Pakistan, June 9 -- Iran and Israel have announced a temporary halt to direct military strikes against each other following diplomatic efforts led by US President Donald Trump, raising hopes for a reduction in tensions after months of conflict.

Read More: Israel-Iran strikes intensify as peace efforts face setback

The latest exchange marked one of the most serious confrontations between the two regional rivals since fighting intensified earlier this year. The escalation had threatened ongoing diplomatic efforts by Washington to secure a broader agreement with Tehran and bring an end to the conflict.

Iran launched missile attacks towards Israeli territory late Sunday, describing the strikes as retaliation for Israeli operations targetin...