IDF Plans 3 Weeks of Strikes as Israel and U.S. Intensify Campaign Against Iran

by | Mar 16, 2026 | News

flying rocket during daytime

Israeli military officials say the joint campaign by Israel and the United States against Iran is progressing faster than expected, but the operation is far from over.

According to the Israel Defense Forces, the war effort will likely continue for at least three more weeks, with thousands of additional targets still scheduled to be struck across Iran.

IDF spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin said the campaign is moving ahead of schedule but that the military intends to continue operations through the upcoming Passover holiday and potentially beyond.

The current phase of the war is focused on destroying Iran’s defense industry, including facilities that manufacture ballistic missiles, air defense systems, and other advanced weapons.

Since the conflict began on February 28 with a series of Israeli decapitation strikes that killed Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and dozens of senior officials, Israel says it has already struck more than 1,700 military-related targets.

Military officials claim the campaign has significantly damaged Iran’s ability to produce ballistic missiles and has destroyed or disabled roughly 70 percent of the country’s missile launchers.

Israel also reports achieving widespread air superiority over Iranian airspace after destroying more than 100 air defense systems and over 120 detection systems.

Beyond weapons production, Israeli forces have also targeted command centers tied to the regime’s internal security apparatus, including the Basij paramilitary forces.

The IDF estimates that 4,000 to 5,000 Iranian soldiers have been killed during the strikes, with tens of thousands more wounded. Officials say morale among Iranian troops has declined, with reports of desertion and refusal to serve in some units.

Israeli leaders say the campaign aims not only to remove the immediate threat posed by Iran’s nuclear and missile programs but to severely weaken the regime’s military capabilities for years to come.

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