Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-16 at 05:02

HEADLINES- Israel strikes Mehrabad aircraft tied to Khamenei- Iranian missile barrage hits central Israel- Israel escalates strike against Hezbollah in LebanonThe time is now 5:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, the Israel Air Force said it struck and destroyed an aircraft at Mehrabad Airport overnight that was used by Iran's former supreme leader, Ali Khamenei, and other senior Iranian officials and military personnel to move with axis partners. The IDF described the strike as disrupting leadership coordination, military procurement, and the regime’s ability to rehabilitate capabilities, adding that the operation degraded a strategic asset and that it will continue to strike means used by the Iranian regime across the country. There are reports that IRGC operatives hid in a school, and the Israeli Air Force did not miss them.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, alarms were reported in central Israel as tensions with Iran continued.In Iranian Retaliation, sirens sounded across central Israel amid a missile attack from Iran, with the one missile fired described as a cluster munition ballistic missile and multiple impact sites reported; no injuries have been reported. BREAKING VIDEO also shows several houses damaged following the barrage, with no physical injuries reported thus far.In US Military Role, a US Navy F/A-18 Super Hornet conducted a low-level strafing run with its gun over the Iranian port city of Chabahar.In Regional Impacts, Baghdad and the Kurdistan Regional Government are locked in an oil and trade dispute that has left Baghdad cut off from trade via the Strait of Hormuz as the Iran conflict has intensified over the last two weeks. Baghdad has sought to export via a pipeline through Kurdistan to Turkey, while also pressing a border embargo at the Turkish frontier to isolate the autonomous region; many countries are looking for alternate routes around Hormuz, and the disruption is expected to ripple through Iraq and the wider region, with Saudi Arabia facing similar challenges. The Kurdistan Region has urged the embargo be lifted. In parallel, Iran attacked the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF's 91st Division carried out a dramatically deeper push into southern Lebanon against Hezbollah, with additional troops redeployed to the north potentially joining later. The operation is described as an escalation but not a full-scale invasion, with artillery barrages and Air Force strikes on Hezbollah targets and ongoing defensive missions in the Galilee to protect communities. Lebanese reports say three Hezbollah medics were killed while tending to rubble at a site in southern Lebanon that had been attacked earlier by the Israeli Air Force, suggesting the site may be a Hezbollah location. An assessment published alongside the reporting argues that senior officials in Iran and Hezbollah view the current campaign as a historic opportunity to reshape the terms of eventual confrontation, preparing for a prolonged war of attrition to force new settlement terms and constrain future actions by Israel and the United States. The assessment cautions that threats alone will not suffice and urges a concerted effort to degrade the enemy’s military infrastructure, including missiles, launchers, bases, factories, and command and logistics networks.In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump touts an “extraordinary relationship” with Netanyahu, dismissing claims of disagreements between his administration and the Israeli government and saying Israel is working with the United States to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Home Front Command’s new policy took effect at 06:00 a.m., allowing a partial return of pupils to schools in areas classified as a “yellow” defense level under specific protection conditions. Around 350,000 pupils and daycare children are expected to resume educational activities in these areas, though many locations will reopen only partially and with limited transportation and staffing protections. The zones listed as yellow include Beit She’an Valley, the Jordan Valley, Samaria, Judea, the Dead Sea, Western Lachish, Gaza Envelope, Western Negev, Southern Negev, and the Arava (from Beersheba southward). In Eshel, all education is described as resuming under the Home Front Command’s guidelines and protective measures.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. 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