The Israeli government openly criticised remarks by US President Donald Trump suggesting that the war with Iran is close to ending, saying the conflict is ‘not finished yet’.
Speaking on Monday, the senior Israeli official said: ‘Nothing has been completed yet. Our initial assessment was that the battle would take many weeks.’
The comments were reported by Israel’s privately owned Channel 15 television, which did not name the official.
Earlier on Monday evening, Trump told CBS News that the war was ‘nearly over’.
He said: ‘I think the war is very complete, pretty much. They have no navy, no communications, they’ve got no Air Force’ and adding that the US is ‘very far’ ahead of its initial 4-5 week estimated time frame for the war.
Since 28th February, Israel and the United States have been carrying out attacks on Iran that have killed hundreds of people, including Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and several security officials.
Tehran has responded by launching waves of missiles and drones towards Israel.
Iran has also fired missiles and drones at what it calls ‘US interests’ in Gulf countries, as well as Jordan and Iraq. The attacks have caused deaths and injuries and damaged civilian property.
The targeted Arab countries have condemned the strikes and called for the attacks to stop.