Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-23 at 18:02

HEADLINESIsrael strikes Tehran and EsfahanIran demands removal of US basesBahrain pushes UN action over HormuzThe time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, The Israeli Air Force launched a new wave of attacks in Tehran. Iranian sources published additional footage showing the moments of the attacks in Esfahan as the evening unfolded.In Iranian Retaliation, Iran sets harsh terms for ending war while signaling possible flexibility in indirect talks. It also said Iran is calling for the removal of US military bases from the region and financial compensation for wartime damage.In Regional Impacts, Bahrain pushes UN action on Iran, Strait of Hormuz tensions rise. Bahrain has circulated an initial draft of a new UN Security Council resolution targeting Iran to council members, focusing on freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. The draft condemns attacks and threats against commercial vessels and calls on Iran to immediately cease all attacks against merchant and commercial vessels, as well as any attempts to impede lawful transit passage or freedom of navigation in and around the Strait of Hormuz. The resolution notes Iran’s actions near the Strait as a threat to international peace and security and urges measures to safeguard navigation. Separately, US officials have reportedly told CBS News that there are at least a dozen underwater mines, believed to be Iranian-manufactured Maham 3 and Maham 7 Limpet Mines, currently scattered throughout the Strait of Hormuz. Additionally, sirens were heard in the Western Galilee with reports of multiple attack zones in Kiryat Shmona and at least one serious injury.In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump drops Iran ultimatum after realizing he had nothing to gain. There is no reason to get excited about Trump's decision to withdraw his ultimatum and not bomb Iran's power grid, a move viewed as avoiding a crisis that would run counter to US interests and war objectives. The timeline recalls that at Trump's request Israel struck an Iranian gas production facility to test Iran's response, with the operation to be carried out by the Israeli Air Force while Trump would pretend not to know; Iran responded by striking energy facilities in Gulf states, and Trump later confronted Iran with demands to open the Strait of Hormuz and issued a 48-hour ultimatum before stepping back. Saudi media report that Ghalibaf took a flight from Iran to the capital of Pakistan, with American-Israeli approval. A Pakistani source suggesting that direct talks on ending the war with Iran could occur this week on Pakistani soil is also noted. EL AL UPDATE: Alon Lavi, Director of Operations at EL AL’s Control Center, issued an important update for North American customers following the reduced flight activity at Ben Gurion Airport.In Israeli Domestic Politics, El Al Airlines to operate at 5% capacity after Israeli government limits traffic. Late on Sunday, Transportation Minister Miri Regev ordered a reduction in traffic at Ben-Gurion, limiting to one incoming flight and one outgoing flight per hour; the incoming flight has no passenger-number restriction, while the outgoing flight is limited to 50 passengers. The move effectively constrains operations, and the airline has urged authorities to open Ramon Airport as an alternative to Ben-Gurion.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, A rally was held on Golders Green Road in NW London under the banner of “Stop the Hate.” Jewish people, Israelis, and Iranians were present, with non Jewish participants highlighting attention to the threats of radical Islam and its supporters.In Israeli Economy and Business, המיליונר שידע על האמירה הדרמטית של טראמפ? today saw one of the most mysterious and planned trades in market history, nicknamed the Taco Trade. At 06:50 New York time, an anonymous entity purchased S&P 500 contracts worth about 1.5 billion dollars and sold oil contracts worth about 192 million dollars, a move six times the normal size for that hour. Fourteen minutes later, President Trump announced “productive talks” and a halt to the strikes, triggering an immediate market rally and a roughly 60 million dollar gain on the S&P 500 position in minutes, prompting questions about whether the move relied on inside information. EL AL - UPDATE: Alon Lavi, Director of Operations at EL AL’s Control Center, provided a briefing for North American customers following the reduced flight activity at Ben Gurion Airport.In Uplifting News, וולטר קאר, שרכבו התקלקל בלילה שלפני יום עבודתו הראשון, בחר לא לוותר. הוא יצא ברגל בחצות והלך כ-20 מייל לאורך הלילה כדי להגיע בזמן למשמרת בחברת Bellhops. בדרך, שוטרים שהתרשמו מסיפורו הסיעו אותו חלק מהדרך, והוא התייצב לעבודה בבוקר ללא תלונות. מסירותו של קאר, ששרד בעבר את הוריקן קתרינה, נגעה ללב המנכ"ל לוק מרקלין, שהחליט להעניק לו במתנה את רכבו האישי, פורד אסקייפ.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/beholdisraelchannel/73660https://t.me/newssil/196160https://worldisraelnews.com/iran-sets-harsh-terms-for-ending-war-while-signaling-possible-flexibility-in-indirect-talks/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890981https://t.me/JewishNews24/51795https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300311https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/23/trump-drops-iran-ultimatum-after-realizing-he-had-nothing-to-gain/https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73662https://t.me/newssil/196159https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890980https://t.me/JewishNews24/51793https://t.me/newssil/196162https://t.me/JewishNews24/51792https://t.me/newssil/196161