Israel Says It Is Starting 'Next Phase' of War, as Iranians tell BBC of War Fatigue
The chief of staff of the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) says it is "moving to the next phase of the operation" against Iran, insisting it will "further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities".
IDF Chief of staff Lt Gen Eyal Zamir says Israel and the US have been "strategically isolating" Iran and bringing it to a point of weakness "unlike any it has known”.
He says that for six days Israel has been striking Iran "without pause" and the "operation is proceeding at the pace we planned it to advance at".
He writes in a statement: "After completing the surprise strike phase, in which we established air superiority and suppressed the ballistic missile array, we are now moving to the next phase of the operation.
"In this phase, we will further dismantle the regime and its military capabilities. We have additional surprises ahead which I do not intend to disclose."
His statement then moves to the situation in Lebanon, saying that Hezbollah made "a strategic error" for joining the fighting and that Israel are "striking with force, on the front line and deeper in Lebanon".A resident in eastern Tehran has told BBC Persian they are being woken up to the sound of explosions and shaking windows.
"I am deeply sorrowful that with every explosion, part of the country’s human and material capital vanishes into thin air, and with each day the war continues, we fall another year behind in economic development," Amir says.
Mim, who is based in Isfahan in central Iran, says Israel and the US have attacked all defensive industries that existed there.
"War brings nothing but destruction, death, and the annihilation of a country’s national and human resources," they add.
Meanwhile, Javad, who is based in Mashhad in the north east of Iran says that the area has become quieter than usual after explosions were heard during the first few days of strikes.
Elsewhere, Davoud says there is a different atmosphere in Kurdistan.
He says that Sanandaj in the west of Iran has been bombed more than 10 times but people remain hopeful for the future.
(Source: BBC)
