Trump Defines Ceasefire as Ongoing Moderate Combat

President Donald Trump stated on Wednesday that a ceasefire in the Middle East can involve continued military action, defining it as a period when combatants are "shooting in a more moderate manner." The remarks came during a press conference where he addressed the status of a fragile truce with Iran and ongoing hostilities in the region.

Trump made the comments in response to questions about whether a ceasefire with Iran remained intact following an Iranian missile and drone attack on Kuwait’s main airport. He downplayed the significance of the attack, stating U.S. forces had "nipped it in the bud very quickly." He suggested the Iranian action was a reciprocal response to prior U.S. military strikes, which he said had hit Iranian targets "pretty hard."

The president argued that the situation in the Middle East is distinct from other conflict zones. "It’s a different part of the world," Trump said. "I’d say in that part of the world, a ceasefire is when you’re shooting in a more moderate manner." He later characterized the region as "very volatile."

When pressed on the potential for further escalation, Trump asserted the overwhelming capability of the U.S. military. "We could go...