"This operation will continue without a time limit, lasting as long as needed until we achieve all our objectives and determine the conflict's outcome," Israel's Defense Minister Katz stated today, during a meeting with Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, commander of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF), and the General Staff.
Katz warned that airstrikes would continue in Tehran and across Iran "day after day, from one target to another."
Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar today urged the United Nations Security Council to list the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) as a "terrorist organization." He also accused Iran's recent actions of being a direct threat not only to Israel but also to regional and international peace and security.
Iranian officials have not yet commented on the information.
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Israeli Defense Minister Katz (center, in black) at a meeting on 11/3. Photo: Times of Israel |
Israeli Defense Minister Katz (center, in black) at a meeting on 11/3. Photo: Times of Israel
Earlier this week, in an interview with CBS, US President Donald Trump suggested the war was nearing its end, despite previous statements by him and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that the campaign could last weeks or months.
Michael Singh, managing director of the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, noted that while Washington and Tel Aviv's objectives are generally similar, they are not identical. "Israel wants Iran permanently weakened, while the US may prioritize an earlier end to the conflict due to other strategic interests in different regions," he said.
The Middle East has been embroiled in conflict since the US and Israel launched airstrikes against Iran on 28/2. Iran retaliated by firing missiles and drones at Israel and US bases in Arab countries in the region. The clashes have resulted in over 1,700 fatalities, primarily in Iran, and have affected many regional nations.
The IRGC was established following the 1979 revolution, with the mission to "protect the Islamic Revolution and its achievements." The IRGC subsequently became Iran's leading military force and gained significant political and economic influence.
In 2019, during Donald Trump's first term, the US designated the IRGC as a foreign terrorist organization. Canada took similar action in 2024. The UK and the European Union (EU) have also expressed this intention but have not yet acted.
By Thanh Tam (AFP, Reuters)
