Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-15 at 09:02

HEADLINESIRGC leadership pursued as casualties mountIsrael strikes drone operators in western IranUS B-52 bombers join strikes on IranThe time is now 9:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel says its campaign against the regime is producing heavy casualties and mounting pressure at the top. IDF intelligence puts the death toll at more than 6,000 IRGC members killed and about 15,000 wounded since the start of Roaring Lion and Epic Fury. Senior officials are being pursued, with posts deleted on X/Twitter. Tehran's cross-border fire toward Turkey and Azerbaijan is described as unclear, but seen as a sign of strain between the political echelon and those operating on the ground. The hunt for senior figures has created pressure and confusion for leadership. Observers note that Mojtaba Khamenei's health has become a topic after a Thursday statement; if he wasn't injured, he would have appeared publicly. More than 10,000 munitions have been used against Iran's regime since the start of the current war, according to AMAN.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israeli forces describe a strike that targeted drone operators. The Israeli Air Force destroyed a drone-operators unit in western Iran as they were fleeing from the storage and launch site hit in the attack. Footage shows the aftermath of direct impacts from Iranian cluster munitions in central Israel overnight. Police also released footage of a cluster bomb munition from an Iranian ballistic missile striking central Israel earlier today.In US Military Role, B-52H Stratofortress long-range bombers armed with AGM-158 Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles took off Sunday from RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, for strikes against Iran in support of Operation Epic Fury.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran-backed militias escalate drone attacks on US, Kurdistan targets in Iraq. Across Iraq, Iranian-backed militias are escalating drone attacks on US forces and targeting Kurdish opposition groups in the Kurdistan Region. Recent footage shows a drone entering a US site in Baghdad and an attack on the radar atop a US diplomatic facility. In the Kurdistan Region, Rudaw reports seven explosive-laden drones were launched early Saturday, six intercepted over Erbil, and another drone targeted Sulaimani. It is believed roughly 300 drones and missiles have been launched at Kurdish targets. Separately, Hezbollah's rapid return is described in terms of a difficult choice between a dangerous emergency operation and waiting for a worse outcome. Hezbollah's secretary-general Naim Qassem, under domestic pressure, rejected the criticism, saying the war is not for Iran and that Hezbollah's actions have accelerated an attack Israel had already planned. In the north, Hezbollah's strikes continue and are described as advancing Iran's broader aims.In US Policy Concerning Israel, rising militia strikes leave Washington with few good choices in Iraq. The US Embassy in Baghdad has warned US citizens to depart Iraq, advising evacuation amid threats for two weeks since the US and Israeli strikes on Iran began on February 28. Iran-aligned militias have incited and carried out attacks against US citizens and US-linked targets throughout Iraq, including in the Iraqi Kurdistan Region. Recent footage shows a drone over a US site in Baghdad and an attack on the radar atop a US diplomatic facility. The militias continue to push, even as the US conducts an air campaign on Iran and has dispatched thousands of Marines as part of a Marine Expeditionary Unit.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel has no plans for direct talks with Lebanon, FM Sa’ar says. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa'ar said the government is not planning direct talks with Lebanon in the coming days and has not told the United States it is running low on missile interceptors. Haaretz had reported possible talks, and Semafor also cited discussions; Macron offered to host ceasefire negotiations between Israel and Lebanon in Paris, urging measures to prevent Lebanon from descending into chaos and calling on Hezbollah to halt its escalation. Netanyahu confidant Ron Dermer secretly visited Saudi Arabia to discuss Israel-Lebanon ceasefire. He reportedly discussed a possible northern-front ceasefire, while Sa’ar denied imminent Israel-Lebanon talks and reiterated there is no shortage of missile interceptors.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-889964https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/72688https://t.me/JewishNews24/51242https://t.me/JewishNews24/51235https://t.me/DefenderDome/19226https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-889986https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/15/hezbollahs-rapid-return-the-cost-of-stopping-too-soon/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-889992https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-889972https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjpikqv911l