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| Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu |
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered the Israeli military to strike as many high-priority targets in Iran as possible within 48 hours, according to four people briefed on the matter .
The order came Tuesday after the Israeli government obtained a copy of a 15-point plan drafted by the United States and sent to Iran that aims to end the war, two senior Israeli officials said . One official was present at meetings where the plan was discussed.
Israel is concerned that the conflict could soon be halted by diplomatic talks between the United States and Iran, prompting the push to destroy as much of Iran’s arms industry as possible before any potential agreement takes effect . Two senior Israeli officials and two people briefed on the matter said the military is racing to strike key targets.
The deadline reflects Israeli concerns that President Donald Trump could announce peace talks at any moment, the officials said. They spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss sensitive national security matters.
The Trump administration has not confirmed or denied the existence of the 15-point plan or whether it was sent to Iran .
The order was given during a tense meeting Tuesday at Israel’s military headquarters in Tel Aviv, following briefings from top commanders on remaining targets. Those present included the heads of the air force and military intelligence .
Israel has used more than 10,000 munitions so far in its military campaign against Iran, which began February 28, according to Israeli army spokesperson Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin . Defrin said Sunday that strikes against Iran and Lebanon’s Hezbollah group are expected to continue for several more weeks.
The Israeli military is planning for “at least three more weeks” of war with Iran, with “thousands of targets ahead,” Defrin told CNN on March 15 . He said the military aims to “weaken the Iranian regime severely.”
Israeli leaders have identified three main war aims: eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile threat, ensuring Iran cannot develop a nuclear weapon, and creating conditions for the Iranian people to rise up against their government .
Boaz Bismuth, a member of Netanyahu’s party and chairman of the foreign affairs and defense committee in Parliament, said in an interview that without achieving these three objectives, Israel would not be able to end the war .
The Israeli government believes the US-drafted plan does not sufficiently curb Iran’s nuclear program and ballistic missile capabilities, officials said .
The humanitarian impact has been significant. By March 12, an estimated 3.2 million Iranians had been temporarily displaced following airstrikes, according to the UN refugee agency . At least 1,444 people had been killed in Iran by March 16, mostly civilians, with more than 18,550 injured, according to Al Jazeera .
The conflict began February 28 when US and Israeli forces launched strikes targeting Iranian leadership, air defense systems, missile sites, and naval forces . The initial attack killed Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian commanders.
Israel continues to face retaliatory strikes. Iran launched multiple waves of missiles targeting Israel on March 24, including residential areas in Tel Aviv, causing minor injuries and property damage, according to Israeli emergency services .
Netanyahu said in a post on X on Monday that he spoke with Trump and that they will work to realize the goals of the war through an agreement that safeguards their vital interests . He also pledged to continue attacking Iran and Lebanon.
"We are smashing the missile program and the nuclear program, and we continue to deal severe blows to Hezbollah," Netanyahu said .
Trump announced Monday that he instructed the Department of War to postpone military strikes against Iranian power plants and energy infrastructure for five days, subject to the success of ongoing discussions . He noted that the United States and Iran had a “very good and productive conversation” regarding a resolution of hostilities.
Iranian officials have denied any negotiations with the United States. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf posted on X that “no negotiations have been held with the US” and that “fakenews is used to manipulate the financial and oil markets” .
The UN Security Council is negotiating a draft resolution introduced by Bahrain that would authorize states to use “all necessary means” to ensure freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz, Al Jazeera reported.