Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-17 at 05:02

HEADLINESIsrael kills Basij chief Soleimani and deputyAli Larijani targeted in alleged assassinationEl Al ferries 100k home amid warThe time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, the Israeli military says it has killed Gholamreza Soleimani, the head of the Basij paramilitary wing, and his deputy Karishi, in a strike targeting a makeshift tent area rather than a fixed headquarters. The move marks a high-profile strike against a key security apparatus of the Iranian regime. At the same time, Israel confirmed an attempted assassination of Ali Larijani, a senior Iranian official seen by many as a leading figure within the regime. Three separate sources told The Jerusalem Post that the attempt occurred, though it was unclear whether it succeeded, and the leak of the operation has raised the possibility that Larijani may have been killed or wounded. Larijani has been described as a central voice for the regime and someone believed by some observers to have influenced the direction of Iranian leadership since the downfall of senior figures earlier in the conflict. Separately, about 20,000 Israelis remain overseas as the war enters a new phase; overall, roughly 100,000 have returned home. The return operation relies on El Al’s fleet of wide-body aircraft, including Dreamliners and Boeing 777s, to move larger groups, while the plan at Ben-Gurion Airport during wartime limits inbound and outbound flights to one wide-body per hour or two narrow-body planes, complicating evacuation logistics.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the IDF has announced the elimination of the commander of the Basij Unit in a strike on Tehran yesterday. The Basij Unit is described as the Iranian regime’s primary instrument of repression against the people of Iran, underscoring the scale and intent of the targeted action.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-890225https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890210https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297404https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7685https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890221https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890212