Katz: Iran operation was originally planned for mid-2026, was moved up due to developments

During a visit to the IDF’s Intelligence Directorate, Defense Minister Israel Katz says Israel accelerated its planned military campaign against Iran from mid-2026 to February due to evolving circumstances and new intelligence capabilities.

“An operation had originally been planned for the middle of the year,” Katz tells intelligence officers, adding that “there arose a need to bring everything forward to February,” due to “developments and circumstances,” including the weeks-long anti-regime protests in Iran.

“You provided enormous progress on the intelligence front, day by day and hour by hour,” Katz continues, saying that the Intelligence Directorate’s work helped enable coordination with the United States and the “fantastic opening strike and what followed.”

Intelligence Directorate chief Maj. Gen. Shlomi Binder says the IDF’s intelligence arm is working “24/7” to provide warning and operational intelligence across multiple fronts as Israel continues its campaign against Iran.

“We are providing intelligence for decision-making and, above all, intelligence for victory over the enemy,” Binder says, adding that thousands of personnel are working to support ongoing operations.