Netanyahu Orders Military to Speed Up Aggression Against Iran

(MENAFN) Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has directed the military to intensify its air campaign against Iran over a 48-hour window, racing to dismantle as much of the country's arms manufacturing capacity as possible before Washington pivots toward a ceasefire, the New York Times reported Wednesday.

The order was issued after Netanyahu's government obtained a copy of a U.S.-drafted 15-point peace framework and concluded it fell critically short on addressing Iran's nuclear program and ballistic missile arsenal. Israeli officials now fear that President Donald Trump could announce a move toward peace talks at any moment, according to the Times.

Netanyahu gave the directive during a Tuesday meeting at a military headquarters, following detailed briefings from senior commanders on what viable targets remain within reach.

White House Pushes Back on Reported Peace Plan
White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt urged restraint in interpreting the reported framework, distancing the administration from its specifics.

"There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual," she added, noting she had seen a plan "floated in the media" but that the White House had never confirmed it.

Israel's Shrinking Window — and Limited Leverage
The accelerated campaign reflects a stark strategic reality Israel now confronts, according to five Israeli national security officials cited by the Times: the power to end the war lies exclusively with Trump, leaving Netanyahu with minimal sway over its final outcome.

Deep divisions have also emerged within Israeli leadership. Some officials are pushing for at least another week to work through a broader target list, while others are pressing for an earlier conclusion. Three officials told the Times that the most decisive military gains were secured in the conflict's opening week, with anxieties now growing over international opinion, mounting financial costs, and the psychological and physical toll on Israel's civilian population.

Conflict's Mounting Toll
The U.S. and Israel have conducted joint strikes against Iran since Feb. 28, killing more than 1,340 people, among them then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Iran has since launched retaliatory strikes across the region, disrupting global oil flows and commercial aviation routes.

Trump moved Monday to pause strikes on Iranian energy infrastructure, as indirect U.S.-Iran contacts through back-channel intermediaries reportedly remain active.

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