Tel Aviv — Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reportedly ordered a 48-hour military campaign targeting Iran’s weapons infrastructure, following a tense underground summit with senior commanders in Tel Aviv. The move comes amid growing concerns that President Donald Trump’s proposed peace plan may fall short of curbing Tehran’s military ambitions.
According to sources familiar with the meeting, Netanyahu directed the Israel Defense Forces to strike high-value Iranian targets across the region, including in Gaza and Lebanon where Iranian proxies are active. Officials described the atmosphere inside the bunker as “tense,” with fears mounting that Washington could finalize a deal with Tehran at any moment.
The U.S. administration unveiled a 15-point peace proposal earlier this week, modeled on Trump’s Gaza framework. The plan calls for Iran to dismantle its nuclear and long-range missile programs, open the Strait of Hormuz to international shipping, and abandon support for proxy militias. However, Iranian state media swiftly rejected the offer, demanding instead the closure of U.S. bases in the Gulf, reparations, and an end to Israeli strikes against Hezbollah.
Netanyahu’s inner circle has outlined three core objectives for the campaign: eliminating Iran’s ballistic missile stockpile, preventing the development of a nuclear warhead, and fostering conditions for regime change from within. “If you do not obtain the three objectives, you will not be able to end the war,” said Boaz Bismuth, a member of Netanyahu’s party.
Meanwhile, the Pentagon has deployed additional forces to the Middle East, including 2,000 paratroopers from the 82nd Airborne Division, joining 4,500 Marines already en route. Trump aides have signaled that while the President remains open to diplomacy, preparations for a potential ground invasion are underway should Tehran continue to rebuff U.S. overtures. One senior official described the administration’s stance bluntly: “Trump has a hand open for a deal, and the other is a fist, waiting to punch.”
Regional powers are closely watching the escalation. Saudi Arabia has urged Washington to maintain pressure on Tehran, with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman reportedly pressing Trump to consider ground operations to seize Iran’s energy sites. Diplomatic channels remain strained, with U.S. and Iranian officials communicating only through intermediaries in Egypt, Turkey, and Pakistan.
As strikes continue across the Middle East, including recent Israeli operations in Gaza and Lebanon, the prospect of a negotiated settlement appears increasingly remote. Analysts warn that Netanyahu’s accelerated timeline underscores the fragility of Trump’s peace initiative — and the risk of a broader conflict engulfing the region.
