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Israel prepared for weeks-long Iran campaign, unlikely to deploy ground forces, spokesperson says

Reuters  /  March 3, 2026

Tel Aviv – The Israeli military has ​prepared for a campaign against Iran ‌that could last several weeks but is unlikely to see the deployment of ground ​forces, a military spokesperson told reporters ​on Tuesday.

“We have prepared a general ⁠scope of weeks,” Lieutenant Colonel Nadav ​Shoshani said in an online briefing, adding ​that the duration of the military campaign could change, depending on developments. He described progress ​so far as positive.

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When asked if ​Israel could deploy ground forces to Iran, Shoshani said ‌that ⁠was unlikely.

“I don’t think that’s something very likely at the moment for Israeli forces. There’s not a practical idea ​at the ​moment that ⁠I know of,” he said.

Israel and the U.S. have been ​carrying out air strikes against ​Iran ⁠since Saturday, triggering Iranian retaliation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Monday that the U.S.-Israel ⁠war ​with Iran could take “some ​time” but would not take years.

Reporting by Alexander Cornwell and Steven Scheer; Editing by Aidan Lewis