Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-05 at 04:03

HEADLINESF35 downed Iranian Yak130 above TehranHistoric US Israel coordination over IranIranian drone strikes hit Nakhchivan airportThe time is now 4:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a rapid sequence of cross-border actions and confrontations unfolded. An El Al repatriation flight was prevented from landing at Ben-Gurion Airport by Iranian strikes, with the aircraft a minute from touchdown before sirens in central Israel forced it to climb away; Magen David Adom reported no injuries and Israel Police noted a fragment from an Iranian missile found in central Israel, also with no injuries. In a separate development, video authenticated by the IDF shows an Israeli Air Force F-35I fighter jet shooting down an Iranian Yak-130 above Tehran, described as the first known instance of an F-35 downing a manned fighter. In southern Syria, an Iranian drone was targeted by an Israeli aircraft and crashed in the city of Inkhil in the Daraa countryside. Earlier, a missile from Iran struck an open area in central Israel, with no injuries reported, and authorities said Iranian missile launches appear to be declining, though officials warned of possible follow-on actions involving Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen.In US Military Role, Washington and Jerusalem emphasized close, high-level coordination. US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth told Israeli Defense Minister Katz to continue against the Islamic regime “to the end,” expressing strong support and noting unprecedented collaboration and efforts to safeguard American troops in the region. The two ministers said the partnership aims to shape security in the area. Separately, Iranian sources claimed the United States attacked targets at Bandar Abbas naval base, with reports of heavy black smoke rising from the area. Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi condemned the sinking of the IRIS Dena, saying a US submarine struck the vessel in the Indian Ocean; US Defense Secretary Hegseth described the strike as carried out with a torpedo and labeled it the “Quiet Death.” The ship had been participating in a naval drill in the Bay of Bengal, and about 32 sailors were reported rescued.In Regional Impacts, the conflict’s spillover continued across the region. A Qatari F-15QA shot down two Iranian Su-24s detected crossing the Persian Gulf toward Qatar within minutes of strikes on US forces at Al Udeid Air Base. In the South Caucasus, Azerbaijan’s foreign ministry condemned drone attacks launched from Iran, saying the strikes violated international law and heightened regional tensions, and Azerbaijan reserved the right to respond. Reports from Azerbaijan also described an Iranian UAV striking the international airport at Nakhchivan, marking what some described as the first Iranian attack on Azerbaijan; sources said two Iranian suicide drones hit Azerbaijani territory in the Nakhchivan region—one near a school and one near the airport—with debris reported at multiple sites and no injuries at this time. Reuters and other outlets noted near-Nakhchivan Airport activity by missiles and drones, while separately a missile intercepted earlier fell in an open area outside Qamishli, in northeastern Syria.In The Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah’s pace of attacks on Israel rose even as Iranian ballistic missile launches declined. North of Israel, residents spent much of the night in safe rooms and bomb shelters due to persistent fire, and officials cautioned that the threat from Hezbollah remains despite the drop in Iranian missiles. In northern Lebanon, an Israeli targeted attack on a car on the Karak-Zahleh road eliminated two people.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a moment captured on camera raised questions about adherence to Home Front Command guidelines as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu appeared with his son Avner in a scene that drew attention to domestic emergency protocols. The Home Front Command announced updated guidance permitting some workplace reopenings if a protected space is available, with gatherings of up to 50, and non-formal education limited to 30 near a protected space; the relaxations are set to take effect today at 12:00. The briefing also noted that people may leave the protected space when conditions allow.In Israeli Economy and Business, the briefing references the El Al aircraft, but details remain limited in the current briefing.In Uplifting News, a surreal note from the entertainment world suggests the cast of the popular program Israel’s Got Talent? or similar program may be required to recruit all of its stars again, reflecting a light-hearted pivot amid ongoing regional tensions.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/israel-news/defense-news/article-888906https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7463https://t.me/selena_updates/57136https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkbgmalybxhttps://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-888901https://t.me/abualiexpress/116562https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-888899https://t.me/selena_updates/57138https://t.me/abualiexpress/116561https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/71111https://t.me/newssil/194283https://t.me/selena_updates/57133https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/71110https://t.me/abualiexpress/116560https://t.me/hnaftali/21967https://t.me/newssil/194281https://t.me/ILtoday/17472https://t.me/newssil/194278https://t.me/newssil/194277https://t.me/newssil/194276https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-888904https://t.me/selena_updates/57130https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1292255https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1292254https://t.me/newssil/194279https://t.me/newssil/194280https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1292257