Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-01 at 08:02

HEADLINESIsrael claims Iranian leadership killed in raidIranian missiles kill two in Tel AvivPutin condemns Iran strike urges restraintThe time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, politicians from across Israel's political spectrum visited the strike site on Sunday, with National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir at the scene declaring that Israel had "made history" in its operation to kill Iranian leadership and that "the head of the snake had been severed." He credited Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu for coordinating the attacks and said, "we are winning in Iran, and we will continue until the end." The scene at the site showed a building and cars severely damaged by an Iranian missile barrage in central Israel, part of the response to the joint Israel-US strikes launched on Saturday.Two fatalities in 24 hours as the operation continues into its second day were reported after a direct Iranian missile hit a residential building in Tel Aviv, killing one person, and a Tel Aviv resident, Marina Bleive, 68, suffocated while rushing to shelter. Emergency services said a woman in her 40s died after being in critical condition, bringing the two-day toll to two dead and more than 120 injured. In the aftermath, over 200 residents were evacuated from the area and housed in three nearby hotels, while about 40 buildings in the neighborhood have been inspected.The IDF said the opening wave of Roaring Lion killed 40 senior Iranian commanders "within a minute," including seven members of Iran's top security leadership gathered in Tehran. The military identified Major-General Abdolrahim Mousavi, a former chief of staff, as among those killed and said he oversaw key components of Iran's security apparatus and had ties to missile attacks against Israel in previous fighting. In a separate strike, the IDF said it also killed former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. The army added that the operation targeted Iran's leadership in Tehran as part of the broader campaign.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, world reaction to the killing of Khamenei and ongoing strikes included Russian President Vladimir Putin describing the death as a "cynical" murder that violated all norms of human morality and international law. Putin expressed condolences to Iran's leadership and highlighted Russia's view of its deepening relations with Iran, while urging restraint and a return to dialogue.In Iranian Retaliation, six people were killed and 27 injured in a direct Iranian missile strike on Beit Shemesh, central Israel, as sirens sounded from the north to Beersheba. The attack on Beit Shemesh accompanied by reports of Iranian jets destroyed on the ground and Iranian missiles fired toward Cyprus, with the Israeli Air Force striking targets in Tehran. Separately, Tel Aviv’s Café Graziani, a central city bakery and cafe, was destroyed in an Iranian missile strike; owner Yaniv Graziani pledged to rebuild and reopen. Additional reports describe direct hits in Beit Shemesh area and continued regional fire in the wake of the assault.Regional Impacts: After the latest assessment, Home Front Command said that following the alerts, people may exit protected spaces but should continue to stay near safe areas across the country and obey ongoing instructions from authorities.US Policy Concerning Israel: China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov that attacks by the United States and Israel on Iran were "unacceptable," calling for an immediate cessation of military action and a return to dialogue. China urged respect for Iran’s sovereignty and security, and noted the need to resume negotiations. Beijing also advised Chinese citizens in Israel to move to safer areas or leave for Egypt as a precaution.Israeli Economy and Business: OPEC+ members announced a larger-than-expected production increase of 206,000 barrels per day, to be implemented in April, citing a steady global economic outlook and healthy market fundamentals. Before the weekend talks, forecasts had pointed to a smaller rise, about 137,000 barrels per day. Analysts warned the move could still leave oil prices vulnerable to spikes if risks such as disruption of the Hormuz Strait materialize, given the broader tensions in the region.Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. 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