Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-18 at 11:03

HEADLINESIsraeli strike kills Iranian judge and researcherIran strikes Asaluyeh refinery and South ParsUS says 7,800 targets hit across IranThe time is now 11:03 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian opposition sources say Israel carried out an attack targeting a vehicle near a courthouse in the city of Lar, in Fars province, Iran, killing a judge and a researcher, with additional casualties reported. Separately, there are reports of launches from Iran toward northern areas of the country.In Iranian Retaliation, Iranian state media report explosions at the Asaluyeh refinery and the South Pars gas field; Tehran says the strikes mark a shift to an economic war and warns of possible attacks on energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar.In US Military Role, CENTCOM says on Day 18 of Operation Epic Fury that well over 7,800 targets have been struck across Iran, including more than 120 vessels with the Iranian Navy and the IRGC Navy.In Regional Impacts, analysts warn that Iran’s attacks could push Gulf states from de-escalation toward backing a longer campaign to defeat Iran, given their economies rely on open trade and the Strait of Hormuz. NATO allies are discussing how to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. Iran confirmed the death of its top intelligence official Esmail Khatib in what officials describe as a cowardly assassination, with Israel’s defense minister noting the strike. Germany’s chancellor said Berlin would have advised against war had it been asked, while Qatar condemned attacks on facilities linked to Iran’s South Pars gas field. An Israel Airports Authority spokesperson said debris from intercepts damaged three private aircraft. Sirens have been heard in the Eilat area and in Bahrain, with additional alerts reported near border communities such as Safed and Rosh Pina, and a Hezbollah UAV attack prompting sirens in the Upper Galilee.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an explainer outlines remaining senior figures in Hamas and Hezbollah. It notes that Hamas’s leadership was decimated, with Ismail Haniyeh, Yahya Sinwar and Mohammad Sinwar among those killed; the current top Hamas figure is Izz al-Din al-Haddad, who leads the Izzadin al-Qassam Brigades, and much of Hamas’s senior leadership is said to reside in Doha, Qatar, where a five-person ruling committee governs, with Muhammad Ismail Darwish heading the Shura Council.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Knesset Finance Committee advanced a bill granting five-year tax exemptions to olim and returning residents who lived abroad for at least ten years, applying to arrivals on or after November 5, 2025 for 2026-2030. The exemption ceilings are set at 600,000 NIS in 2026, rising to 1 million NIS in 2027-2028, then tapering to 350,000 NIS in 2029 and 150,000 NIS in 2030. An amendment caps the exemption if a relative employs an oleh or returning resident.In Israeli Economy and Business, El Al outlines customer service details: a 24/6 IST WhatsApp line at +972-3-977-1111 for urgent questions, and instructions to use the Manage My Booking section of the website or app for the most up-to-date information for all other cases.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/abualiexpress/118009https://t.me/newssil/195832https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1n7qeo9zehttps://t.me/selena_updates/58814https://t.me/DefenderDome/19400https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890416https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/war-middle-east-latest-developments-12https://t.me/JewishNews24/51472https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298069https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1298067https://t.me/DefenderDome/19399https://t.me/newssil/195828https://t.me/newssil/195825https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-890395https://t.me/selena_updates/58812https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890400https://t.me/JewishNews24/51471