March 26, 2026 | 09:22 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has instructed the military to accelerate airstrikes against Iran within 48 hours to destroy as much of the country's weapons industry as possible, before the United States moves toward a ceasefire with Tehran, the New York Times reported Wednesday.
The directive came after Netanyahu's government obtained a copy of a 15-point US-drafted plan to end the war. As reported by Anadolu Agency, the report concluded that the plan did not adequately address Iran's nuclear program or its ballistic missile capabilities. Israeli officials fear that US President Donald Trump could announce peace talks at any time, according to the Times.
Regarding the reported plan, White House spokeswoman Karoline Leavitt urged caution, saying she had seen the 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," Leavitt said.
Netanyahu issued the order during a meeting at military headquarters on Tuesday, following a briefing from senior commanders on viable targets.
Limited Influence
The urgency reflects the fundamental constraints Israel faces in this conflict, according to five Israeli national security officials cited by the Times. The decision to end the war rests entirely with Trump, leaving Netanyahu with little influence over its outcome.
Meanwhile, Israeli officials remain divided. Some want at least another week to complete a broader list of targets, while others favor an earlier end.
Three officials, according to the Times, noted that the most significant military gains occurred in the first week, with growing concerns over international opinion, the war's financial costs, and the growing psychological and physical toll on the Israeli population.
The US and Israel have been attacking Iran since February 28, killing more than 1,340 people, including then-Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.
Iran has retaliated with attacks across the region, closing the Strait of Hormuz and disrupting global oil flows. Trump on Monday halted planned attacks on Iranian energy infrastructure, which many legal experts have called war crimes, while indirect US-Iranian contacts through intermediaries reportedly continue.
Read: US, Israel Remove Iranian Officials from Target List Amid Talks
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