Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-05 at 14:03

HEADLINESIsrael escalates Iran campaign crippling air defensesIDF kills Hezbollah artillery chief in BeirutSaudi fears Iranian strikes, begins talksThe time is now 2:03 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, the Israeli military said it is entering a new phase of the campaign against Iran, with plans to intensify strikes on the regime’s foundations and military capabilities. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir said the first 24 hours of Operation Roaring Lion paved the way to Tehran and that there are additional surprise moves at the ready. He noted that roughly 80% of Iran’s air defense systems and more than 60% of its ballistic missile launchers have been destroyed since the operation began, describing the effort as stripping the regime of its military capabilities and isolating it. Zamir portrayed the operation as a historic collaboration between two of the world’s powerhouses in the skies over the region, emphasizing that delaying action could have allowed Iran to reach a position of immunity.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said in an interview with NBC that Iran has not attacked its neighbors or Muslim countries, and that the Islamic Republic has targeted American targets and bases located on neighboring soil. He said he has spoken with officials from neighboring countries to convey that Iran has no real problem with them. When pressed about reports of civilian harm, Araghchi acknowledged possible collateral damage as in any war, and reiterated that the conflict is not Iran’s war or its choice, but a war of the United States’ making. He indicated Iran does not seek a ceasefire and questioned why Tehran should negotiate with the United States.In Regional Impacts, Saudi Arabia has expressed fear that Iran may attempt to target senior Saudi officials, prompting the kingdom to begin high-level discussions via video with ministers and other senior figures. Since the onset of the wider conflict, Iran has launched missiles and drones toward Saudi Arabia, with strikes hitting civilian infrastructure and Aramco facilities. The cross-border assaults have prompted Riyadh to consider possible retaliatory options, signaling a significant shift in how the region views the conflict. Elsewhere, alarms in the north rang after a drone incursion, underscoring the expanding reach of regional hostilities. An opinion piece in World Israel News urged that the Muslim Brotherhood should be the next target after Iran’s mullahs. In daily life, residents have been told to seek shelter as alarms persist, with reports of people returning to bomb shelters amid continued threats.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF announced a new phase of the war against Iran after establishing air superiority, stating that it will intensify strikes against the regime’s foundations and military capabilities. An official noted that approximately 80% of Iran’s air defense systems and more than 60% of its ballistic missile launchers have been destroyed since the operation began, describing the effort as isolating the regime and bringing it to a weakness it has not faced before. IDF sources said there is concern that Yemen’s Houthis may yet join the fight, though they have not done so so far, leaving some in the defense establishment surprised by their absence. The Israeli Air Force, guided by IDF intelligence, struck in the Beirut area, killing Zaid Ali Jumaa, a Hezbollah figure responsible for firepower management and the head of artillery in southern Lebanon, who supervised thousands of rockets, missiles, and UAVs launched toward Israel. He previously held multiple Hezbollah positions and participated in attacks against IDF troops in 2015. In related assessments, a senior security official warned that the war against Hezbollah could begin in earnest tonight, with the Dahem (Dahieh) area expected to see significant changes tomorrow.In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky announced that the United States has officially requested Ukraine’s assistance in defending against Iranian Shahed-style attack drones in the Middle East. Separately, in an Axios interview, President Donald Trump said he must be involved in selecting Iran’s next leader and opposed Mojtaba Khamenei as the successor, arguing that the United States should have a say in Iran’s leadership selection and comparing the situation to past interventions in Venezuela. He suggested that the regime’s next leader should foster harmony and peace, expressing that a different outcome could bring renewed conflict.In Israeli Domestic Politics, initial reports say the president’s vehicle and his security detail were found abandoned on a cliff, described in early bulletins as a developing situation.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the National Security Council urged Israelis overseas to remain vigilant amid a concrete concern that Iranian security services are directing threats toward Israeli and Jewish targets worldwide. The council cited foiled or disrupted plots and warned of rising lone-actor threats, including a March 1 mass shooting in Austin, Texas, and a synagogue shooting in Toronto linked to Purim events. In Britain, MPs raised concerns about banning this year’s Al Quds Day march in London, citing ties between the organizing group IHRC and the Iranian regime, along with extremist figures and antisemitic rhetoric. The IHRC’s history of ties to Iranian-backed causes has strengthened worries about the event’s potential links to hostility toward Israel.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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