Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-24 at 08:02

HEADLINES- Iran's cyberwar seeks victory, rail panic- UN to debate school strike on civilians- Lebanon declares Iranian ambassador persona non grataThe time is now 8:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s cyber attackers are trying to manufacture a picture of victory in its cyberwar with Israel even as it has faced embarrassing losses in the physical arena, according to Israel’s National Cyber Directorate Chief Yossi Karadi. He said Iran has been frustrated that it has not yet succeeded in shaping a convincing win, and has recently attempted a mix of kinetic and cyber actions against major Israeli and Gulf-state utilities, including the gas sector. Despite extensive efforts to use cyber weapons to disrupt Israel’s critical infrastructure, no major harm has occurred to date, with the largest so‑called victory being the takeover of Israel Railways monitors in a couple of locations on March 11, during which false messages were broadcast to spark panic among railway travellers. Karadi noted that Iran has also tried to wipe out thousands of Israeli businesses by deleting data, but succeeded only about 50 times. The INCD, the IDF, Shin Bet and other security partners continue to monitor and respond.In Regional Impacts, Iran has asked for an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva over the fatal air strike on a primary school on the first day of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, irking Iranian officials who say the strike killed 168 children, mostly girls. Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva, Ali Bahreini, said the strike represented a grave assault on children, education and the community’s future, and a letter was delivered to the council president. Reuters had reported that US military investigators believe it is likely the United States was responsible, though no final conclusion has been reached and the Pentagon has elevated the probe. Gulf states have joined the call for a Geneva meeting to discuss Iran’s strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure across the region, with the scheduled debate set for Wednesday. Separately, reports from Majdal Shams described alarms and dramatic claims including possible escalation, mentions of US plans for intervention in the region, threats from Lebanon toward targets in Israel, and assertions that Iran is coordinating actions around the Hormuz Strait and using AI to impersonate security units to aid Iran’s aims, though these claims are part of reported narratives in the coverage. In addition, the Philippines’ president signed Executive Order No. 110, declaring a State of National Energy Emergency due to the ongoing Middle East conflict and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting wider energy-security considerations tied to the crisis. Health authorities also reported a measles case at a blood-donation site at the Kerach HaRoa or a school facility in Givat Shmuel, with officials urging vaccination and routine immunization to prevent outbreaks amid the regional tensions.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanon’s government withdrew accreditation for the Iranian ambassador and declared him persona non grata, ordering his departure by Sunday, and summoned Lebanon’s own ambassador to Tehran for consultations, citing Tehran’s breach of diplomatic norms. This move comes as Israel carried out a new wave of targeted airstrikes across southern Lebanon against terrorists and related infrastructure, striking vehicles, a residential building and other sites in places including Al-Shabriha, Bchamoun, the Mieh Mieh camp near Sidon, Ain Ebel and Burj al-Shamali, with injuries and fatalities reported. In response, Israeli Foreign Minister Gadi Sarr welcomed the Lebanese decision to expel the Iranian ambassador. Separately, a strike was reported on a building in the Maisouk area of Tyre in southern Lebanon. The broader exchange underscores the rapidly shifting diplomatic and kinetic dynamics between Iran, its regional proxies and Israel, with Lebanon taking a clear step to disengage from Tehran’s diplomatic presence as tensions persist.In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli overseas online purchases fell sharply in the first half of March as the war with Iran intensified, with orders from international e-commerce sites down about 52% compared with February, while orders on Israeli sites rose roughly 23%. Among Israeli sites, ACE home products posted a 75% jump, driven by demand for items like computer chairs, inflatable mattresses and bed bases; Delta saw a 54% rise, with increases also seen at Terminal X (49%) and Fox (about 30%). The KSP site remained among the top Israeli platforms, continuing to rank high in recent months as consumer activity shifted toward domestic retailers during the period.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/defense-news/article-891024https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891030https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300555https://t.me/DefenderDome/19657https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891031https://t.me/selena_updates/59487https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300556https://t.me/newssil/196258https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300553https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/24/beirut-declares-irans-ambassador-persona-non-grata/https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73725https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-891029