Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-21 at 12:02

HEADLINESIsrael strikes Iranian missile facilities, degrading productionIran threatens to burn energy facilitiesUS DOJ sues Harvard over antisemitismThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, the Israel Air Force completed wide-scale strikes against dozens of Iranian regime targets overnight, including ballistic missile production facilities. The IDF said the strikes significantly degrade Iran’s capability to continue producing ballistic missiles. Among the sites hit were a central Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps ballistic missile production and development compound, a missile component storage facility, an Iranian Defense Ministry missile fuel production site, and a missile component production site. The military also said it struck several defense systems of the Iranian terror regime across Tehran, without specifying further. It noted that the strikes were based on intelligence from the IDF’s intelligence directorate. Later on Saturday, the IDF announced that the air force had conducted five strikes.In Iranian Retaliation, “We will burn everything”: Iran issues new threat as officials warn war could last weeks ahead, Israeli officials say the war is expected to last at least two more weeks, with operations in Lebanon set to intensify but the focus remaining on Iran, as Tehran threatens to “burn all energy facilities”; Israel says Hezbollah will retain missiles, but not south of the Litani River.In Regional Impacts, Syria attempting to avoid regional conflict, Iran war as it navigates internal strife -analysis, Syria, now led by a new government headed by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, has tried to stay out of the fighting as the region is engulfed by the Iran war. Syria emerged from a decade-long civil war in 2024, and on Friday Sharaa sent Eid al-Fitr congratulatory cables to a long list of Arab and Islamic leaders, signaling a renewed push to strengthen bilateral relations and cooperation across the region. The cables underscored Syria’s commitment to tightening ties with these countries and to continued solidarity amid regional tensions. Also in this region, al-Qaish and Kurdish communities are observing Nowruz amid Iran tensions, Ramadan overlap and regional unrest, with Nowruz celebrations taking place across the Kurdistan Region and Iran as the holiday signals renewal even as conflict continues. The Kurdish festival, observed March 21 to 23, features traditional dances and gatherings, highlighting the cultural resilience of Kurds in the face of regional upheaval. This year’s observances come as the broader security environment remains unsettled, with many Kurds marking Nowruz under extraordinary circumstances. Alarms were activated and early warning alerts were reported in some areas as tensions mounted.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Multiple airstrikes targeted the pro Iranian militia positions in Akashat, western Iraq.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, The US Department of Justice filed a federal lawsuit against Harvard University on Friday, seeking to recover billions of dollars for allegedly failing to protect Jewish and Israeli students from harassment and discrimination. The complaint accuses Harvard of remaining “deliberately indifferent” to harassment of Jewish and Israeli students and intentionally refusing to enforce campus rules when victims are Jews or Israelis. The lawsuit alleges violations of Title VI of the Civil Rights Act and seeks to recover all federal grants to Harvard during its noncompliance, freeze payments on existing grants, and appoint an independent monitor. Harvard is set to receive more than $2.6 billion in taxpayer money from the US Department of Health and Human Services alone. “Since October 7th, 2023, too many of our educational institutions have allowed antisemitism to flourish on campus - Harvard included,” said the US Attorney General.In Uplifting News, Studying under fire: Israel's students navigate exams, sirens, daily life during Iran war, Israeli students juggle Zoom classes, sirens, and exams while navigating life during war with Iran. A Bar-Ilan University law student describes shifting from study to shelter as alerts and sirens disrupt daily routines, with many students lacking reinforced safe rooms and relying on public shelters or building basements. The piece highlights resilience in the student community as exams and daily routines continue despite the ongoing conflict.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.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890710https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy0t5vnczxhttps://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890711https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890709https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73377https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73374https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73372https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73380https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7773https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890473