WAR ON IRAN
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Netanyahu orders 48-hour surge in Iran air strikes fearing Trump may halt war — report
Benjamin Netanyahu instructs the military to speed up its air campaign against Iran for 48 hours to destroy as much of the country's arms industry as possible before Washington moves towards a ceasefire.
Netanyahu orders 48-hour surge in Iran air strikes fearing Trump may halt war — report
Netanyahu accelerates strikes on Iran before potential ceasefire. (FILE) / Reuters
2 hours ago

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to speed up its air aggressions against Iran for 48 hours to destroy as much of the country's arms industry as possible before Washington moves toward a ceasefire, according to the New York Times.

The directive has come after Netanyahu's government obtained a copy of a US-drafted 15-point plan to end the war and concluded it did not adequately address Iran's nuclear programme or ballistic missile capabilities.

Israeli officials fear US President Donald Trump could announce peace talks at any moment, the report said.

On the reported plan, White House spokesperson Karoline Leavitt urged caution, saying she had seen a plan "floated in the media" but that the White House had never confirmed it.

"There are elements of truth to it, but some of the stories I read were not entirely factual," she added.

Netanyahu issued the order during a meeting at a military headquarters on Tuesday, following briefings from senior commanders on remaining viable targets.

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Limited leverage

The urgency reflects a constraint Israel faces in the war, according to Israeli national security officials cited in the report.

The decision to end the war rests with Trump, leaving Netanyahu with limited influence over its conclusion.

Israeli officials remain divided, with some pushing for at least another week of attacks while others favour an earlier end.

Officials cited in the report said the most significant military gains came in the opening week, with concerns growing over international opinion, the war's financial cost and the burden on Israelis.

Uprising debate

Trump has rejected a suggestion by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to publicly encourage an uprising in Iran, according to Axios.

Netanyahu suggested urging Iranians to take to the streets during a recent call, but Trump opposed the idea, warning protesters could be "mowed down", the report said, citing US and Israeli sources familiar with the conversation.

The report added Israeli officials believed recent strikes targeting senior Iranian figures could weaken the regime and create conditions for unrest.

The United States and Israel launched their joint war against Iran on February 28, killing more than 1,340 people.

Iran has responded with strikes across the region, disrupting oil flows and aviation.

SOURCE:TRT World & Agencies