Defense Minister Says U.S.-Israeli Military Campaign Will Intensify “Significantly” in Coming Week.
Israel’s defense minister has warned that joint U.S.-Israeli strikes on Iran are set to escalate sharply in the coming days, signaling a new and potentially more destructive phase of the war.
In a statement released Saturday, Israel Katz said the intensity of military operations against what he described as the “Iranian terror regime” and its supporting infrastructure would “rise significantly” beginning Sunday.
“This week, the intensity of the strikes to be carried out by the [Israeli military] and the U.S. military against the Iranian terror regime and the infrastructure on which it relies will rise significantly,” Katz said.
The remarks come as the conflict enters its fourth week, with both sides expanding targets beyond initial military objectives. U.S. and Israeli forces have already conducted thousands of strikes aimed at degrading Iran’s missile-launch capabilities, aerospace units and defense-industrial facilities.
Iran, in turn, has launched ballistic missiles and drones at Israeli territory and Gulf energy infrastructure, escalating the confrontation beyond bilateral hostilities and into regional economic pressure.
Katz’s warning suggests that the campaign may shift toward broader infrastructure targets or deeper penetration into remaining Iranian military strongholds. Analysts say such an escalation could further strain regional defenses and heighten the risk of retaliatory strikes across the Gulf.
Washington has not yet detailed the scale of the next phase, but U.S. defense officials have indicated that operations remain focused on preventing Iran from rebuilding its missile and nuclear capabilities.
With oil prices elevated and diplomatic efforts stalled, the announcement underscores that de-escalation appears distant. Instead, both militaries are preparing for intensified operations — and a widening impact across the region.
