EPISODE · Mar 8, 2026 · 4 MIN
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-08 at 17:02
from Israel Today: Ongoing War Report · host Noa Levi
HEADLINESIDF Women Now 21% of Combat ForceTehran and Karaj Explosions IRGC Official KilledSeventh U.S. Service Member Dies in ConflictThe time is now 5:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, on International Women’s Day the IDF highlighted the rising role of women in its operations. Women now make up 21.2% of the combat force, up from 7.2% in 2015, and about 20% of reservists called up for the current campaign are women. They are serving in frontline and support roles across the operation, both at the front and on the home front. The military notes that more than 90% of positions are open to women as part of a long-term effort to expand access to combat and operational duties. In the Israel Air Force, women account for about half of personnel in the Air Defense Array, one of the most engaged branches in the current conflict, and roughly 5,000 female reservists are serving in the IAF in the current operation. More than 30 women have served as aircrew on strikes and other aerial missions connected to the campaign, and the Navy has also seen notable female participation in related roles, though details were not fully disclosed in the release.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, explosions were reported in Tehran and Karaj. Iranian media reported that Hajj Ali Al-Ahsam, a senior IRGC official, was killed in an attack in Isfahan. Netanyahu to the people of Iran: Your moment is coming.In the US Military Role, a seventh US service member has died from wounds sustained during Iran’s initial counter-attack across the Middle East, bringing the American death toll in the conflict to seven. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1, and identity will be released only after the next of kin is notified.In Regional Impacts, a postwar analysis argues that the current conflict may not deliver the normalization Israel hopes for with Gulf states. Ohad Merlin, a Middle East expert at MIND Israel, says Iran’s broader offensive could undermine containment efforts and push Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman to reassess their posture in light of a shared threat. At the same time, Merlin cautions that the analysis overlooks lingering anti-Israel sentiment in the region, and notes that factors like the Abraham Accords and a perceived common security interest could still shape future ties.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an Israeli navy strike in Beirut is reported to have eliminated five senior IRGC Quds Force commanders who had been assisting Hezbollah and Hamas by facilitating financial transfers and intelligence cooperation.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the debate over the Sde Teiman leak case moves forward as Justice Ministry legal advisor Yael Kotik formally recommends that State Attorney Amit Aisman receive the investigation materials and decide on indictments. If the High Court accepts Kotik’s position, the police would hand over the full, unredacted file to Aisman’s office, making the State-Attorney the sole arbiter of whether to file criminal charges against those suspected of leaking the Sde Teiman footage, including former MAG Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.Also in Israeli Domestic Politics, the government unveils a plan to arrange unpaid leave for one parent in families with a child under 14 to assist working parents while schools remain remote. The plan provides state funding to employers while employees are on unpaid leave and is modeled on arrangements used during previous crises; details on duration and implementation are still being defined as work continues.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a report from Beitar Illit notes that the chant “Let your village burn” was sung at a Hasidic wedding, reflecting ongoing concerns over incendiary expressions at public events.In Uplifting News, Argentina’s president Javier Milei has arrived in New York for prayer and thanksgiving at the grave of the Lubavitcher Rebbe, wearing a Hebrew-name kippah.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/article-889285https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/71707https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1293786https://t.me/ILtoday/17596https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-889282https://www.jpost.com/international/article-889286https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-889281https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-navy-strike-in-beirut-eliminates-five-senior-irgc-quds-force-commanders/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-889288https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-889280https://t.me/newssil/194765https://t.me/newssil/194764
What this episode covers
HEADLINESIDF Women Now 21% of Combat ForceTehran and Karaj Explosions IRGC Official KilledSeventh U.S. Service Member Dies in ConflictThe time is now 5:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, on International Women’s Day the IDF highlighted the rising role of women in its operations. Women now make up 21.2% of the combat force, up from 7.2% in 2015, and about 20% of reservists called up for the current campaign are women. They are serving in frontline and support roles across the operation, both at the front and on the home front. The military notes that more than 90% of positions are open to women as part of a long-term effort to expand access to combat and operational duties. In the Israel Air Force, women account for about half of personnel in the Air Defense Array, one of the most engaged branches in the current conflict, and roughly 5,000 female reservists are serving in the IAF in the current operation. More than 30 women have served as aircrew on strikes and other aerial missions connected to the campaign, and the Navy has also seen notable female participation in related roles, though details were not fully disclosed in the release.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, explosions were reported in Tehran and Karaj. Iranian media reported that Hajj Ali Al-Ahsam, a senior IRGC official, was killed in an attack in Isfahan. Netanyahu to the people of Iran: Your moment is coming.In the US Military Role, a seventh US service member has died from wounds sustained during Iran’s initial counter-attack across the Middle East, bringing the American death toll in the conflict to seven. The service member was seriously wounded at the scene of an attack in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia on March 1, and identity will be released only after the next of kin is notified.In Regional Impacts, a postwar analysis argues that the current conflict may not deliver the normalization Israel hopes for with Gulf states. Ohad Merlin, a Middle East expert at MIND Israel, says Iran’s broader offensive could undermine containment efforts and push Bahrain, Kuwait, and Oman to reassess their posture in light of a shared threat. At the same time, Merlin cautions that the analysis overlooks lingering anti-Israel sentiment in the region, and notes that factors like the Abraham Accords and a perceived common security interest could still shape future ties.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an Israeli navy strike in Beirut is reported to have eliminated five senior IRGC Quds Force commanders who had been assisting Hezbollah and Hamas by facilitating financial transfers and intelligence cooperation.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the debate over the Sde Teiman leak case moves forward as Justice Ministry legal advisor Yael Kotik formally recommends that State Attorney Amit Aisman receive the investigation materials and decide on indictments. If the High Court accepts Kotik’s position, the police would hand over the full, unredacted file to Aisman’s office, making the State-Attorney the sole arbiter of whether to file criminal charges against those suspected of leaking the Sde Teiman footage, including former MAG Yifat Tomer-Yerushalmi.Also in Israeli Domestic Politics, the government unveils a plan to arrange unpaid leave for one parent in families with a child under 14 to assist working parents while schools remain remote. The plan provides state funding to employers while employees are on unpaid leave and is modeled on arrangements used during previous crises; details on duration and implementation are still being defined as work continues.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a report from Beitar Illit notes that the chant “Let your village burn” was sung at a Hasidic wedding, reflecting ongoing concerns over incendiary expressions at public events.<br...
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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-08 at 17:02
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