Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-23 at 17:02

HEADLINES- Netanyahu vows strikes on Iran, Hezbollah continue- Iran fires at Eilat; missile intercepted- Bahrain pushes UNSC resolution over HormuzThe time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will safeguard its vital interests under all circumstances and will continue to strike both Iran and Hezbollah until a deal is reached. He added that Israel is dismantling the missile program and the nuclear program and continues to deal severe blows to Hezbollah, noting the elimination of two more nuclear scientists in recent days. On the same day, President Trump said the United States and Iran have had very good and productive discussions regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities in the Middle East. An Iranian source denied that the United States and Iran were holding talks about ending the war, saying there is no direct contact.In Iranian Retaliation, Iran fired a missile aimed at Eilat near the Red Sea. The missile was intercepted.In US Military Role, less than 48 hours before the US-Israeli strike on Iran began, Netanyahu spoke by phone with Trump about the reasons for launching the operation. Intelligence briefings had suggested Iran's former leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei would meet with his lieutenants at their Tehran compound, making them vulnerable to a decapitation strike. The call had not been reported before. Netanyahu, determined to move forward with an operation he had advocated for years, argued there might never be a better chance to strike. The report also notes that the Justice Department has accused a person of involvement in a murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Iran in 2024. Separately, CENTCOM issued a rare statement denying rumors of a US aircraft being shot down and called them "fake news."In Regional Impacts, Bahrain has circulated an initial draft of a new UN Security Council resolution targeting Iran, focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The draft condemns attacks and threats against commercial vessels, highlighting their impact on international trade, energy security, and the global economy. It demands that Iran immediately cease all attacks on merchant and commercial vessels and any attempts to impede lawful transit passage or freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz.In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that the success or failure of the US-Israeli operation in Iran hangs in the balance and may depend on how “success” is defined. Since February 28, the Iranian regime has sustained a massive offensive, with Trump signaling possible victory while keeping the option of broader military power in reserve. Critics say his statements can appear inconsistent. In a separate report, Senator Schumer refuses to admit damage to Iran’s military is a good thing, raising concerns about future economic fallout and avoiding addressing the question directly.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Knesset plenum will vote on a law expanding the power of rabbinical courts to act as arbitrators in limited civil matters, drawing sharp criticism from the opposition for advancing the legislation during wartime. Opposition leader Yair Lapid said the vote marks “the day the status quo died,” warning the move would undermine the separation between religion and state and describe the measure as creating a halachic state.In Israeli Economy and Business, El Al Israel Airlines said it would sharply cut back its operations, with seat availability limited to 5% of normal after the Transportation Ministry ordered a reduction in traffic at Ben-Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv. The airline urged authorities to open Ramon Airport near Eilat as an alternative. The restriction limits Ben-Gurion to one incoming flight and one outgoing flight per hour, with the inbound flight unrestricted and the outbound flight limited to 50 passengers. The move comes after security assessments following missile interceptions; authorities note that two missile interceptions failures on Saturday night led to civilian injuries in southern towns.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/israel-news/article-890974https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-says-israel-will-safeguard-interests-as-trump-pursues-talks-with-iran/https://t.me/ILtoday/18090https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73653https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73645https://www.jpost.com/international/article-890973https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300298https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890981https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-890897https://worldisraelnews.com/senator-schumer-refuses-to-admit-damage-to-iran-military-is-a-good-thing/https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890976https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890980