HIGHDIPLOMATIC

IDF spokesman: Plans for at least 3 more weeks of Iran operations — 'thousands of targets, no stopwatch'

2026-03-15 · 12:00 UTC·Israel

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin told CNN on Day 16 that Israel has plans for at least three more weeks of operations in Iran — through the Jewish holiday of Passover — with plans extending even further. 'We have thousands of targets ahead. We are not working according to a stopwatch or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals.' The disclosure signals the war will not end quickly.

IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin told CNN on March 15, 2026 (Day 16) that the Israeli military has plans for at least three more weeks of operations in Iran, during which thousands of targets would be struck. 'We have thousands of targets ahead,' Defrin said. 'We are ready, in coordination with our US allies, with plans through at least the Jewish holiday of Passover, about three weeks from now. And we have deeper plans for even three weeks beyond that.' He added that the IDF is 'not working according to a stopwatch, or a timetable, but rather to achieve our goals.' The Times of Israel had previously reported on March 13 that the IDF was preparing for several more weeks of operations, as it still has many more targets to hit in Tehran and across Iran. Passover in 2026 falls on April 1-9. The IDF disclosure — the most explicit public commitment to a long campaign yet — signals that despite diplomatic pressure and ceasefire calls, Israel intends to continue striking Iran for weeks to come. A senior Israeli official separately told ToI there are 'signs of cracks' in the Iranian regime: 'We are creating the conditions for toppling the regime... we are far ahead of schedule.'

Actor responses

IsraelNEUTRALRESPONSE

We have thousands of targets ahead. We are ready, in coordination with our US allies, with plans through Passover and beyond. We are not working according to a stopwatch — we work to achieve our goals. Signs of cracks are emerging in the Iranian regime.

IranOPPOSINGRESPONSE

The Zionist enemy's announcement that they plan weeks more of strikes on Iran only proves they are engaged in a war of annihilation. Iran will fight for as long as necessary. Every week of war costs the Zionist regime more than it can sustain.

United StatesSUPPORTINGRESPONSE

The US is coordinating with Israel on ongoing and future operations against Iranian military targets. We are committed to Israel's security and to degrading Iran's capacity to threaten the region.