Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-02 at 11:02

HEADLINESIsfahan Explosions Herald Israel-Iran War EscalationIDF Pounds 70 Hezbollah Targets Across LebanonWest Bank Arrests Drive Netanyahu Security PushThe time is now 11:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, explosions were reported near Isfahan, in the central Iranian city, near a nuclear facility, with footage showing smoke rising from an Iranian air force base in the area. The reports come as Israeli-US airstrikes on Iranian regime, military, and nuclear infrastructure continue as part of operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury. Sirens were heard in greater Tel Aviv, Sharon and Shfela as Tehran and Beirut were hit in waves of strikes, and the IDF vowed the campaign will continue until the Lebanon threat is removed. The Israeli air campaign has dropped about 2,500 munitions so far, and the military leadership warns of many days of combat ahead.In Regional Impacts, the Home Front Command issued guidance after a situation assessment that it is permissible to leave the protected area but to remain close to protected spaces, with instructions to continue following official guidance. The rocket fire into Israel resumed toward the central regions with no casualties reported. Security officials warned Iran may change its missile-launch strategy toward Israel. In Qatar, gas supplies were halted and prices surged by about 50 percent in a single day. Across the wider region, Afghanistan and Pakistan said their militaries had targeted each other’s posts across the border as fighting entered a fifth day, fueling instability in a region already rocked by US-Israeli strikes on Iran and Tehran’s retaliation. Dozens of people were killed as cross-border exchanges intensified, including reported attacks around Bagram air base as Afghan and Pakistani forces pressed operations on rival positions.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli Defense Forces completed a broad wave of attacks in southern Lebanon, striking more than 70 targets of Hezbollah, including weapons depots, launch positions, and rocket launchers across multiple areas, in what the army described as aimed at hindering Hezbollah’s ability to threaten Israeli forces and civilians. Cyprus said all indications point to Hezbollah launching the drones that were observed heading toward Cyprus. Beirut was reported to be under attack, underscoring the widening regional strain.In Israeli Domestic Politics, police moved to extend restrictions on Yonatan Urich, a senior adviser to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and central figure in the Qatargate affair, seeking to maintain a ban on contact with Netanyahu and the PMO, prevent work within the PMO, and extend a travel ban through March 19, with a hearing set for Tuesday at 11:30 a.m. The IDF, alongside the Shin Bet, Border Police, and Israel Police, arrested 60 wanted suspects across the West Bank as part of a broader operation that included mobilizing reservists and opening emergency storage facilities; the Central Command chief visited these storage sites and emphasized readiness. During a Beit Shemesh visit, Netanyahu asserted that Iranians will soon be empowered to overthrow the regime, calling it a struggle for humanity, while Bennet and Lapid stressed unity and safety as they supported the joint Israel-US operation Roaring Lion against Iran.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UCL’s Ahlul-Bayt Islamic Society sparked criticism by posting condolences for Ayatollah Ali Khamenei’s martyrdom, comparing his death to the pope and calling the event a noted loss, while defending the mourning as a religious practice. US-based anti-Israel groups also urged supporters to mobilize against what they describe as Zionist oppression of Iran, with Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network calling for emergency demonstrations to shut down the war machine and National Students for Justice in Palestine chapters urging actions to defend Iran’s sovereignty.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. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.SOURCEShttps://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-888557https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byyzymmtblhttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1291106https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/pakistan-afghanistan-show-no-signs-stepping-back-fighting-enters-fifth-dayhttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1291099https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1291111https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/70402https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/70391https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-888559https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-888555https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-888547https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-888561https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-888544