF kills Hezbollah chief's secretary • US military to stay in region until ceasefire complied with • Israeli arrested in Iranian plot to assassinate former PM Bennett
Netanyahu made a "hard sell" for attacking Iran, the report claimed, adding that he pitched a number of options for a new Iranian leader who would take over when the current regime fell.
Iranian and US officials are expected to hold talks on Friday to discuss a long-term settlement after the longtime foes agreed on a Pakistan-brokered two-week ceasefire to suspend a six-week-old war.
Vance added that Israel's actions were not because Lebanon was included in the ceasefire. "The Iranians thought that the ceasefire included Lebanon and it just didn't," he clarified.
Pakistan's effort involved direct contact with top officials on all sides, with a Pakistani source saying the hardest part of the process was convincing Iran to accept a truce without preconditions.
