Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-23 at 16:02

HEADLINES- Israel vows relentless strikes on Iran Hezbollah- Iran asserts Gulf control, warns Hormuz mining- Anonymous family donates $10M to Sheba AIThe time is now 4:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel will safeguard its vital interests under all circumstances and will continue to strike Iran and Hezbollah until a deal is reached, adding that Israel is smashing the missile program and the nuclear program and has recently eliminated two more nuclear scientists. He noted that President Trump believes Israel and the United States can reach a joint agreement to protect Israel's interests, and Trump described recent discussions as very good and productive regarding a complete and total resolution of hostilities. An Iranian source denied that the US and Iran were holding talks about ending the war. Separately, reports confirm an Iranian missile fired at Eilat, with additional reports indicating a missile directed toward Eilat by the Red Sea.In US Military Role, Less than 48 hours before the strike on Iran began, Netanyahu spoke by phone to Trump about the reasons for launching the operation, with intelligence suggesting Ayatollah Khamenei and his key lieutenants would soon meet at his Tehran compound, making them vulnerable to a decapitation strike. The report says Trump had already approved the idea of the United States carrying out a military operation against Iran. The discussion also referenced a murder-for-hire plot allegedly orchestrated by Iran in 2024, for which the Justice Department has charged a person. The timing reflects an effort to act while leadership was exposed.In Regional Impacts, an Iranian military spokesman said Tehran has full control over the Persian Gulf, Oman’s territorial waters, and the Strait of Hormuz, and would use any means necessary to secure the area, arguing that extra-regional countries have no right to interfere. Iran International reported that Iran’s Defense Council warned that any attack on Iran’s southern coasts or islands could lead to the mining of maritime routes in the Persian Gulf, highlighting signals of escalation and the potential for broader disruption as tensions persist.In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that the success or failure of the US-Israeli operation in Iran hinges on how “success” is defined, noting that Iran has sustained a major offensive since February 28 and that President Trump has described losses while at times signaling greater military power, including possible use of American troops to loosen Iran’s grip on Hormuz and secure surrender. Another report states that a full-scale US operation to fully reopen the Strait of Hormuz is not imminent, as officials weigh risks and alternative strategies, with discussions on the issue continuing to influence planning and diplomacy.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Birthright travelers look different after October 7, but the effect remains the same, as Brandeis University researchers note that nonparticipants last summer became less connected to Israel and to their Jewish identity, a trend they attribute in part to communities where criticism of Israel is common, with about 7,300 North Americans taking Birthright trips last summer. Belgium deployed soldiers on the streets of Brussels and Antwerp to bolster security for the Jewish community after antisemitic attacks in Liege, Rotterdam, and Amsterdam, with security at synagogues and schools being reinforced in a three-phase deployment to protect Jewish sites and public safety.In Uplifting News, an anonymous family that moved from New York to Israel donated $10 million to Sheba Medical Center to expand its artificial intelligence work, a gift described as a major investment in the hospital’s AI-driven medicine. The donors, who asked for anonymity, cited Sheba’s long-term vision and its role in shaping how medicine is delivered, studied, and managed, with the donation supporting Sheba’s Artificial Intelligence Center, which aims to integrate clinical data, research capacity, and patient care at scale.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/middle-east/iran-news/article-890975https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890974https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-890897https://www.jpost.com/international/article-890973https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890972https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-890971https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-890969https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-890968https://t.me/ILtoday/18090https://t.me/newssil/196150https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73653https://t.me/newssil/196149