Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-18 at 00:02

HEADLINESTehran strikes escalate with casualties in IsraelIranian retaliation strikes Baghdad US embassyLebanon evacuations amid IDF strikes on DahiehThe time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, reports from Tehran describe heavy explosions and air strikes in the Zaferanieh district, with attacks also targeted at Revolutionary Guard and Basij facilities in the Khalaj area near Tehran and in Karaj. Overnight, a deadly night in the Gush Dan region is noted, including a reportedly targeted attack in Beirut and confirmed casualty reports: a man was shot dead in Holon, and a couple in their seventies were killed in their home in Ramat Gan.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iran’s state media reported the execution of a man convicted of spying for Israel, according to the Mizaan agency and Reuters.In Iranian Retaliation, a drone attack struck the US Embassy in Baghdad on Tuesday, with explosions heard at the scene. Security sources said rockets and drones targeted the embassy, triggering sirens, and at least three explosive drones targeted a facility near Baghdad International Airport, activating C-RAM air defenses. The United Arab Emirates condemned the attacks as an unprovoked terrorist act. Iranian state television attributed the broader strikes against central Israel to retaliation for the assassination of Iran’s de facto leader Ali Larijani. Earlier, sirens were heard in southern Israel as missiles were launched from Iran, with a missile likely aimed at the Dimona nuclear site intercepted, and sirens later sounding across central Israel; several cluster munition impacts were reported, including damage in Holon, though there were no reported injuries.In Regional Impacts, emergency responders describe a changing battlefield as missiles carrying cluster warheads trigger numerous simultaneous emergencies, with toxic hazards and intense psychological strain on civilians and rescuers. Magen David Adom officials note that they’ve been operating under wartime conditions for more than two years, and the latest escalation forces rapid adaptation. Reports also describe strong explosions in Doha, Qatar, as regional tensions intensify. In the same period, a missile attributed to Iranian forces near the United Arab Emirates was intercepted and sirens sounded across central Israel, with multiple cluster munition impacts and material damage in Holon but no injuries.In the the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF’s Arabic spokesman, Colonel Avichay Adraee, issued evacuation warnings for the coastal city of Tyre and surrounding villages, as well as the Akbieh village in southern Lebanon, and for areas below the Litani River previously under evacuation orders. The message signals impending airstrikes on Hezbollah targets in those areas as the IDF continues operations in response to rocket fire toward Israel. Overnight, a series of targeted airstrikes hit Dahieh, Beirut: the first strike hit an apartment in Zqaq al-Blat opposite Al-Qard Al-Hasan; the second and third strikes hit two different buildings in Fathallah, behind the Al-Ahbash Mosque; additional airstrikes targeted other terrorist infrastructure.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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297781https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297784https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890324https://t.me/selena_updates/58714https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890325https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297783https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297782https://t.me/selena_updates/58732https://t.me/selena_updates/58722