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Iranwire – On Thursday, March 5, Israel’s Chief of General Staff, Eyal Zamir, announced that the country is moving into the “next phase of the campaign” against Iran, cautioning that further “surprises” are still to come.
According to Israeli media, Zamir said that following the initial wave of surprise strikes – which he claimed secured air superiority and eliminated major ballistic missile formations – the military is now moving into a new stage of operations.
“We are moving to the next phase of the campaign,” he said, “where we will intensify strikes on the regime’s foundations and its military capabilities.”
He added that Israel has further surprise operations prepared but will not reveal details at this stage.
Zamir, a seasoned military commander and former Director General of Israel’s Ministry of Defense, indicated that the Israeli Air Force now considers itself in control of Iranian airspace. His reference to “air superiority” suggests that Israel may have taken out key Iranian air defense systems, including the Russian-made S-300 and Iran’s own Bavar-373. If that assessment holds true, it would mean Israeli aircraft – such as the F-35 – can fly over Iranian territory with far less risk, signaling a move from limited operations to deeper and more sustained strikes.
Zamir also emphasized the close coordination between Israel and the United States. He said he remains in “constant contact” with American military leaders, including the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Dan Kane, and CENTCOM Commander Admiral Brad Cooper.
“We are fighting based on shared interests and values,” Zamir stated. “In a coordinated effort, we are stripping the regime of its military capabilities and bringing it to a state of strategic isolation and a point of weakness it has never experienced before.”
Zamir said that Israeli pilots have conducted roughly 2,500 strikes to date, using more than 6,000 munitions. He also asserted that nearly 80% of Iran’s air defense systems have been knocked out and that over 60% of its ballistic missile launchers are no longer operational.
The pace of operations is striking. Conducting 2,500 strikes in less than a week represents an exceptionally high operational tempo, even by the standards of modern air campaigns. The claim that 60% of missile launchers have been destroyed is particularly significant, as those launchers are mobile and often concealed in heavily fortified underground “missile cities.”
Earlier, U.S. officials said they had secured full control of Iranian airspace just days after the conflict intensified. On Thursday, March 5, CENTCOM shared a video on X showing a fighter jet hangar inside Iran being destroyed, adding that Tehran’s capacity to target U.S. forces and its regional allies is “rapidly decreasing,” even as American military strength in the region continues to build.
Zamir’s mention of “strategic isolation” appears to refer to efforts aimed at cutting off Iran’s regional supply networks – especially the land corridor that connects Tehran to Hezbollah in Lebanon and allied militias in Iraq and Syria. Disrupting those routes would significantly limit Iran’s capacity to extend its influence and military reach beyond its own borders.
Together, these statements suggest that Israel sees the conflict entering a new and potentially more aggressive phase.
