Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-16 at 00:02

HEADLINESTrump Pushes Seven-Country Coalition to Guard HormuzHamas Secret Letter Urges Iran All-Out FrontsIsrael Sirens as Beirut Tehran Strikes HitThe time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In US Military Role, President Trump has pressed for a Hormuz security push, calling for seven countries to send warships to protect the Strait of Hormuz from Iranian attacks and warning NATO allies of consequences if they refuse to participate, while saying Israel is working with the United States on the issue and praising Prime Minister Netanyahu and the IDF. Axios reported that Trump is seeking to assemble a coalition to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and even seize Iran’s Kharg Island oil hub, with an announcement possible later this week.In Regional Impacts, reports from the region describe sirens in Kiryat Shmoneh and surrounding areas as the air force conducted strikes on Beirut and Tehran, with sirens heard across the country. The account also notes that Moshe Nosbaum was injured in the head, struck by a vehicle, and hospitalized in moderate condition, and it describes a broader crisis involving budget cuts and workers potentially not receiving salaries, along with claims about a group described as a cult that supposedly controls the country. Starting tomorrow, authorities are said to be resuming schooling with approval from the Home Front Command.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas sent a secret letter to Iran’s new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei urging activation of all fronts, while a separate public statement urged Iran not to target neighboring Gulf states. The secret message, described as less diplomatic, insists Hamas will not be disarmed and aligns with Iran’s leadership against what it calls Zionist-American anarchy, dismissing Gulf states that normalized with Israel as part of a losing camp.In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump said the Iranian regime badly wants to negotiate but is not yet ready to conclude a deal to end the war, noting that the United States is “talking” with Iranian leaders about bringing an end to the conflict. He criticized the Iranian regime as violent and vicious, citing a crackdown on protests since December 2025 and claims that tens of thousands were killed, including a figure of 32,000 protesters, and noted that Iran issued a notice to shoot protesters. Separately, he asserted that his relationship with Prime Minister Netanyahu is extraordinary.In Uplifting News, the Oscar ceremony crowned “One Battle After Another” as best picture, with Michael B. Jordan earning best actor for his dual roles in “Sinners” and Jessie Buckley best actress for playing the wife of William Shakespeare in “Hamnet,” while Sean Penn took best supporting actor for his turn in the same film and Amy Madigan earned best supporting actress for her role in “Weapons.” Also, Israel Railways will operate train service overnight to key locations nationwide starting tonight, with two main lines connecting Be’er Sheva Center – Ben Gurion Airport – Tel Aviv Savidor Center – Haifa Hof HaCarmel and Jerusalem Yitzhak Navon – Ben Gurion Airport – Tel Aviv Savidor Center, running one train per hour in each direction, plus a free shuttle between Haifa Hof HaCarmel and Nahariya in both directions.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.ynetnews.com/article/b1dn4lhqzehttps://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/trump-eyes-hormuz-coalition-seizure-irans-kharg-island-oil-hub-axios-reportshttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1296830https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890059https://www.jpost.com/international/article-890064https://t.me/JewishNews24/51281https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1296831https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/one-battle-after-another-takes-best-picture-prize-oscarshttps://t.me/JewishNews24/51282