Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-25 at 09:03

HEADLINESIsrael Pounds Iran: 15,000 Bombs Since FebBaltic Drones Crossed Estonian and Latvian AirspaceLebanon Warrants Hezbollah Members Over Kaadr-110The time is now 9:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Defense Minister Israel Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir said the IDF has dropped 15,000 bombs on Iran since the war began on February 28, a level described as more than four times the munitions used by the IDF during Operation Rising Lion in June 2025. The release notes that the overall pace of attacks has cooled since mid-March; in the opening days, both Israel and the United States were striking around 1,000 targets daily, a pace unsustainable because of wear on aircraft and the need for pilots to rest. From March 13 to 19, the tally moved from about 10,000 to about 12,000, with some days recording 200 or fewer attacks, and the period from March 19 to 25 shows the pace easing further. Separately, the latest airstrike reports note the elimination of several Iranian regime figures, including General Amir Amirahmadi, Mohammad Ghanbari, Javad Bagheri, Vahid Fatemi Nejad, and Masoud Bakhtiari of the IRGC.In Regional Impacts, two stray Ukrainian military drones crossed into Estonian and Latvian airspace via Russia, with one drone striking a chimney at Auvere power station and the other crash landing; Estonian authorities said there were no injuries or damage from the Estonia strike. The drones are believed to be part of a broader Ukrainian attack on Russia, following another strike that Lithuania said hit a lake. The incidents come as Russia reports Ukrainian drone activity aimed at Baltic oil facilities near Primorsk and Ust-Luga, with Ukraine widening drone operations against oil refineries and export routes as peace talks stall. Separately, the US Ambassador to NATO, briefing on the Strait of Hormuz, said, “We’ve been in overdrive here diplomatically, pushing our allies… Unfortunately, it took some convincing that this is more important to them than it is to the United States.” “We have allies that are finally stepping up.”In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese authorities issued arrest warrants against four Hezbollah members on charges of smuggling weapons into southern Lebanon, after two suspects admitted transporting 21 Grad missiles, 3,000 rounds of ammunition and eight machine guns from the Bekaa Valley to southern Lebanon, saying they were moving the weapons to confront the IDF and claiming the attacks were protected under international law. Israeli officers say the Lebanese army lied to the IDF about enforcing a demilitarization of southern Lebanon and, now that the military is operating again in the area, Hezbollah infrastructure has been reestablished in El-Khiam as troops search for terrorists and weapons. For the first time publicly, the Lebanese army addressed the Iranian ballistic missile widely reported yesterday, the Kaadr-110, about 16 meters long with an estimated 2,000-kilometer range and carrying smaller missiles. The missile exploded at a high altitude, suggesting the intended target lay outside Lebanon; the cause is described as either a technical malfunction or interception, and the commander notes there are no air-defense interceptors on Lebanese soil.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a feature on the Netanyahu front depicts internal tensions in the prime minister’s office, with commentary suggesting that messaging is used to pit segments of society against “elites” even as other policy moves proceed and regional tensions intensify, reflecting a climate of disputed political dynamics at the highest level.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel Apartheid Week is being marked globally with a focus on student protests and BDS support. This year’s theme is “IAW Back on Campuses Worldwide: Palestine Frees Us All,” marking 21 years since the first event at the University of Toronto in 2005. Prominent activities are taking place in Korea, Sweden, Italy, Brazil, Japan, and Gaza, with a Gaza conference on March 24 and seminars at Birzeit University in Ramallah. On March 27, protesters from more than 20 European cities are set to demand Israel’s removal from the Horizon Europe research program, while the Israeli government has flagged selected IAW events in Brussels.In Uplifting News, a new platform called IsraelForPesach.com connects people unexpectedly staying in Israel over Passover with families willing to open their homes for holiday meals and, in some cases, overnight accommodations. The free, community-run site was created to help Israelis, students, tourists, and families who hadn’t planned to be in Israel for Passover find a place at the table, with organizers noting travel uncertainty and last-minute changes as drivers for the effort.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-891143https://t.me/selena_updates/59613https://www.jpost.com/international/internationalrussia-ukraine-war/article-891154https://t.me/JewishNews24/51876https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-891157https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-891126https://t.me/abualiexpress/118648https://t.me/abualiexpress/118647https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1301029https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-891158https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-891146