Report: War With Iran Likely to Extend Through Independence Day
While the U.S. predicts a quick resolution, Israeli officials signal the campaign against Iran could extend past Independence Day to ensure the total destruction of the regime's missile industry.
Israel and the United States appear to be preparing for a prolonged campaign against Iran that could last well beyond Passover — and potentially through Israel's Independence Day in late April.
Despite being apparently ahead of schedule, the IDF has said it is preparing for at least three more weeks of operations in Iran, as it still has thousands of targets to strike, both in Tehran and in other parts of the country.
IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told CNN that the military has plans coordinated with U.S. allies through at least the Passover holiday, roughly three weeks away, and has "deeper plans for even three weeks beyond that." This would potentially push the campaign into the period of Israel's Memorial Day and Independence Day ceremonies.
Defrin stressed that the IDF is "not working according to a stopwatch, or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals," which he defined as to "weaken the Iranian regime severely."
On the battlefield, military officials said strikes have caused significant damage to Iran's ballistic missile production industry, and as a result, Iran currently does not have the ability to manufacture any new missiles. The IAF has also achieved air supremacy over most of Iran's airspace, after destroying more than 100 air defense systems and around 120 detection systems.
At the same time, U.S. Energy Secretary Chris Wright said he expects the conflict to conclude within "the next few weeks," with oil supplies rebounding and energy prices declining afterward. His timeline appears shorter than what IDF planners are signaling.
Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi has pushed back against any suggestion of a ceasefire, saying Iran "has neither sought a truce nor talks," and vowing that Iranian forces will continue striking until the U.S. ends what Tehran calls an "illegal war."
Meanwhile, Iranian-mediated diplomatic efforts are underway, with neighboring countries presenting ideas to de-escalate tensions, though no concrete progress has been reported.