Military leaders from Israel’s Defense Forces report that coordinated operations with American forces against Iranian targets could extend for a minimum of three additional weeks, with planning potentially reaching beyond that timeframe.
Brigadier General Effie Defrin, speaking as the IDF’s official spokesperson, told CNN that Israeli forces are organizing for an extended campaign working alongside United States military personnel. His comments came two weeks following the start of current hostilities.
“We have thousands of targets ahead. We are ready, in coordination with our US allies, with plans through at least the Jewish holiday of Passover, about three weeks from now. And we have deeper plans for even three weeks beyond that,” Defrin stated.
Defrin emphasized that the military campaign follows strategic goals rather than predetermined timelines. He explained that the IDF “is not working according to a stopwatch, or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals,” with the primary objective being to “weaken the Iranian regime severely.”
President Donald Trump has indicated that American military strikes may escalate further. U.S. forces conducted attacks on Saturday against military installations on Kharg Island, a crucial Persian Gulf location that handles approximately 90% of Iran’s oil exports.
During an interview with NBC News, Trump hinted at potential future strikes on the same location. The president remarked that the U.S. might consider bombing the island “once more, just for fun.”
“Iran wants to make a deal, and I don’t want to make it because the terms aren’t good enough yet,” Trump said.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi rejected claims that Tehran was seeking negotiations with Washington during his television appearance.
“We don’t see any reason why we should talk with Americans, because we were talking with them when they decided to attack us,” he told CBS News’ Face the Nation program.
“This is a war of choice by President Trump and the United States, and we are going to continue our self-defense.”
Iran’s recently appointed Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei issued a written declaration threatening to close the Strait of Hormuz, a critical maritime passage that facilitates the transport of approximately 20% of global oil supplies.
