Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-16 at 23:01

HEADLINES- Iranian missiles trigger Israeli sirens IDF intercepts- Drones strike US embassy in Baghdad- Fujairah oil zone catches fire after droneThe time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, sirens sounded across central Israel in the early morning as the IDF intercepted a barrage of missiles launched toward Israel from Iran. Magen David Adom said there were no casualties or severe injuries reported, and paramedics were dispatched to treat people who were injured while moving to protected areas. The situation is developing. A separate report in Hebrew notes alarms were activated in central Israel, the Sharon region, and the north, with authorities indicating that interceptions appeared successful and no casualties had been reported so far.In Iranian Retaliation, rockets and at least five drones were launched at the US embassy in Baghdad from areas around the city, described by Iraqi security sources as the most intense attack since the start of the US-Israel confrontation with Iran. A Reuters witness saw at least three drones approaching the embassy, with the C-RAM air defense system shooting down two; a third drone struck inside the embassy compound, sending fire and smoke into the area. Iranian-backed militias have been attacking US interests in Iraq in retaliation for the war that began on February 28. Iraqi security forces were deployed across parts of the capital, and Baghdad’s Green Zone was closed.In US Military Role, Arabic media reported four people were killed in an attack by the US Air Force on Baghdad, the capital of Iraq.In Regional Impacts, a wave of drone and rocket attacks targeted the US embassy in Baghdad early on Tuesday, with at least five drones used and a powerful explosion heard in the capital. Two airstrikes hit a house used as headquarters by Popular Mobilization Forces in Baghdad’s Jadiriya area, killing at least two people, according to security sources. In the United Arab Emirates, a fire broke out in the Fujairah Oil Industry Zone after a drone attack, with authorities saying no injuries were reported as civil defense crews worked to control the blaze.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, rockets fired from Lebanon triggered alarms in Kiryat Shmona and the surrounding area, with notes of ongoing sirens in central Israel, the Sharon region, and the north.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel Police arrested two individuals on suspicion of online incitement against the State of Israel and for support of the Iranian regime. The suspects, a 22-year-old man and a 35-year-old man, were detained after social media activity was monitored by detectives and Border Patrol officers. Authorities said the suspects praised attacks against Israel, encouraged terrorism, and, in one case, urged an individual with ties to Hamas to carry out terror acts in the West Bank; one suspect was taken into custody after a raid on his home, and the other was located along Highway 60 before being questioned.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/israel-news/defense-news/article-890192https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297290https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/drones-rockets-fired-us-embassy-baghdad-security-sources-sayhttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297292https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890189https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297293https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-890188