Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-18 at 16:02

HEADLINESCaspian clashes widen war, Israel strikesBeirut commander killed; Litani bridges destroyedUS intel: Iran intact yet danger persistsThe time is now 4:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian sources say Israel attacked the Iranian port of Bandar Anzali on the Caspian coast, home to one of Iran’s naval headquarters, an attack described as expanding the war’s geographic scope. Iranian reports also say an Israeli Air Force strike hit an Iranian naval vessel in the Caspian Sea for the first time. The Israeli military says the cumulative effect of strikes on senior Iranian officials, Hezbollah commanders and terrorist infrastructure is shaking Tehran’s leadership and degrading the network Iran uses to project power across the region. A separate i24NEWS report described Israeli strikes against Iranian navy ships in the Caspian as part of this widening campaign.In Regional Impacts, alarms were reported as air-raid sirens sounded in several northern communities amid concerns of hostile aircraft activity. At the same time, strong explosions were reported in Ashkelon.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF announced the elimination of Hassan Ali Marwan, the commander of the Imam Hussein Division in Beirut, within a week of destroying his predecessor, along with his deputy and several other senior operatives. Marwan led the division’s operations, including missiles, UAVs and rockets directed at Israel and IDF troops in southern Lebanon; the Imam Hussein Division is linked to the Iranian Quds Force and its effort to advance Tehran’s interests and strike Israeli targets. The IDF also said it struck two bridges over the Litani River in Lebanon after warning civilians to evacuate, noting the bridges were used by Hezbollah. In parallel, Hezbollah fired another volley of missiles toward the north, triggering further air-raid alerts. Separately, a long-range launch from Lebanon toward southern Israel’s envelope was reported, with the projectiles traveling roughly 200 kilometers from the border and originating from within Lebanon at an estimated distance of 250–300 kilometers from the target area.In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US Director of National Intelligence testified that Iran’s regime remains intact but largely degraded by the ongoing conflict and associated operations. Tehran and its proxies remain capable of targeting US and allied interests in the Middle East, and, if a hostile regime survives, it will seek to rebuild missiles and UAV capabilities over time.In Israeli Domestic Politics, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir said West Bank terror incidents over the past year were among the lowest in memory, while warning that nationalist crime from a “threatening minority from within” could harm Israel’s security during wartime and called on authorities to act against such violence. Separately, police and other emergency responders were deployed in the Galilee after the discovery of weapons components, with authorities urging the public to stay away from affected sites and to follow instructions, while reporting channels advised contacting emergency services for information. In Israeli Economy and Business, market watchers say the euro is expected to weaken sharply against the shekel as the dollar strengthens against the euro, with recent quotes placing the euro around 1.14–1.15 dollars and the dollar up about 5–6 percent versus the euro.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://t.me/abualiexpress/118039https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkvkxtu9wlhttps://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjcsvu00qzehttps://t.me/abualiexpress/118036https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298170https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298173https://t.me/newssil/195869https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-890451https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298174https://t.me/abualiexpress/118035https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890447https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-890450https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298171https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298179