Israel-Iran ceasefire takes hold, ending 12-day war; thousands of Indians brought home under Operation Sindhu

A ceasefire between Israel and Iran took effect on Tuesday, June 24, halting a war that had lasted 12 days. US President Donald Trump had announced the agreement the day before.

The war began on June 13, when Israel struck Iranian nuclear and military sites in an operation it called 'Rising Lion'. Iran responded by firing missiles at Israeli cities.

The United States later struck Iran's nuclear facilities. In response, Iran fired missiles on June 23 at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar, which hosts US forces.

During the conflict, India launched Operation Sindhu on June 18. By June 27, according to the Ministry of External Affairs, 4,415 Indian nationals had been brought home on 19 special flights: 3,597 from Iran and 818 from Israel.

Those evacuated included more than 1,500 women and 500 children. The flights included three Indian Air Force C-17 aircraft.