JERUSALEM, March 5 (Xinhua) -- Israel's military chief Eyal Zamir said in a televised address Thursday that Israeli forces are moving to the "next phase" of their campaign against Iran, in which they will intensify strikes against the Iranian government's foundations and its military capabilities.
Zamir said that following an initial "surprise opening strike" that suppressed Iran's ballistic missile array, the military is now shifting its focus. "We have further surprising moves that I do not intend to reveal," he said. "We will pursue all of our enemies and we will reach them."
Israeli air force has conducted 2,500 strikes, dropped over 6,000 munitions, and destroyed roughly 60 percent of Iran's ballistic missile launchers and 80 percent of its air defense systems, Zamir said, adding that Israel has achieved near-total air superiority over Iran.
He said that the joint U.S.-Israeli operation, launched Saturday, is being closely coordinated with top U.S. military officials, including Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Dan Caine and Commander of Central Command Brad Cooper.
He said their goal is to strip the Iranian government of its military capabilities and bring it to "a point of strategic isolation and a point of weakness they have never been in before."
On the northern front, Zamir said Israel is striking "with power" at the border and deep inside Lebanon. He confirmed that the forces have been ordered to advance and seize key positions in southern Lebanon.
Meanwhile, Israeli military said that it killed Zaid Ali Jumaa, Hezbollah firepower management commander, in airstrikes in Beirut.
Jumaa, also the head of artillery in southern Lebanon, was responsible for launching "thousands" of rockets, missiles and drones toward Israel, the military said.
In response to the joint attack by the United States and Israel on Saturday, Iran launched large-scale strikes on Israel and multiple U.S. bases across the Middle East. ■
