France's military took part in efforts to stop Iranian drones targeting Israel prior to this week's ceasefire, the country's defence minister Sebastien Lecornu said late on Wednesday. "I can confirm that the French army intercepted less than 10 drones in the last few days during the different military operations conducted by the Islamic Republic of Iran against Israel,

U.S. President Donald Trump told reporters at the White House that in his view, both sides had violated the nascent agreement, using an expletive to hammer home his point.

Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Tuesday morning that Israel has accepted a ceasefire with Iran, following 12 days of bloody conflict which threatened to escalate into a full-blown Middle East war. The news was welcomed in the UK.