EPISODE · Mar 17, 2026 · 5 MIN
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-17 at 08:02
from Israel Today: Ongoing War Report · host Noa Levi
HEADLINESLarijani Killed in IDF StrikeHolon Train Station Hit During ClashIraq Becomes Front in Iran WarThe time is now 8:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Ali Larijani, a veteran Iranian official and the son of a Shia jurisprudence scholar, was killed in an IDF strike ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. He had most recently served as the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, overseeing the Islamic Republic's defense, intelligence and foreign policy, a position to which he was appointed in August 2025 after previously holding the role from August 2005 to October 2007. Throughout his career he held several senior posts, including Parliament speaker from 2008 until 2020, Culture and Islamic Guidance minister, and head of the state broadcaster IRIB from 1994 to 2004, with reports he was deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' joint chiefs. He was involved in talks with European countries about Iran's nuclear program. After the February 28 strikes killed then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, Larijani was seen as one of the most senior figures in Iran's government, with many believing he made most of the decisions, particularly as the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be incapacitated by an Israeli strike.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iran reportedly fired missiles toward Israel, and the IDF responded with a broad wave of strikes across Iran. A report noted that a train station in Holon was hit by fragments associated with Mojtaba Khamenei. In a separate development, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a formal statement saying they have begun significant, targeted operations using heavy missiles with solid-fuel propulsion and multiple warheads, and that drones have been used in attacks.In Iranian Retaliation, analysis argues Iran cannot beat the US military and is instead targeting economic pressure. The assessment says Iran’s missile force has become less central as Israel and the United States attack bases and factories, while Iran’s air defenses have been degraded and the Revolutionary Guards have taken casualties. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait is “open, but closed to our enemies,” signaling a maritime push. Brent crude has risen above $105 a barrel, and American gasoline prices are up about 25 percent since the Feb 28 strikes. Goldman Sachs has cut its 2026 US GDP growth forecast and raised its inflation outlook, with a worst-case scenario suggesting potential recession if oil flows remain disrupted for a month.In Regional Impacts, the Western Wall Rabbi denounced Iranian missile fire toward Jerusalem after debris fell in and around the Old City, near the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, stressing that Jerusalem is a global symbol of holiness and urging that any attack near sacred sites is a grave violation. Separately, sirens were heard in central Israel as regional tensions rose, with Israel reporting waves of strikes across Iran. The World Food Programme warned that the Iran war could push 45 million people into acute hunger by June, noting that attacks and sanctions have choked humanitarian routes and lifted shipping costs, potentially pushing global hunger to record levels.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iraq has become a new battlefield as Iranian-backed militias intensify nationwide strikes. These militias have grown more powerful over the last decade, attacking a key hotel in Baghdad and conducting dozens of attacks across Iraq. They operate in Iraq with state backing similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and are linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force, with several groups sanctioned by the US Treasury and other authorities for their ties to Iran.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a cryptic tweet from a former Netanyahu spokesperson referenced Ali Larijani as “the next in line,” drawing attention, while Al Jazeera offered praise in connection with the post.In Israeli Economy and Business, Surf AI, an Israeli-founded cybersecurity startup, announced $57 million in funding led by Accel, with participation from Cyberstarts and Boldstart Ventures. The company says it will use the capital to expand product development, grow its team, and broaden enterprise adoption as it helps security teams continuously identify and close exposure gaps through an AI-driven operations platform. Surf AI was founded in 2024 by a group of veterans from Israel’s cybersecurity ecosystem.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-890240https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890243https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297503https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297502https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890255https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890246https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297505https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/iran-war-may-push-45-million-people-acute-hunger-june-wfp-sayshttps://t.me/ILtoday/17884https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890250https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297498https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-890252
What this episode covers
HEADLINESLarijani Killed in IDF StrikeHolon Train Station Hit During ClashIraq Becomes Front in Iran WarThe time is now 8:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Ali Larijani, a veteran Iranian official and the son of a Shia jurisprudence scholar, was killed in an IDF strike ordered by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday. He had most recently served as the head of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, overseeing the Islamic Republic's defense, intelligence and foreign policy, a position to which he was appointed in August 2025 after previously holding the role from August 2005 to October 2007. Throughout his career he held several senior posts, including Parliament speaker from 2008 until 2020, Culture and Islamic Guidance minister, and head of the state broadcaster IRIB from 1994 to 2004, with reports he was deputy of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps' joint chiefs. He was involved in talks with European countries about Iran's nuclear program. After the February 28 strikes killed then-supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei and other senior Iranian officials, Larijani was seen as one of the most senior figures in Iran's government, with many believing he made most of the decisions, particularly as the new Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is believed to be incapacitated by an Israeli strike.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iran reportedly fired missiles toward Israel, and the IDF responded with a broad wave of strikes across Iran. A report noted that a train station in Holon was hit by fragments associated with Mojtaba Khamenei. In a separate development, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a formal statement saying they have begun significant, targeted operations using heavy missiles with solid-fuel propulsion and multiple warheads, and that drones have been used in attacks.In Iranian Retaliation, analysis argues Iran cannot beat the US military and is instead targeting economic pressure. The assessment says Iran’s missile force has become less central as Israel and the United States attack bases and factories, while Iran’s air defenses have been degraded and the Revolutionary Guards have taken casualties. Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait is “open, but closed to our enemies,” signaling a maritime push. Brent crude has risen above $105 a barrel, and American gasoline prices are up about 25 percent since the Feb 28 strikes. Goldman Sachs has cut its 2026 US GDP growth forecast and raised its inflation outlook, with a worst-case scenario suggesting potential recession if oil flows remain disrupted for a month.In Regional Impacts, the Western Wall Rabbi denounced Iranian missile fire toward Jerusalem after debris fell in and around the Old City, near the Temple Mount and the Western Wall, stressing that Jerusalem is a global symbol of holiness and urging that any attack near sacred sites is a grave violation. Separately, sirens were heard in central Israel as regional tensions rose, with Israel reporting waves of strikes across Iran. The World Food Programme warned that the Iran war could push 45 million people into acute hunger by June, noting that attacks and sanctions have choked humanitarian routes and lifted shipping costs, potentially pushing global hunger to record levels.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iraq has become a new battlefield as Iranian-backed militias intensify nationwide strikes. These militias have grown more powerful over the last decade, attacking a key hotel in Baghdad and conducting dozens of attacks across Iraq. They operate in Iraq with state backing similar to Hezbollah in Lebanon, and are linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and its Quds Force, with several groups sanctioned by the US Treasury and other authorities for their ties to Iran.In Israeli...
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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-17 at 08:02
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