Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-18 at 07:04

HEADLINESIran intel minister killed, Israel strikes escalateBeirut attack kills Hezbollah senior Hussein QabalanRussia deepens Iran alliance with drone guidanceThe time is now 7:04 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Katz confirms Iran intelligence chief killed, warns 'significant surprises expected across all fronts'. According to an opposition report, Israel targeted Esmail Khatib, described as close to Mojtaba Khamenei, in overnight Tehran strikes, and also targeted a Hezbollah-linked militia commander whose predecessor was eliminated last week.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the IDF spokesperson announced the elimination of Iran's intelligence minister. The Kremlin condemned what it called the murder of Iran's leaders in US-Israeli airstrikes, a day after Iran's semi-official Fars news agency confirmed the death of Ali Larijani in Tehran. Russia, which has criticised the strikes against Iran and pressed for a ceasefire and negotiations, and which has been expanding cooperation with Tehran, was cited by officials as part of a broader regional dialogue, with the Wall Street Journal noting that Moscow has been boosting intelligence sharing and drone guidance to aid Iran’s targeting of US forces in the region.In Regional Impacts, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said a new post-war framework for the Strait of Hormuz must be put in place, a stance that aligns with recent French signaling though it was not clearly tied to a specific meeting. China will continue mediating to push for a ceasefire and an end to fighting in the Middle East, with Foreign Minister Wang Yi stating this in Beijing during talks with Khaldoon Al Mubarak and voicing support for the UAE’s sovereignty and security. In domestic Israeli news, an elderly couple in Ramat Gan died in a missile strike that blew a hole through their living room, with a neighbor saying one was using a walker and the other likely helping him, and no other residents were injured. In regional diplomacy, Beijing highlighted mediation efforts while the Middle East remains a focus of international concern. Separately, in Beirut and southern Lebanon, a morning attack on a 15-story building in the Bashoura neighborhood followed an evacuation warning, killing Hussein Qabalan, a senior Hezbollah member, and Mohammad Sherri, an Al-Manar TV journalist, along with his wife. Elsewhere, air and naval strikes targeted Hezbollah financial networks in Beirut, including assets linked to the Al-Karch Al-Hassan association used to fund operations and pay members. In rapid, on-the-ground responses, IDF troops identified a Hezbollah cell unloading weapons, including an RPG, in southern Lebanon and struck the group, eliminating the terrorists; they also eliminated two additional assailants who had fired indirect projectiles toward IDF forces.In the US Policy Concerning Israel, US senators will grill top aides to President Trump in a public session about national security as the Senate intelligence committee holds its annual hearing on worldwide threats nearly three weeks into the Iran war. The session is expected to focus on the Middle East conflict, cost to taxpayers, and the administration’s information flow to Congress, with lawmakers calling for more transparency and public testimony amid ongoing conflict and market and energy disruptions.In Uplifting News, Prime Minister Netanyahu delivered a message of solidarity, saying Israel stands strong with the people of Iran.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.ynetnews.com/article/synoz1d9behttps://t.me/newssil/195803https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/kremlin-condemns-us-israeli-murder-irans-leaders-after-ali-larijani-killinghttps://t.me/selena_updates/58784https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sycbaeocbxhttps://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/china-will-continue-mediating-middle-east-ceasefire-foreign-minister-sayshttps://t.me/newssil/195802https://t.me/selena_updates/58782https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1297942https://t.me/selena_updates/58772https://worldisraelnews.com/israel-disrupts-planned-hezbollah-barrage-expands-strikes-across-lebanon/https://t.me/selena_updates/58770https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/us-senators-grill-trump-intelligence-team-weeks-iran-warhttps://t.me/hnaftali/22355