Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-18 at 13:03

HEADLINESIran's Mojtaba Khamenei Named New Supreme LeaderIRGC Warns Gulf Oil Facilities Evacuations NowIsrael Dismantles Litani Crossings Used by HezbollahThe time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, many senior members of Iran's political and military echelons have been killed since the operation began on February 28. In the past two days, Israel killed Ali Larijani and former intelligence minister Esmaeil Khatib. So who remains alive, what roles do they play, and how influential are they in leading Iran? Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei succeeded his father, Ali, who was killed in an Israeli strike on February 28. He was confirmed in the position on March 8, after a short interim period. Closely tied to leadership within the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, Khamenei is believed to have been the IRGC's preferred choice to succeed his father. Khamenei is believed to have been seriously injured in Israeli strikes, possibly in a coma. His wife and at least one of his sons were killed in the strike that killed his father. As supreme leader, Khamenei holds absolute power over Iranian politics, policy, and the military, with all political bodies ultimately reporting to his office. Masoud Pezeshkian has served as President of Iran since July 2024. The leader of the Reformist Faction, he was elected over other, harder-line candidates.In Iranian Retaliation, IRGC Navy chief Alireza Tangsiri warned civilians near Gulf oil facilities to evacuate, threatening US-linked targets in retaliation for Israeli airstrikes on Iranian sites. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued evacuation warnings for several oil facilities across Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and Qatar. Additionally, Tangsiri warned that targets tied to America would be attacked with full force, saying the list of targets is updated. His warning followed Israeli airstrikes on facilities tied to Iran’s gas and oil industry in South Pars and Asaluyeh. Qatar's Ras Laffan LNG installations are being evacuated, a source told Reuters, amid the threat environment, while Saudi Arabia reported interceptions of missiles directed at its Eastern Region. This is a developing situation.In US Military Role, the Strait of Hormuz edging into focus is described as a key front in the conflict, with analysts noting Tehran’s aim to push the frontline toward Iraq and the strait. The piece says securing freedom of navigation could be essential to stabilizing world oil markets, and the campaign is viewed as one that may rest more with Washington than with Israel, given Israel’s focus on leadership and other targets in Iran. US Marines are moving into the region, and Washington is likely to consult with Gulf partners on next steps. The report notes that the United States has already taken out around 100 vessels belonging to the Iranian navy and the IRGC navy as part of the broader effort against Iran’s maritime forces.In Regional Impacts, President Donald Trump urged US allies to get a grip and help reopen the Strait of Hormuz after Iran closed it. Some allies have said they have no plans to deploy ships to support an operation in the Gulf, including Germany, Spain, and Italy, while Japan is reportedly weighing Trump’s call. The US military said it targeted Iranian sites near the strait, asserting that Iranian anti-ship missiles posed risks to international shipping. The actions reflect a broader effort to maintain access to critical sea lanes amid the ongoing conflict.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, following an evacuation warning issued earlier today, the Israeli Army struck and dismantled two crossings over the Litani River that were used by Hezbollah terrorists and commanders to move from northern Lebanon to southern Lebanon. Hezbollah had relied on these crossings to transfer thousands of weapons, including rockets and rocket launchers, for attacks from south of the Litani.In US Policy Concerning Israel, Americans now view Israel more negatively than positively, according to a NBC News poll. Among registered voters, 39% view Israel negatively while 32% view it positively. The survey was conducted Feb. 27 through March 3 and included 1,000 respondents. Views are sharply divided along partisan lines, with most Democrats expressing negative views and most Republicans expressing positive ones; among Democrats, 57% viewed Israel negatively and 13% positively, while independents showed substantial negative sentiment as well.In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece argues that defense is not only a mission against external threats but an obligation to protect the systems and people that perform that mission. It emphasizes that modern adversaries can deny a nation its skies by attacking its sensor and launcher backbone—radars, launchers, command nodes, and supporting infrastructure. The piece contends that the survivability of air and missile defense batteries is a decisive element of air superiority and calls for a reorientation of doctrine and engineering to strengthen the resilience of the integrated defense architecture protecting the homeland.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the documentary clip features Vice President JD Vance commenting on the terror attack at Temple Israel, saying that when harm comes to any member of the American family, it is something that must be condemned and stood against. Separately, Tulsi Gabbard confirms that the man who attacked a Michigan synagogue had familial ties to a Hezbollah leader.In Uplifting News, Mayor Zohran Kwame Mamdani announced a new package of tools and financing to help homeowners add accessory dwelling units, or ADUs, such as backyard cottages or in-law units. The “ADU for You” website provides a guidebook, pre-approved plans, and cost-estimating tools, and the city is reopening applications for the Plus One ADU program, which offers up to $395,000 in financial and technical support to qualified homeowners.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. 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