Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-13 at 04:02

HEADLINESTehran strike reportedly kills Iran's supreme leaderDubai DIFC struck by Iranian dronesIsrael shifts from deterrence to proactive postureThe time is now 4:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, a large crater opened from the missile strike on Zerzir, leaving about 60 people wounded and causing extensive destruction. Footage shows 58 people wounded in a strike on a building in Zerzir. An American refueling aircraft crashed in Iraq. A night-news summary described a shock in Lebanon, with a calm Beirut neighborhood attacked for the first time. Winter returns briefly, with a weather turn expected Saturday. In Ramat Gan, a man shouted “Allahu Akbar,” stabbed and kicked a senior public official who lay bleeding on the ground. Graphic footage accompanies the coverage.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, two weeks into the war, the military picture is rapidly evolving, with broader patterns beginning to emerge. The opening act of Operation Roaring Lion saw a jaw-dropping strike on Iran’s senior leadership meeting in Tehran, reportedly killing Iran’s supreme leader Ali Khamenei, described as the greatest threat to the Jewish people since Hitler. The attack triggered air-raid sirens across Israel, sending millions rushing to bomb shelters. Two weeks in, Israelis continue to dash daily for shelter from Iranian missiles as the military picture evolves. Perhaps the most important takeaway is how dramatically Israel’s strategic mindset has shifted since the Hamas attack of October 7, from a containment doctrine—deterrence and cautious steps—to a more proactive posture.In Iranian Retaliation, two UAVs crashed in Oman’s Sohar province, one in an open area with no casualties, while the other struck the Al Awhi Industrial Zone, killing two expatriate workers and wounding several others. Iranian drones also struck Dubai’s International Financial Centre, with UAE officials saying air defenses successfully shot down the drones, though shrapnel damaged a prominent building. Sirens sounded at NATO’s Incirlik Air Base in southern Turkey after it was targeted by a missile, Turkish media reported; NATO has not released a statement. NATO air defenses had previously shot down several other ballistic missiles aimed at Turkey. Turkey said a US Patriot air defense system was deployed to its southeast, near a NATO radar base, as part of steps by the alliance to boost air defenses in the face of missile threats.In US Military Role, the article notes the American program claims to strike about 3,000 targets in Iran each day, illustrating the scale of the effort.In Regional Impacts, an Iranian drone attack struck a building in Dubai’s DIFC financial district this morning; UAE authorities reported no casualties.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Maariv poll published after the second week of Operation Roaring Lion found that the war with Iran has had little effect on voters, with the coalition at 50 Knesset seats and the opposition at 60, while Likud held 27 seats and other parties shifted modestly. The survey also showed Arab parties Hadash-Ta’al and Ra’am together at 10 seats, and several smaller parties hovering around the threshold. Separately, Israel’s Military Advocate General ordered the cancellation of an indictment against five reserve soldiers who were wrongly accused of severely abusing a Hamas detainee at the Sde Teiman facility in 2024.In Israeli Economy and Business, in a coordinated move with the Finance Ministry, Bezalel Smotrich, and Dovi Amitai, it was decided to add meaningful relief to the current compensation framework for businesses in northern border towns evacuated under the “Iron Swords” plan during the Shaghat Ha’ari operation. The measure will align revenue-cycle assessments with the corresponding period in 2023 rather than the previous year, enabling a fairer evaluation of the economic damage from the war, evacuation, and disruption. This step is described as a significant development for northern businesses and residents, reflecting a deep awareness of the region’s challenges and the need for broader, more responsive support.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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295778https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-889809https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-889850https://t.me/abualiexpress/117451https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295777https://t.me/abualiexpress/117448https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/72388https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-889852https://t.me/selena_updates/58177https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295779