Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-20 at 14:02

HEADLINESMissile Debris in Jerusalem Old CityUS Sends More Marines to Middle EastDOJ Sues Harvard Over Jewish Student HarassmentThe time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Israeli Home Front Command is operating with regular and reserve forces at the impact site in Jerusalem’s Old City near the Temple Mount, where debris from a missile interception fell, as authorities conduct search and rescue in the area. Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei used Nowruz to urge Iranian media to avoid focusing on Iran’s weaknesses and to accuse Israel of false-flag attacks on Turkey and Oman; he designated the new year as the year of “Resistance Economy under National Unity and National Security,” and he mourned Iran’s martyrs while denying Tehran’s involvement in the alleged attacks. ABC News’ Tom Soufi Burridge reported on the scene after Iranian missile fragments landed on the edge of Jerusalem’s Old City, leaving one person with a minor injury.In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani issued his first public message since the start of the US-Israeli military campaign against Iran, praising Tehran’s “resistance front” and saying regional allies are fighting the United States and Israel independently, with effective operations so far and more surprises to come. The report notes questions around Qaani’s status, including speculation of disappearance or arrest after Iran-linked activity, and describes the Quds Force as a key actor in destabilizing the region and shaping confrontations around Israel. A separate report in Hebrew notes that Tehran is not publicly discussing the reopening of the Hormuz Strait amid escalation, as attacks on energy infrastructure and the targeting of senior Iranian figures ripple through shipping and markets; observers warn of economic and strategic consequences in Europe and the Middle East. Separately, the US State Department is offering $10 million for information on key IRGC leaders, including the IRGC’s chief, the top drone commander, and the new head of intelligence.In US Military Role, the United States is deploying thousands of additional Marines and sailors to the Middle East as the Iran-Israel conflict intensifies, with the USS Boxer and its Marine Expeditionary Unit heading to the region to bolster capacity for potential operations; while officials say no decision has been made to send troops into Iran itself, the move broadens the military footprint in anticipation of further action in the area.In Regional Impacts, a French sailor aboard the nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle revealed the vessel’s near real-time position by posting a 7.3-kilometer run to the Strava fitness app, exposing the carrier’s location as it sails toward the eastern Mediterranean amid ongoing war deployments.In Israeli Domestic Politics, rescue and relief forces from the Home Front Command continue to operate on the ground in Jerusalem’s Old City near the Temple Mount after reports of falling debris, with authorities urging the public to follow life-saving instructions and stayAlert to notifications. The report also notes that Hezbollah is pressing a last-ditch moment near the Western Wall as tensions in the region persist, and it references broader context including ongoing US air operations in the Hormuz area and concerns about regional security dynamics.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Czech investigators are probing an overnight fire at an industrial complex in Pardubice as potentially deliberate, with officials saying a protest group that opposed Israeli weapons production claimed responsibility; authorities are examining whether the blaze was intentional and which actors may be involved. Separately, the US Department of Justice has filed suit against Harvard University, alleging the institution remains deliberately indifferent to harassment of Jewish and Israeli students and has failed to enforce campus rules in those cases, a claim Harvard denies as politically motivated.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/JewishNews24/51648https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890676https://t.me/JewishNews24/51640https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890679https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1299007https://t.me/JewishNews24/51642https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890675https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bkjfuzj9zxhttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1299008https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-890678https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-890677