'I'm not happy' How the chaotic ceasefire played out through social media

It has been a confusing and chaotic couple of days for those following the war between Israel and Iran since Tehran struck a US military base in Qatar on Monday.

- Paul Owen

That attack was seen by the US as being an attempt to respond to the US's weekend bombing of Iran's nuclear sites without escalating the situation. Donald Trump, the US president, responded by calling the Iranian attack "very weak" and claimed to have intercepted 13 of 14 missiles fired.

He added on his social media platform, Truth Social: "I am pleased to report that NO Americans were harmed, and hardly any damage was done... I want to thank Iran for giving us early notice, which made it possible for no lives to be lost, and nobody to be injured. Perhaps Iran can now proceed to Peace and Harmony in the Region, and I will enthusiastically encourage Israel to do the same."

A few minutes later, he posted: "I am pleased to report that, in addition to no Americans being killed or wounded, very importantly, there have also been no Qataris killed or wounded."

That was followed by a post that arguably seemed optimistic at the time: "CONGRATULATIONS WORLD, IT'S TIME FOR PEACE!"

But 2 hours after that, at about 11pm UK time, the US president announced "a Complete and Total CEASEFIRE" between Israel and Iran.

He gave a confusing timeline for the start of the ceasefire, which in some ways presaged the chaotic implementation of the suspension of hostilities the next morning. Later that night, at about 3am UK time, he set out how he claimed the agreement had been reached: "Israel & Iran came to me, almost simultaneously, and said, 'PEACE!' I knew the time was NOW. The World, and the Middle East, are the real WINNERS!"