Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-24 at 09:03

HEADLINES- School strike kills 168 children, Iran claims- Gulf drones surge, regional crisis deepens- Lebanon expels Iran envoy, Litani zone loomsThe time is now 9:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the latest headlines outline a day of heightened tension: Israeli authorities say two brothers have been indicted for selling fake AI information to Iran, while the United States has paused energy-strike operations. Red alert sirens were heard in southern Israel as missiles from Iran were fired, and a subsequent launch toward southern Israel was reported.In Iranian Retaliation, Iran has requested an urgent debate at the UN Human Rights Council over the fatal air strike on a primary school that Iranian officials say killed 168 children, most of them girls. Iran’s ambassador to the UN in Geneva said the strike represents a grave assault on children and education. US military investigators are evaluating the strike, with the Pentagon elevating the probe. Gulf states requested a Geneva session on Iran’s strikes on civilians and energy infrastructure, scheduled to take place Wednesday. Earlier reporting noted there were conflicting assessments in the public record about responsibility, with ongoing investigations.In Regional Impacts, regional defense and security actions reflect a broad, coordinated effort. Saudi Arabia downed dozens of Iranian drones targeting its Eastern Region in multiple waves on Tuesday, and the UAE intercepted 17 drones and five missiles in the past 24 hours. Bahrain reported a fire at a facility attributed to Iranian aggression. In Iraq’s Kurdistan region, Erbil International Airport was targeted by a drone early Tuesday, the third such attack in 24 hours. The UAE Defense Ministry tallied totals of 1,806 drones, 15 cruise missiles, and 357 ballistic missiles intercepted in the recent period. Within Israel’s south, authorities noted that people could leave protected areas in the near term, as sirens were heard again amid ongoing strikes and interceptions.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanon declared Iran’s ambassador-designate persona non grata, giving him until Sunday to leave the country after a week of regional consultations. Separately, Israel announced it would take control of a security zone in south Lebanon up to the Litani River, about 30 kilometers from the border, as deadly strikes continued across the country. The fighting and diplomatic moves come as Hezbollah and other actors contribute to a widening regional crisis, with casualties and displacement mounting in the broader conflict.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Haifa District Court convicted David Abu Aziz of the 2021 murder of attorney Ephraim Arnon, finding the act was planned and carried out with another person whose identity remains unknown. Abu Aziz was also convicted of aggravated wounding for injuring Arnon’s widow and obstruction of justice for disposing of evidence; other related charges were dismissed.In Uplifting News, a year after returning to Kibbutz Dafna, residents describe life under sirens and rockets continuing with a resolve to rebuild and renew daily routines, preserving community ties and a sense of shared purpose despite the ongoing tensions and disruptions.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/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-891038https://t.me/newssil/196266https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7838https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73729https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891030https://t.me/ILtoday/18104https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-891036https://t.me/newssil/196268https://t.me/selena_updates/59505https://t.me/newssil/196265https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891031https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/israel-says-will-take-control-security-zone-south-lebanonhttps://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-891040https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1300581https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-890782