'Entering Decisive Phase’: Israeli Defence Minister's Evaluation After 2 Weeks Of Iran War

Last Updated:March 14, 2026, 19:12 IST

Israel’s Defence Minister Israel Katz said the war with Iran is in a “decisive phase” as US and Israel intensify strikes. Over 1,500 deaths in Iran, 10-13 in Israel.

As the war enters its second week, Israel’s Defence Minister, Israel Katz, has said the war with Iran is entering a “decisive phase", as the United States and Israel intensify military operations against Iranian targets.

Speaking to senior military officials in a televised statement, Katz praised recent US strikes on what Washington described as military targets on Kharg Island, Iran’s key oil export hub.

“The global and regional struggle against Iran, led by US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, is escalating and entering the decisive phase that will continue as long as necessary," Katz said.

The remarks come as the conflict between Iran and the US-Israel alliance enters its third week, with heavy strikes and counterattacks reported across the region.

The war began on February 28, when US and Israeli forces launched large-scale airstrikes on Iranian military and strategic targets. Since then, Iran has retaliated with missile and drone attacks against Israel and US-linked positions in the Middle East.

The fighting has resulted in heavy casualties, particularly inside Iran. More than 1,500 people have been reported killed in Iran, many of them civilians, following waves of US-Israeli airstrikes across multiple cities.

In Israel, the death toll has been significantly lower but still rising, with around 10–13 people killed in Iranian missile strikes despite the country’s advanced air-defence systems intercepting many incoming attacks.

The conflict has also spilled beyond the two countries, affecting parts of Lebanon, Iraq and several Gulf states hosting US military bases, raising fears of a broader regional war.

Israel has vowed to continue its campaign until Iran’s military and strategic capabilities are severely weakened, while Tehran has warned that the conflict could expand further if attacks on its territory continue.

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