By: Fern Sidman

In a high-level security briefing held Tuesday evening, Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz stated that Israel is now “at the closest point to achieving the war’s objectives,” citing critical advancements in both the Gaza and Yemen theaters. The declaration followed an intensive situational assessment attended by senior Israeli defense officials, including IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir and representatives from Israel’s intelligence community, as reported on Wednesday at The Jewish News Syndicate (JNS).

According to the information provided in the JNS report, the meeting focused on the increasingly complex threat matrix facing the Jewish state across multiple fronts in the Middle East. While the immediate focus remains on dismantling Hamas’s infrastructure and securing the release of hostages held in Gaza, the assessment also addressed long-term strategic challenges emanating from Iran, Lebanon, Syria, and Yemen. Katz emphasized that any comprehensive Israeli victory must also include the neutralization of the Iranian axis and its regional proxies.

“We are at a pivotal moment,” Katz said during the assessment. “Our doctrine of offensive action remains unchanged, and we will see it through until a complete and lasting victory.” He further underscored that achieving Israel’s military and political goals would require persistent operations and unwavering resolve, especially in the volatile regions of northern Samaria and along Israel’s northern borders.

The defense minister’s remarks reflect the Israeli government’s increasing confidence in the trajectory of its military campaigns. Katz also addressed the significance of current operations in Yemen, where Israel has expanded defensive and intelligence efforts to counter Houthi-aligned threats to regional maritime routes. The widening scope of Israel’s engagement beyond Gaza, Katz indicated, underscores Jerusalem’s view of the conflict as part of a broader confrontation with Iranian-sponsored militancy.

During the security briefing, Katz reaffirmed Israel’s steadfast objective of securing the release of all hostages captured during the October 7th massacre by Hamas. “We will not waver until every hostage is returned,” he said. “Their safe return is both a moral imperative and a national priority.”

As the JNS report highlighted, this meeting follows a related gathering convened Monday by IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir, marking the first multi-arena situational assessment since 2023. Zamir gathered senior military commanders across divisions to ensure synchronization of efforts and preparedness for what he described as “a continued wide-scale and comprehensive campaign.” The IDF, according to JNS, is implementing enhanced joint-force coordination and refining contingency strategies to counteract asymmetric threats across its northern and southern fronts.

Zamir also called for heightened vigilance in northern Samaria, an area that remains a hub of terrorist activity. The region has seen a sharp uptick in clashes between IDF units and armed cells operating under the influence of Iran-backed factions. Katz reiterated that IDF operations in Samaria will persist “with full force,” and that the security establishment would not allow terrorist groups to entrench themselves further in the West Bank.

During the discussion, Israeli intelligence officials briefed Katz and Zamir on the evolving situation inside Iran. While Iran’s nuclear enrichment sites and ballistic missile infrastructure sustained significant damage during recent Israeli strikes, defense officials warned of Tehran’s ongoing attempts to reconstitute its weapons programs. Katz called for continued preventative action to obstruct Iran’s efforts to restore its military capabilities, declaring, “We will not allow Iran to recover strategically. Our strikes have set them back—but we must remain ahead of their next move.”

The briefing concluded with a consensus that the coming weeks would be critical for shaping both operational outcomes and diplomatic trajectories. Katz and Zamir instructed field commanders and intelligence units to sustain pressure on Hamas while maintaining readiness to respond decisively to escalations from Hezbollah in Lebanon or from Iranian proxies in Syria.

The JNS report noted that the tone of Katz’s address marked a significant shift from prior public statements, reflecting both mounting military achievements and intensifying threats. With multiple conflict zones still active and regional adversaries recalibrating their tactics, Israel’s security doctrine appears firmly rooted in preemptive engagement and strategic endurance.

Katz’s message, as conveyed through JNS, left little room for ambiguity. “The war will not end prematurely,” he stated. “We must secure our people, assert our sovereignty, and ensure that terror groups—whether in Gaza, Yemen, or Tehran—understand that Israel’s resolve is absolute.”

As Israel’s defense establishment continues to grapple with a war spanning across multiple theaters, the upcoming period may prove decisive in determining the trajectory of the broader regional conflict. With both military and diplomatic ramifications hanging in the balance, the defense minister’s pronouncements reflect a nation fully committed to achieving definitive and enduring security outcomes.