Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-11 at 10:02

HEADLINESAhmadinejad escapes regime control, location unknownIsrael strengthens north as Hezbollah fires missilesIraq stalls PM naming after electionsThe time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, joint Israeli-US strikes at the outset of the current war targeted former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, but associates cited by The Atlantic say the operation did not kill him and instead acted as a jailbreak from regime control. They describe how Ahmadinejad, whose movements had been restricted since January mass protests that Officials say saw about 36,500 killed, now appears free to move with his family having fled underground after strikes near his residence in Narnak, northeast Tehran, and with several of his bodyguards killed. He has made a small number of public addresses since the alleged escape, including a congratulatory message on Mojtaba Khamenei’s rise to supreme leader, while the regime reportedly does not know his current location.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, reports of explosions were received from Bushehr and Madan in Iran. CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper said the Iranian navy is out of the fight and that the mission has escalated to a level akin to the fourth Lebanon War, with a new factor recently arriving at the northern border. He noted ongoing uncertainty and warned that readiness in the north is markedly different from what was expected on October 7. The IDF continues to operate in Lebanon with precision, and the overarching question remains when and how this confrontation might flare again.In US Military Role, CENTCOM commander Brad Cooper stated that American forces continue delivering decisive blows against the Iranian regime, focusing on eliminating Iran’s influence in the region. He said the US fighting force has grown during the campaign while Iran’s fighting capacity has diminished, and the effort centers on targets aimed at removing Iran’s influence on Americans and neighboring states.In Regional Impacts, Iraq remains unable to name a new prime minister four months after elections in November 2025. Initial backing for former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki gave way to opposition from the United States, and Iran-backed militias have been active against US forces and the Kurdistan Region as Shi’ite politicians maneuver within a broad parliamentary and constitutional crisis intensified by the regional war between Iran and the US and its allies. A separate assessment notes that the Iran war is becoming a test of endurance for the region, with oil prices surging as a potential lever, hitting near 120 dollars a barrel before easing to about 90 dollars, while global travel and shipping face disruptions. Washington signals a wary calculus as Iran’s leadership remains cohesive in the face of sustained strikes, and the Iranian public has shown anger from earlier January protests while largely staying home.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli military said IDF chief Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir ordered reinforcements to the north, reinforcing the Northern Command and moving the Golani Brigade to the northern sector following recent developments in the war with Iran. The IDF characterizes Hezbollah as acting on behalf of the Iranian regime and states it will not tolerate harm to Israeli civilians, while Hezbollah fired missiles at northern Israel on March 2 in what was described as retaliation for the killing of Khamenei. Israeli strikes have extended into southern Lebanon and Beirut, with Lebanese counts reporting hundreds of casualties as the conflict with Iran’s proxies deepens.In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israeli President Isaac Herzog characterized the Iran war as a turning point for the Middle East and a step toward a better future, describing the US-Israel alignment as part of a historic process that weakens the regime he calls the empire of evil.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Tzohar has returned to the High Court, petitioning for an order compelling the Rabbinate to license it as a certified kashrut authority. The petition marks the fourth attempt in a long-running dispute over whether Tzohar qualifies to issue official kashrut certificates, arguing that the state has yet to decide or grant a license despite a 2021 reform aimed at shifting oversight away from the Rabbinate. Separately, the Religious Services Ministry published a centralized list of women’s mikvaot with protected spaces nearly two weeks into the war, following ITIM’s appeal. Wartime guidance requires such spaces to be reachable within alert time, while men’s mikvaot were closed; the list identifies facilities meeting the safety criteria for women seeking to immerse.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-889594https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1294973https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1294966https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-889592https://www.timesofisrael.com/iran-war-becomes-a-contest-of-who-can-take-the-most-pain/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-889578https://worldisraelnews.com/herzog-us-israel-in-historic-process-weakening-the-empire-of-evil/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-889599https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-889591