March 17: IDF reportedly authorized to take out senior Iranian, Hezbollah figures without usual prior approval

US carrier Ford — deployed in war with Iran — to dock temporarily after fire

The US aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford, deployed in operations against Iran, is expected to temporarily pull into port after a fire on board, US officials say on the 18th day of the war with Tehran.

The carrier, America’s newest and the world’s largest, is currently located in the Red Sea. It is expected to temporarily go to Souda Bay on the Greek island of Crete, the two officials say.

The warship has been deployed for nine months, including taking part in operations against Venezuela in the Caribbean prior to arriving in the Middle East. The length of the deployment has raised questions about the morale of the sailors on board and the readiness of the warship.

The officials do not say how long the Ford was expected to remain in Crete.

One of the officials says nearly 200 sailors were treated for smoke-related injuries when the fire broke out in the ship’s main laundry area. The fire took hours to bring under control and had an impact on roughly 100 sleeping berths.

One service member was flown off the ship for injuries, the official says.

The New York Times first reported the extent of the damage on board the warship. The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.

After the fire initially broke out, the US military had said that there was no damage to the ship’s propulsion plant and the aircraft carrier was fully operational.

The Ford, with more than 5,000 sailors aboard, has more than ​75 military aircraft, including fighter aircraft like the F-18 Super Hornets. The Ford has sophisticated radar that can help control air traffic and navigation.

The supporting ships, such as the Ticonderoga-class guided missile cruiser Normandy, Arleigh Burke-class guided missile destroyers Thomas Hudner, Ramage, Carney, and Roosevelt, include surface-to-air, surface-to-surface, and anti-submarine warfare capabilities.

Apparently hoping to spark protests, PM urges Iranians to celebrate ancient festival

Looking to take advantage of both the assassination of top Iranian official Ali Larijani and the head of the oppressive Basij force, Gholamreza Soleimani, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urges Iranians to take to the streets to celebrate their ancient fire festival, which began tonight.

“In the past 24 hours, we knocked out two of the terrorist chieftains, the top terrorist chieftains of this tyranny,” says Netanyahu from the Air Force command bunker in the Kirya in Tel Aviv.

“Our aircraft are hitting the terror operatives on the grounds, in the crossroads, in the city squares,” he says in English. “This is meant to enable the brave people of Iran to celebrate the Festival of Fire.”

Chaharshanbe Suri is seen by the Islamic Republic as a pagan holiday, and its celebrations often feature anti-regime protests.

“Celebrate and Happy Nowruz,” says Netanyahu, reassuring Iran’s people that “we’re watching from above.”

Nowruz begins on Friday evening in Iran.

Iran confirms security chief Ali Larijani killed

Iran’s Supreme National Security Council confirms the death of its chief Ali Larijani, after Israel said it had killed him in an air strike.

“The pure souls of the martyrs embraced the purified soul of God’s righteous servant, Martyr Dr. Ali Larijani,” the council says, adding that his son and his bodyguards had died with him.

“After a lifetime of struggle for the advancement of Iran and of the Islamic Revolution, he ultimately attained his long-held aspiration, answered the divine call, and honorably achieved the sweet grace of martyrdom in the trench of service,” it adds.

באיראן מאשרים: עלי לאריג'אני איננו pic.twitter.com/vHAD1CcqI7

— roi kais • روعي كايس • רועי קייס (@kaisos1987) March 17, 2026

IDF urges evacuation of coastal Lebanese city of Tyre, surrounding villages ahead of strikes on Hezbollah

The IDF issues an evacuation warning for the coastal Lebanese city of Tyre and surrounding villages and refugee camps, ahead of strikes on Hezbollah.

“Hezbollah’s terrorist activities are forcing the IDF to act against it with force. The IDF does not intend to harm you,” says spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee in a post on X.

“For your safety, we call on you to evacuate your homes immediately according to the area shown on the map and move north of the Zahrani River,” he says.

The IDF had already called on Thursday for all civilians in southern Lebanon to head to the north of the Zahrani River. It repeated the warning this morning as well.

#عاجل ‼️انذار عاجل إلى سكان مدينة صور والمخيمات والأحياء المحيطة بها وفق ما يعرض في الخارطة

????انشطة حزب الله الإرهابي تجبر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بقوة. جيش الدفاع لا ينوي المساس بكم.
????حرصًا على سلامتكم ندعوكم إلى اخلاء منازلكم فورا وفق المنطقة المعروضة في الخارطة والانتقال… pic.twitter.com/axvKIlW8IZ

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 17, 2026

IDF says it struck Hezbollah rocket-launching squads in Lebanon

The IDF says it struck Hezbollah rocket-launching squads and launchers in Lebanon in the past hour.

The strikes came as part of efforts to thwart Hezbollah’s barrage of dozens of rockets and five drones on northern Israel.

The military says it struck some of the Hezbollah operatives and rocket launchers before they could fire at Israel, and others shortly after they did.

צה"ל תקף משגרי רקטות ומחבלי חיזבאללה ברחבי לבנון

חיל האוויר תקף בשעה האחרונה משגרים ומחבלי חיזבאללה ברחבי לבנון, במסגרת המאמץ לשיבוש וסיכול ירי לעבר שטח מדינת ישראל.
בסגירות מעגל מהירות, הותקפו חוליות שיגור ומשגרים טרם השיגור או זמן קצר לאחר הירי.

מתחילת מבצע 'שאגת הארי', צה"ל… pic.twitter.com/r5Y1cjFxnN

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 17, 2026

UAE central bank launches resilience package for supporting stability of banking sector

The United Arab Emirates central bank says it has approved a comprehensive financial institution resilience package aimed at reinforcing the stability of the country’s banking sector.

The central bank says the overall stock of liquidity held by UAE banks at the regulator, combined with their net eligible assets for central bank operations, has reached close to $250 billion.

Under the package, banks will gain enhanced access to reserve balances of up to 30% of the cash reserve requirement and access to term liquidity facilities in both UAE dirhams and US dollars, it adds.

Iraq asks Iran for oil tanker passage through Strait of Hormuz

Iraq is in contact with Iran to try to arrange passage for some of its oil tankers through the Strait of Hormuz, the country’s oil minister tells local media.

A founding member of the OPEC cartel, crude oil sales make up 90 percent of Iraq’s budget revenues. Before the outbreak of war on February 28, Iraq mainly shipped its oil — roughly 3.5 million barrels per day — from the southern Basra fields via the Strait of Hormuz.

Iran has closed the Strait, through which as much as a fifth of the world’s global crude oil and liquefied natural gas is normally shipped, to vessels from most countries.

“Communications are underway with the relevant authorities to authorize the passage of certain oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, in order that we can resume our exports,” Iraqi oil minister Hayan Abdel Ghani tells local TV station al-Sharqiya, referring to the Iranians.

“We need to provide them with the identity of these ships, their name, their affiliation, who owns them,” he adds.

Iraq has been scrambling to find a solution to export its oil, and there have been long-running talks with Iraqi Kurdistan to export oil through the autonomous region.

Kurdish authorities had asked for several measures in return, including that Baghdad facilitates the region’s access to US dollars through banks.

The Kurdistan region’s Prime Minister Masrour Barzani says oil exports would “flow through the Kurdistan Region’s pipeline as soon as possible”.

He gives no further details, or indications about a possible timeline.

Barzani also says discussions with Baghdad “will continue with urgency to lift the restrictions on imports and trade into the Kurdistan Region.”

Russia reportedly sharing satellite imagery and drone technology with Iran

Russia has been expanding its intelligence sharing and military cooperation with Iran, providing satellite imagery and improved drone technology to aid Tehran’s targeting of US forces in the region, the Wall Street Journal reports, citing people familiar with the matter.

No injuries reported from day’s 10th Iran missile attack

No injuries are reported in the latest Iranian ballistic missile attack on southern Israel.

The missile was likely intercepted, according to initial military assessments.

It marks the 10th attack by Iran on Israel today.

US House panel subpoenas attorney general over Epstein files

The US House Oversight Committee subpoenaed the country’s top law enforcement official Tuesday to testify about the government’s handling of records tied to convicted sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.

Attorney General Pam Bondi will appear for a closed-door deposition on April 14 as lawmakers investigate what they describe as possible mismanagement of the federal probe into Epstein and his associates.

The move follows a committee vote earlier this month to compel Bondi’s testimony, with several Republicans joining Democrats in backing the measure.

In a letter to Bondi, Republican chairman James Comer says the panel is examining the Justice Department’s compliance with a law requiring the release of Epstein-related documents and raised concerns about how the material had been reviewed and disclosed.

“As attorney general, you are directly responsible for overseeing the department’s collection, review and determinations regarding the release of files pursuant to the Epstein Files Transparency Act, and the committee therefore believes that you possess valuable insight into these efforts,” Comer says.

US denies report that it’s encouraging Syria to send troops to fight Hezbollah in Lebanon

US special envoy for Syria Tom Barrack tweets, “Reporting regarding the United States encouraging Syria to send forces into Lebanon is false and inaccurate.”

Hours earlier, Reuters reported that the US has encouraged Syria to consider sending forces into eastern Lebanon to help disarm Hezbollah.

Citing five unnamed sources familiar with the matter, Reuters said Damascus is reluctant to embark on such a mission for fear of being sucked into the war in the Middle East and inflaming sectarian tensions.

The reported proposal to Syria’s US-allied government would reflect intensifying moves to disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah, which opened fire at Israel in support of Tehran on March 2, prompting an Israeli offensive in Lebanon.

The idea was first discussed by US and Syrian officials last year, said two of the sources – both Syrian officials – and two others familiar with the discussions. All spoke on condition of anonymity because of the sensitivity of the matter.

The idea was raised again by US officials around the time the US and Israel began their war against Iran. The two Syrian officials said a US request came shortly before the war began. A Western intelligence source said it was just after it started.

Reuters spoke to 10 sources for this article – six Syrian officials and government advisors, two Western diplomats, a European official and a Western intelligence source. All said Syria’s Sunni Islamist-led government had been cautiously considering a cross-border operation but remained hesitant.

US encouragement for a Syrian operation in eastern Lebanon and Syria’s hesitation to carry one out have not previously been reported.

A US State Department spokesperson declined comment on “private diplomatic communications,” and referred Reuters to the Syrian and Lebanese governments for comments on their operations.

IDF: Hamas commander planning ‘imminent’ attacks killed in Monday Gaza strike

A Hamas commander who was planning “imminent” attacks on troops was killed in an Israeli strike in the Gaza Strip yesterday, the IDF and Shin Bet security agency say.

The strike killed Younes Mohammed Hussein Alian, who is identified by the military and Shin Bet as the chief of Hamas’s naval force in the northern Gaza Strip.

The IDF says Alian was working to restore Hamas’s capabilities in northern Gaza and he planned to carry out attacks against “IDF troops operating in the Strip and the State of Israel in the immediate timeframe.”

“The terrorist was struck precisely after posing a real threat to IDF troops,” the statement says.

צה"ל ושב"כ חיסלו את מפקד חטיבת צפון רצועת עזה במערך הימי של חמאס

כוחות צה״ל ושב״כ בהכוונת מודיעין חיל הים תקפו וחיסלו אתמול , את יונס מחמד חסין עליאן, מפקד חטיבת צפון הרצועה של המערך הימי בארגון הטרור חמאס.

עליאן היה אחראי על הפעלת הכוחות הימיים בחטיבה, על קידום תהליכי בניין… pic.twitter.com/kTZU9CH0Iq

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 17, 2026

Early indications show Israeli tank fire hit UN Lebanon base, source says

Initial findings by an internal UN inquiry suggest Israeli tank fire hit a UN position in southern Lebanon on March 6, wounding Ghanaian peacekeepers, according to a Western military source, underscoring the growing risks as Israeli operations expand.

The UN peacekeeping mission known as UNIFIL is stationed in southern Lebanon to monitor hostilities along the demarcation line with Israel – an area that is at the heart of clashes between Israeli troops and Iran-backed Hezbollah fighters.

The mission, which will be halted at the end of 2026, has been sporadically caught in the crosshairs of both Israel and Hezbollah over the last couple of years, but with Israel considering a broader ground operation, the risks could be greater in the coming weeks.

Lebanon was pulled ⁠into the war in the ​Middle East when Hezbollah ​fired rockets at Israel that ignited a new Israeli offensive against the terror group.

According to the source, the preliminary conclusions led by UNIFIL’s Force Commander Reserve with support from explosive ordnance disposal specialists indicated that three strikes at the al-Qawzah base were direct hits from the main gun of an Israeli battle tank.

They were fired using 120-mm M339 HE-MP-T shells, the source says.

“Israeli involvement in the attack against UNIFIL is undeniable, given that these munitions are manufactured by Israel Military Industries (IMI),” the source says.

The findings of UNIFIL’s probe have not been previously reported. UNIFIL had said on March 6 that Ghanaian peacekeepers were wounded amid heavy firing and called the incident “unacceptable,” but did not say at the time who was responsible.

“That investigation is not yet complete. Once it is finalized, it will be shared with the parties, per usual practice,” says UNIFIL spokesperson Kandice Ardiel.

“Nonetheless, we reiterate the obligation of all actors to ensure the safety and security of peacekeepers and avoid harm to civilians. Any deliberate attack on peacekeepers is a grave violation of international humanitarian law and a violation of resolution 1701.”

Israel’s military does not immediately respond to a request for comment. IMI could not immediately be reached for comment. Elbit Systems, a major Israeli defense contractor that owns IMI, also does not immediately respond to a request for comment.

IDF: Hezbollah barrage included launch of five drones, which were all intercepted

Five drones were also launched by Hezbollah from Lebanon at northern Israel amid the terror group’s rocket barrage this evening.

According to the IDF, all five drones were intercepted.

Dozens of rockets were fired at northern Israel amid the attack.

Some of the rockets were intercepted, and others struck open areas, though at least one hit a home in Karmiel, causing damage, rescue services say.

IDF detects another Iran missile attack heading toward southern Israel

A ballistic missile attack from Iran has been detected by the IDF.

Sirens are expected to sound in southern Israel shortly.

IDF spokesman vows to hunt down Iran’s new supreme leader

IDF Spokesman Brig. Gen. Effie Defrin vows that the military will hunt down Iran’s new Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei.

Responding to a question at a press conference, Defrin says “we are striking all leaders of the regime, as seen in the past day,” referring to the killing of top Iranian official Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

“Mojtaba Khamenei, we don’t know his fate. We don’t hear him, we don’t see him, but I can tell you one thing, we will continue, as we have proven, we will continue to pursue anyone who poses a threat to the State of Israel or raises a hand against it,” he says.

“He is not immune. We will pursue him, find him, and neutralize him,” Defrin adds.

Powerful Iran parliament speaker warns Hormuz won’t return to pre-war norm

Iran’s parliament speaker, who is seen as one of the last remaining influential Islamic Republic figures, warns that maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz will not resume on the same terms even after the current conflict is over.

“The Strait of Hormuz situation won’t return to its pre-war status,” Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf says, in an English-language social media post.

Kataeb Hezbollah demands every ‘foreign soldier’ leave Iraq

Powerful Iran-backed armed group Kataeb Hezbollah in Iraq demands that every “foreign soldier” leave the country, its security chief says.

“Iraq’s instability is due to the malicious American presence, and security will not be achieved until the last foreign soldier leaves Iraqi territory,” the group’s new security chief Abou Moujahed al-Assaf says in a statement.

The group — designated by Washington as a terrorist organization — is part of an umbrella movement known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, which has been claiming daily attacks on US interests in Iraq and the region, and which has always demanded the withdrawal of US troops from the country.

Mamdani accuses Israel of genocide at St. Patrick’s Day event

New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accuses Israel of genocide at an event marking St. Patrick’s Day.

Mamdani hosts a breakfast celebrating the Irish holiday at his official residence, Gracie Mansion, with the former Irish president Mary Robinson.

Mamdani applauds Robinson for “how she stood steadfast alongside the people of Palestine.”

“I say this as over the past few years, as we’ve witnessed a genocide unfold before our eyes, there has been a deafening silence from so many,” Mamdani says.

“For those who have long cared about universal human rights and the extension of them to Palestinians, silence, however, is nothing new, for Palestinians are so often left to weep alone,” Mamdani says.

Karmiel home damaged by Hezbollah rocket fire; no one injured

Damage was caused to a home in the northern city of Karmiel amid Hezbollah’s rocket barrage this evening, rescue services and local authorities say.

It is not immediately clear if the damage was caused by a direct rocket impact or falling fragments following an interception.

No injuries are reported.

Opposition lawmakers fume over allocation of $1.8 billion with no guardrails

A heated Knesset Finance Committee discussion reveals that a NIS 5.8 billion ($1.8 billion) “civilian emergency reserve” the government is seeking to add to the 2026 budget has no clear legal mechanism governing how the money can be spent.

The committee is discussing Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich’s bill, which advanced in its first reading in the Knesset yesterday to amend the as-yet-unpassed budget amid the war against Iran and Hezbollah by raising the deficit ceiling, increasing the legal expenditure cap by NIS 32 billion ($10.2 billion), and creating a contingency reserve of up to NIS 7 billion ($2.2 billion) for security needs if war-related defense spending exceeds NIS 28 billion ($9 billion).

However, unlike other components of the budget, the NIS 5.8 billion allocation is not anchored in legislation with a defined oversight mechanism.

Finance ministry representatives acknowledge that a formal spending mechanism had been proposed by ministry officials during internal government discussions, but was ultimately omitted by the government against their recommendation.

They say that the funds are designated for “additional expenses directly resulting from Operation Roaring Lion,” and any use of the funds would require approval by the Finance Committee.

Opposition lawmakers warn that this lack of safeguards leaves the funds vulnerable to misuse, particularly in an election year, raising concerns they could be diverted toward political or coalition spending.

“In an election year, you cannot put NIS 5.8 billion in the government’s hands without oversight or meaningful Knesset involvement,” says Yisrael Beytenu MK Hamad Amar.

Yesh Atid MK Naor Shiri says that “in all the budgets we’ve reviewed, there has never been money held without a clear framework or mechanism. This has simply never been done.”

Shiri, along with Yesh Atid chair Yair Lapid and MK Vladimir Beliak, say they have sent a “pre-litigation warning” to the Finance Ministry, Knesset legal advisor, and attorney general, demanding the cancellation of the funds, which they describe as an unlawful “blank check” for the coalition to use for political purposes.

Iran war is not delaying US weapons shipments to Taiwan, officials say

The war on Iran has not delayed shipments of weapons to Taiwan or changed US policy toward the island, officials from US President Donald Trump’s administration told members of Congress on Tuesday, despite the demands of the intense air campaign.

“Have we delayed moving things to Taiwan? We haven’t,” Stanley Brown, principal deputy assistant Secretary of State for Political-Military Affairs, tells a House of Representatives Foreign Affairs Committee hearing.

The US and Israel began airstrikes against Iran on February 28, a campaign that has raised concerns among some US officials that the US defense industry would be unable to keep up with demand and could be forced to slow shipments to buyers such as Taiwan, which faces steadily rising military pressure from China.

There was already a multi-billion-dollar backlog of US arms shipments to Taiwan before the Iran war started. Brown said the administration was looking at ways to expedite shipments, without providing specifics.

Several members of the House committee raised concerns about the island during the hearing, which took place on the day Trump said he was postponing a highly anticipated trip to Beijing to meet with Chinese President Xi Jinping.

Taiwan was one of the issues expected to be discussed by the two leaders.

China views Taiwan as its own territory and has never renounced the use of force to take the island under its control. Taiwan rejects Beijing’s sovereignty claims, saying only the island’s people can decide their future.

China held its most recent war games around Taiwan in December, and its warships and warplanes regularly operate around the island.

Iran state media confirms commander of Basij paramilitary force has been killed

Gholamreza Soleimani, the commander of Iran’s paramilitary Basij force was killed in US-Israel attacks, Iran’s state media confirms.

Israel had earlier on Tuesday said it killed Soleimani.

Projectile hits area near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant

A projectile hit the area near Iran’s Bushehr nuclear power plant earlier today, Iran’s Tansim news agency cites the country’s Atomic Energy Organization as saying, adding no damage has been reported.

The projectile hit the vicinity of the nuclear power ‌plant in the port city of Bushehr at around 7 p.m. local time, the news agency adds.

Sirens triggered in northern West Bank settlements amid more Hezbollah rocket fire

Sirens sound in several northern West Bank settlements amid rocket fire from Lebanon.

Hezbollah launched dozens of rockets from Lebanon this evening, targeting northern Israel.

There have been no reports of injuries in the attacks, though some damage has been caused by falling fragments of intercepted rockets, according to rescue services.

German minister: Unrealistic to expect controlled regime change in Iran

Germany’s Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul says it is not realistic to expect controlled regime change in Iran and said the war could not have only a military solution.

“There will be no military solution. And to have a controlled regime change, is, I would say, a hypothetical idea, which is not realistic,” he says, speaking alongside his French counterpart in Berlin at an event hosted by the ZEIT media group.

“So chaos in Iran, as bad as the regime is, is also not in our interest and not in the interest of the region and, of course, in the interest of the people living in Iran.”

Trump: Iran war ‘won’t last much longer’

US President Donald Trump gives additional vague comments regarding the timeline of the war.

Speaking at a White House lunch, Trump reiterates that he has decided to take a “little excursion” from improving the economy.”

“A couple of weeks. It won’t be much longer,” he says.

It’s unclear whether he means that the excursion has lasted a couple of weeks or if it will last for a couple of weeks more.

He again jokes that his “biggest problem” after killing so many of Iran’s leaders is that “We don’t know who to deal with.”

Sirens triggered in Galilee amid another Hezbollah rocket salvo

Sirens sound in the Galilee as Hezbollah fires more rockets at northern Israel.

The alerts are activated in the Karmiel area, as well as in Kiryat Shmona and surrounding towns.

There have been no reports of injuries in the attacks.

No injuries reported after Hezbollah fires dozens of rockets at north

No injuries are reported by Hezbollah’s rocket barrage on northern Israel, medics say.

Several dozen rockets were fired in the attack, triggering sirens across the Galilee, near Haifa, and near Hadera.

Many of the rockets were likely intercepted by air defenses, and others struck open areas, according to initial military assessments.

Netanyahu, Katz authorize IDF to take out senior Iranian, Hezbollah figures without usual prior approval — report

In a rare move, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz have recently instructed the military to immediately eliminate any senior Iranian or Hezbollah figure when intelligence allows, without waiting for traditional approval from military and political chains of command, Channel 12 reports.

The directive aims to prevent delays in operational activity during the ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign in Iran and Israel’s fighting with Iran-backed Hezbollah in Lebanon, according to the Hebrew network.

The report follows last night’s targeted assassinations against senior Iranian officials Ali Larijani and Gholamreza Soleimani, on which the network reports additional details.

The attack on Soleimani, the former head of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ Basij Force, targeted not only the commander, his deputy, and other Basij commanders in Shiraz and additional cities, but also killed hundreds of Basij operatives as well, according to the report.

Israeli sources tell the network that in the coming days, Israel intends to continue targeting the Basij — the paramilitary force known to brutally suppress domestic opposition to the Iranian regime — “to the point where the Iranian public understands that this is its moment to rise up.”

“We are aiming for a certain point in time when we will call on the masses to take to the streets,” a senior Israeli official tells Channel 12.

Netanyahu has repeatedly vowed that the operation against Iran will “create the conditions” for the Iranian people to rise up and topple the regime.

Israel says it’s halting some UNICEF aid shipments after smuggling attempt detected

Israel is suspending some aid shipments to Gaza that are coordinated by UNICEF, after an attempt to smuggle tobacco and nicotine products into the Strip.

The Defense Ministry Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories says that during an inspection earlier today of a Gaza-destined and UNICEF-coordinated truck, that had originated from Egypt, security officers located “bottles containing nicotine substances were found concealed inside cartons of hygiene kits.”

COGAT chief Maj. Gen. Yoram Halevi then “informed the head of UNICEF of the suspension of aid shipments to the Gaza Strip originating from Egypt and coordinated by the agency,” the Defense Ministry body says.

A letter sent to UNICEF head Jonathan Veitch, Halevi says: “In light of what we assess as a breach in control mechanisms, as well as ongoing attempts by hostile elements to exploit humanitarian assistance channels — including the apparent misuse of UNICEF operations for the smuggling of tobacco products to hostile actors within the Gaza Strip — I have decided, at this stage, to suspend the entry of UNICEF aid shipments originating from Egypt.”

“This measure will remain in effect until the completion of a thorough and comprehensive investigation conducted by your organization,” Halevi adds.

The Coordinator of Government Activities in the Territories, Major General Yoram Halevi, informed the head of UNICEF of the suspension of aid shipments to the Gaza Strip originating from Egypt and coordinated by the agency, following the thwarting of an attempted smuggling of… pic.twitter.com/wY4T8qrf02

— COGAT (@cogatonline) March 17, 2026

IDF says it’s striking Hezbollah launchers in response to rocket attack

The Israeli Air Force has begun a wave of strikes against Hezbollah rocket launchers and other infrastructure in Lebanon, the military says.

The strikes are intended to thwart additional fire toward Israel, after the terror group launched a barrage at the north.

Sirens triggered across Galilee, northern towns amid Hezbollah rocket attack

Sirens sound across the Galilee, near Haifa, and in several towns south of the northern coastal city amid rocket fire from Lebanon.

The IDF warned earlier that Hezbollah was planning a major rocket barrage on Israel tonight.

IDF says it hit soldiers of Iran’s Basij force at more than 10 Tehran checkpoints

In the past few hours, the IDF says it struck soldiers of Iran’s oppressive Basij force at more than 10 checkpoints and positions in Tehran.

The military says one target was an “emergency position” of the Basij and Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, “which had previously served as a football club.”

The attacks on the paramilitary force come after an overnight Israeli strike in Tehran killed Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, along with his deputy and several other top officers in the unit, according to the IDF.

The IDF says the strikes are “inflicting deep and ongoing blows to the capabilities of the Basij unit.”

IDF says it struck Hezbollah operatives, rocket launchers and other sites across Lebanon

The IDF says it struck Hezbollah operatives, rocket launchers, and other facilities used by the terror group across Lebanon today.

The statement comes after the IDF warned that Hezbollah is likely planning a major rocket barrage on Israel tonight.

The military says it struck a Hezbollah rocket launcher near the town of Deir ez-Zahrani, and in separate strikes in southern Lebanon, killed several operatives.

Another strike in Beirut destroyed a building used by the terror group for logistics, the army says.

משגרים, מפקדה בביירות, מחבלים, מחסני אמל"ח ותשתיות נוספות: חיל-האוויר ממשיך לתקוף במהלך היממה האחרונה מטרות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה ברחבי לבנון, ביניהן מחסני אמל"ח, משגרים ואתרי שיגור, מחבלים, ומבנים בשימוש הארגון.

מוקדם יותר היום- הותקף משגר של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה במרחב דיר… pic.twitter.com/W0cdiIcfWr

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 17, 2026

Mideast war could trigger ‘permanent’ refugee crisis — Turkey FM

If the Middle East war spreads, it could create a “permanent” refugee crisis, Turkey’s top diplomat warned Tuesday as Lebanon says Israel’s bombardment had displaced over a million people.

“If the war… spreads, there is a possibility this will turn into a permanent refugee crisis with refugees seeking shelter outside the borders of their countries,” Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan tells a joint news conference with his Canadian counterpart Anita Anand.

“This needs to stop as soon as possible.”

“The humanitarian situation is deeply concerning in Lebanon and has the potential to worsen if there is a ground offensive there,” Anand tells the news conference.

Fidan says the war “could lead to permanent damage.. between countries of the region” pointing to the conflict “spreading across Lebanon, and things also becoming much more complicated in Iraq.”

He says Turkey had been “working very hard diplomatically since the outbreak of the war to prevent these crises from escalating”, saying he would travel to several countries in the region on Wednesday.

Anand says Canada appreciated Turkey’s diplomatic efforts and its “role as an interlocutor in the current Middle East conflict” while also expressing its resolute opposition to Iran’s “reprehensible” strikes on regional nations.

“Canada absolutely condemns those retaliatory strikes.. Those retaliatory strikes must stop, whether they are in Doha or even against this very country,” she says.

UAE could join international effort led by US to secure Strait of Hormuz, says adviser

A diplomatic adviser to the UAE president, Anwar Gargash, says that his country could join an international effort led by the US to ensure the safety and security of the Strait of Hormuz.

Speaking in an online event organized by the American think tank the Council on Foreign Relations (CFR), Gargash says that the UAE does not currently have active talks with Iran.

His comments come amid growing concerns over the security of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz.

Pro-regime crowds gather in Iran after authorities urge nationwide rallies

Crowds have gathered in Iranian cities after authorities called for nationwide rallies to defy enemy “plots,” state television says, over two weeks into the war with Israel and the United States.

The rallies come on a night usually marked by Persian New Year (Nowruz) festivities, with the authorities apparently keen to prevent any anti-government dissent at a time when people traditionally take to the streets.

Large crowds rally from the early evening in the capital, Tehran, and other cities, many waving the Iranian flag, as images on state TV show.

It had earlier broadcast a message from authorities urging people to join religious groups across the country for a “popular gathering to neutralize the potential plots of elements of the Zionist enemy.”

The call came after Israel said it had killed Iran’s security chief Ali Larijani, which has not been confirmed by Tehran, and ahead of expected evening celebrations of Chaharshanbe Suri, an ancient Iranian festival of light and fire marked before Nowruz.

Reza Pahlavi, the eldest son of Iran’s last shah ousted by the revolution that brought the Islamic Republic to power, on Tuesday called for peaceful Chaharshanbe Suri celebrations and for people to “avoid any tension, confrontation, or even approaching” security forces in the streets.

Iran was rocked by mass protests that peaked in January but were met with a violent crackdown.

Images on state TV showed a large crowd of men being led in prayer in Punak square in Tehran, which in January was a site of massive protests full of people chanting slogans against the Islamic Republic.

Around 8:00 pm local time, Tehran’s main streets were quiet, with the exception of some cars flying Iranian flags.

But the smell of fire wafted over some streets, and a few fireworks burst over the city as people whistled joyfully from apartment windows.

Zelensky: Ukraine can supply 1,000 interceptor drones to bolster allies against Iran

President Volodymyr Zelensky says that 201 Ukrainian anti-drone military experts were in the Middle East to help defend the region against Iranian-designed Shahed drones, and another 34 are “ready to deploy.”

“These are military experts, experts who know how to help, how to defend against Shahed drones. Our teams are already in the Emirates, Qatar, Saudi Arabia, and on the way to Kuwait,” Zelensky tells British lawmakers during an address in the UK parliament.

Ukraine is capable of producing around 2,000 interceptor drones per day and can supply half that amount to its allies to help bolster their defenses, Zelensky says.

Ben Gvir warns of ‘constitutional crisis’ should High Court rule to dismiss him

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir issues his first remarks since the High Court of Justice agreed to postpone a hearing on petitions seeking his removal from office until April 15, threatening a potential “constitutional crisis.”

During a visit to communities in northern Israel, Ben Gvir says in a statement that he heard that “the High Court of Justice has decided it will hear petitions seeking my dismissal within a month.”

“I am focused on the war, I’m focused on acting for the people of Israel. If some want to drag Israel into a constitutional crisis, they may get a constitutional crisis,” the far-right minister says, appearing to suggest that he will not comply with the High Court should it rule to fire him.

The High Court earlier today reluctantly acceded to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s request to delay a hearing scheduled for next Tuesday to hear petitions regarding Ben Gvir’s dismissal.

The petitions call on the court to order Netanyahu to dismiss Ben Gvir, alleging the far-right minister has exercised unlawful influence over police policy, including the policing of protests, senior appointments, and investigations.

Ben Gvir has previously said he would not comply with a potential High Court ruling ordering his dismissal and has urged Netanyahu to defy legal efforts to remove him from office.

Rocket and drone attacks resume on US embassy and diplomatic facility in Baghdad, sources say

Rocket and drone attacks on the US embassy and a diplomatic facility in Iraq resumed on Tuesday after a series of earlier strikes the same day, security sources say.

Rockets and an explosive drone targeted the US Embassy in Baghdad, triggering sirens, and an explosion was heard near the compound, security sources say.

At least three explosive drones also targeted a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad International Airport, activating C-RAM air defense systems, the sources add.

There are no immediate reports of casualties or damage.

Iranian soccer players who withdrew asylum claims arrive in Turkey on journey home

The Iranian women’s soccer team has arrived in Istanbul on their way home from Malaysia, after five players withdrew the asylum claims they had lodged in Australia.

Australia had granted humanitarian visas to six players and one support staff member after they sought asylum, saying they feared persecution if they returned to Iran.

Concerns over their safety surfaced after several players failed to sing the national anthem at a women’s Asian Cup match earlier this month.

Five of the group have since changed their minds and decided to return home, with Australian media reporting the latest withdrawal on Monday.

They rejoined the rest of the squad in Kuala Lumpur, where the team had been staying since leaving Sydney last week, leaving only two players still in Australia.

The team’s Asian Cup campaign began just as the United States and Israel launched strikes on Iran, killing Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei. They were eliminated from the tournament over a week ago.

It is not clear how the team would continue their journey home to neighboring Iran from Istanbul.

Israel has ‘won’ war with Iran, Sa’ar says, but goals remain unmet

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar says Israel has effectively won its war with Iran, but does not indicate when the conflict might end, saying only that the campaign would continue until its objectives are achieved.

Speaking at a news conference, Sa’ar says Israel is seeking to remove “existential threats,” but does not say how the government will determine when those goals have been met.

“One must be patient,” he says, speaking on the 18th day of a war that has killed more than 2,000 people, most of them in Iran and Lebanon, but also in Israel, Iraq and across the Gulf.

Sa’ar and other Israeli officials have said the aim is to significantly weaken Iran’s ability to carry out attacks against Israel over the long term, while creating conditions inside Iran that could ultimately enable Iranians to overthrow their rulers.

But Sa’ar also acknowledges that “the regime” in Iran could only be toppled by the Iranian people – an apparent acknowledgement that an uprising does not look imminent.

“We have already won,” Sa’ar says, describing Iran as “dramatically weakened” and no longer the country it was before the war began on February 28.

“This is clear for us and for our neighbors, but we will continue until the point that the mission is complete,” he says.

White House hits back at resigning official’s claim that Iran didn’t pose imminent threat

US President Donald Trump and his White House are hitting back at Joseph Kent after the latter resigned from his post as director of the US National Counterterrorism Center over his objection to the ongoing war with Iran, which he insists did not pose an “imminent threat.”

“I always thought he was a nice guy, but I always thought he was very weak on security,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office.

“When I read a statement, I realized that it’s a good thing that he’s out because he said that Iran was not a threat. Iran was a threat… The question is whether or not they wanted to do something about it, and many people… are saying that the president should have taken out Iran because they wanted a nuclear weapon.”

Subsequently, White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt ways in a tweet, also taking particular issue with Ken’s assertion that Iran didn’t pose an “imminent threat.”

“As President Trump has clearly and explicitly stated, he had strong and compelling evidence that Iran was going to attack the United States first,” she writes. “This evidence was compiled from many sources and factors. President Trump would never make the decision to deploy military assets against a foreign adversary in a vacuum.”

Briefers from the Pentagon reportedly told Congressional leaders earlier this month that the US, in fact, did not have intelligence pointing to a preemptive strike being planned by Iran.

Branding Iran “the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism,” Leavitt highlights Tehran’s efforts to expand its missile program, using it “as a shield to continue achieving their ultimate goal – nuclear weapons.”

“President Trump ultimately made the determination that a joint attack with Israel would greatly reduce the risk to American lives that would come from a first strike by the terrorist Iranian regime and address this imminent threat to America’s national security interests,” she asserts.

“The commander-in-chief determines what does and does not constitute a threat, because he is the one constitutionally empowered to do so – and because the American people went to the ballot box and entrusted him and him alone to make such final judgments,” Leavitt says.

“And finally, the absurd allegation that President Trump made this decision based on the influence of others, even foreign countries, is both insulting and laughable. President Trump has been remarkably consistent and has said for DECADES that Iran can NEVER possess a nuclear weapon,” she adds.

Trump “is always looking to do what’s in the best interest of the United States of America — period. America First,” Leavitt concludes.

Trump: ‘We’re not ready to leave Iran yet, but we will in very near future’

US President Donald Trump is asked by a reporter in the Oval Office what his day-after plan is for Iran.

He avoids answering directly, but reiterates that if the US ended the war, it would take Iran 10 years to rebuild.

“We’re not ready to leave yet, but we will be leaving in the… very near future,” Trump says.

Trump also reiterates his disappointment with NATO over its members’ refusal to heed the US request to help secure the Iran-blocked Strait of Hormuz. “NATO is making a very foolish mistake.”

“You would’ve thought that they would’ve said, ‘We’d love to send a couple of mine sweepers.’ It’s not a big deal. It doesn’t cost very much money. But they didn’t do that,” he says.

“I didn’t do a full court press because I think if I did, they probably” have agreed to help, Trump claims, while again insisting that the US doesn’t need NATO’s help anyway.

The US has also asked Mideastern allies to help secure the Strait of Hormuz but none of them have publicly agreed to do so either.

Asked about this, Trump praises those countries’ conduct, without confirming that they’ve agreed to join a US-led initiative in the Strait of Hormuz.

Pressed on whether there will be repercussions for NATO over its members’ refusal to heed the US call, Trump responds, “I have nothing currently in mind.”

Asked if he’s concerned about Iranian warnings that a US ground operation in Iran will turn into a Vietnam War-like scenario, Trump says, “I’m really not afraid of anything.”

He says his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping will take place in five or six weeks after being pushed back due to the Iran war.

Settlers planning ‘protest’ in West Bank this evening against outpost demolitions

Settlers are planning protest activity at 8 p.m. this evening, in response to what they say are repeated demolitions of illegal settlement outposts.

“In recent weeks, we have witnessed a change for the worse in the attitude of IDF Central Command towards settlements,” reads a statement posted by an administrator in the Hilltop News WhatsApp channel.

“Demolition forces are sent almost every night to demolish settlement outposts in Samaria, Benjamin, and Gush Etzion,” the message adds in reference to several settlement municipal districts in the West Bank.

“Brutal destruction, confiscation of flocks, and destruction of property!” the statement adds in reference to enforcement action by the IDF and the Civil Administration against some illegal outposts.

“Tonight at 8 p.m. we are going to protest across Judea and Samaria [West Bank],” the message adds.

Last week the illegal outpost of Kol Mevaser was demolished. It is located in a closed military zone, and settlers living there have since began to rebuild it. Residents of the Palestinian town of Mukhmas and the nearby Bedouin hamlet of Khalet al-Sidra have alleged that the outpost has been a source of ongoing violence and harassment towards them.

The illegal outpost of Or Nachman was also demolished last week, but activists have similarly begun to rebuild that site too.

The Peace Now organization, which campaigns against the settlement movement, calls on the police commissioner to thwart what it says is the “pogrom” being planned by the settlers.

Six Palestinian civilians have been shot dead by settlers since the beginning of March, while other violent attacks by such radical elements against Palestinians and civil rights activists seeking to protect them have become a daily occurrence in the West Bank.

Netanyahu and Huckabee mock conspiracy theories about PM’s death: ‘Yes, Mike, I’m alive’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu continues to mock conspiracy theories about his death in a new video with US Ambassador Mike Huckabee.

US President Donald Trump “wanted me to come and make sure you were ok,” says Huckabee with a laugh as the two walk through Netanyahu’s office.

“Yes, Mike, I’m alive,” responds Netanyahu.

Trump wanted to make sure, says Huckabee, “because you guys get along too well.”

“We shake hands with five fingers in each hand,” says Netanyahu, referencing false claims on social media that recent videos were AI-generated because they showed the premier with too many fingers.

Netanyahu pulls out a card that he says is a list of senior Iranian leaders Israel is targeting. “Today I erased two names on the punch card,” he says, referencing Iran’s Secretary of Supreme National Security Council Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, both killed overnight.

“What the president and US forces are doing is incredible,” says Netanyahu, “and we are very proud to stand shoulder-to-shoulder with them, and getting rid of these lunatics who would like to develop nuclear weapons and the means to deliver them to every American city after wiping out Israel.”

“They ain’t gonna do that,” he concludes. “We’re wiping them out.”

Crossing names off the list is good – doing it shoulder to shoulder with our American friends is even better.

Good to see Ambassador @GovMikeHuckabee. Always a pleasure.

???????????????? pic.twitter.com/FZrZN03IZI

— Benjamin Netanyahu – בנימין נתניהו (@netanyahu) March 17, 2026

Albania adopts resolution labeling Iran as ‘state sponsor of terrorism,’ earning praise from Israel

Amid the ongoing US-Israeli bombing campaign against the Islamic Republic, the Albanian parliament adopts a resolution designating Iran as a state sponsor of terrorism and declaring Iran’s Revolutionary Guard a terrorist organization.

“For Albania, this is not just a distant geopolitical issue,” says Taulant Balla, head of Albania’s Socialist parliamentary group, adding that the resolution aims to denounce state support for terrorism, the use of proxy groups for destabilization and hybrid tactics including cyberattacks on sovereign institutions.

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar’s office calls the move “a clear moral dimension in Albania’s foreign policy,” saying in a statement that the decision followed an appeal by Sa’ar to Albanian Foreign Minister Igli Hasani on the matter last week.

Sa’ar has repeatedly called on the international community to cut ties with Iran since the aerial assault began over two weeks ago.

Albania’s government severed diplomatic ties with Iran in 2022, after blaming it for a cyberattack that disrupted government information technology systems and shut down online public services for several days.

Trump nods at Israeli killing of Iran’s ‘actual top’ leader along with Basij force chief

US President Donald Trump nods to Israel’s killing of top Iranian official Ali Larijani along with the head of Iran’s oppressive Basij force Gholamreza Soleimani.

“A lot of people say their actual top was killed yesterday, along with somebody else who was responsible for the killing… of 32,000… protesters,” Trump tells reporters in the Oval Office.

High Court postpones hearing for petitions demanding Ben Gvir be fired for abuse of power

The High Court of Justice reluctantly agrees to postpone a hearing for petitions demanding the removal from office of far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu – who is a respondent to petitions asking the court to order the premier to fire Ben Gvir for unlawful abuse of his powers over the police – told the court yesterday he could not properly brief his lawyer on the issue due to the current wartime conditions, and said that a hearing should not be heard at all during a time of war.

A hearing had been scheduled for next Tuesday, and Netanyahu requested that it be postponed to an unspecified date in the future, “subject to the security situation.”

The High Court partially agrees to the request, postponing the hearing but setting a new date to hear the petitions for April 15. Netanyahu’s lawyer may submit the final response to the petitions by April 14.

The change in date means that one of the nine justices on the panel, Gila Canfy Steinitz, will not be able to be present at the hearing.

She will be replaced instead by Justice David Mintz. Steinitz is a moderate conservative, whereas Mintz is perhaps the strongest advocate for judicial restraint on the bench. This may well heighten the likelihood of the petition being dismissed, on the grounds that the court cannot intervene in the prime minister’s discretion to hire and fire cabinet ministers.

The petition asks that the court order Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to fire Ben Gvir due to what the petitioners allege is the far-right minister’s unlawful influence over police policy on the policing of protests, police appointments, and investigations.

Attorney General Gali Baharav-Miara opposed the request to delay the hearing, due to what she said was the “severe and systematic harm” Ben Gvir is doing to police work even amid the current war.

“In light of the severe and systematic harm to police work that is currently ongoing, including in the most sensitive areas of enforcement, investigations and appointments, it is essential to have judicial review as soon as possible,” the attorney general’s representative told the High Court on Monday.

No injuries reported after day’s eighth Iran missile salvo

No injuries are reported in Iran’s latest ballistic missile salvo on Israel, the eighth since midnight.

A small number of missiles were launched, which triggered sirens across central and northern Israel, as well as the West Bank.

Rescue services say they are scanning several sites where missile fragments reportedly landed following interceptions.

While publicly urging Iranians to take to streets, Israeli officials said to privately admit protesters will be ‘slaughtered’

While Israel has publicly urged Iranians to take to the streets once the ongoing US-Israeli strikes across the Islamic Republic subside, senior Israeli officials have reportedly told US diplomats that Iranian will “get slaughtered” if they go out and protest against the regime.

The Israeli assessment was detailed in a cable sent by the US Embassy in Jerusalem back to the State Department and obtained by the Washington Post.

The assessment also noted that Iran’s regime is “not cracking,” is willing to “fight to the end” and that its Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corp “has the upper hand.”

Despite the grim forecast, Israeli officials told their American counterparts that Jerusalem still hopes that a popular revolt in Iran will unfold and that the US should be prepared to support protesters if they take to the streets.

The cable summarized recent meetings US officials held with Israel’s National Security Council, Defense Ministry and Foreign Ministry, the Post says.

In response to the story, Israel’s embassy in the US said that Jerusalem is “focused on eliminating the regime’s military capabilities — to everyone’s benefit.”

“Iranians have risked their lives taking to the streets time and again, including just this past January. There are opposition groups who have been working independently for years to overthrow the regime,” the embassy adds.

IDF detects another missile attack targeting southern Israel

A short while after telling civilians in northern and central Israel they can leave bomb shelters, the IDF has detected another ballistic missile attack from Iran, this time on southern Israel.

Sirens are expected to sound in southern Israel shortly.

IDF detects Iran missile attack; sirens expected to sound in central and northern Israel

A new ballistic missile attack from Iran has been detected by the IDF.

Sirens are expected to sound in central and northern Israel shortly.

Trump: NATO allies refusing our request for assistance in Iran war, but we don’t need their help anyway

US President Donald Trump says that most NATO allies have declined his request to help provide safe passage to ships through the Iran-blocked Strait of Hormuz but that Washington doesn’t need their help anyway.

“The United States has been informed by most of our NATO ‘allies’ that they don’t want to get involved with our military operation against the terrorist regime of Iran, in the Middle East. This, despite the fact that almost every country strongly agreed with what we are doing, and that Iran cannot, in any way, shape, or form, be allowed to have a nuclear weapon,” Trump writes in a Truth Social post.

“I am not surprised by their action, however, because I always considered NATO, where we spend Hundreds of billions of dollars per year protecting these same countries, to be a one way street. We will protect them, but they will do nothing for us, in particular, in a time of need,” he continues.

“Fortunately, we have decimated Iran’s military. Their Navy is gone, their air force is gone, their anti-aircraft and radar is gone and perhaps, most importantly, their leaders, at virtually every level, are gone, never to threaten us, our Middle Eastern allies, or the world, again!”

“Because of the fact that we have had such Military Success, we no longer ‘need,’ or desire, the NATO Countries’ assistance — WE NEVER DID! Likewise, Japan, Australia, or South Korea,” Trump writes.

“In fact, speaking as President of the United States of America, by far the most powerful country anywhere in the world, WE DO NOT NEED THE HELP OF ANYONE!”

IDF says it’s striking members of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force and its checkpoints

The Israeli Air Force has been striking members of Iran’s Basij paramilitary force and its checkpoints across Tehran in the past few hours, the military says.

The IDF issues footage showing one of the strikes, and says it will provide further details later.

The attacks on the paramilitary force come after an overnight Israeli strike in Tehran killed Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani, along with his deputy and several other top officers in the unit, according to the IDF.

לאחר חיסולו של מפקד יחידת הבסיג': חיל-האוויר תוקף בשעות האחרונות חיילים ועמדות של יחידת הבסיג' שנפרסו ברחבי טהרן pic.twitter.com/8fX2P0RyJ5

— Israeli Air Force (@IAFsite) March 17, 2026

Lebanese army says two more of its soldiers killed in Israeli strikes

Lebanon’s military says that three of its soldiers were killed in two Israeli airstrikes in the country’s south, with the Israeli army maintaining its operations were not targeting Lebanese troops.

“Two soldiers were killed in an Israeli strike while traveling by motorcycle on the Zibdin-Nabatyieh road” in south Lebanon, the Lebanese army says in a statement.

It had said earlier that another soldier died from wounds sustained in a strike on a car and a motorcycle in the same area that also injured four others.

An official from the military tells AFP the soldiers had just finished their duties for the day.

The Israeli military says in a statement that it is “aware of the claim that several soldiers of the Lebanese Armed Forces were injured as a result of an IDF strike.”

“The incident is under review,” the army said, adding that Israeli forces were operating “against the Hezbollah terrorist organization, and not against the Lebanese Armed Forces or Lebanese civilians.”

While Lebanon’s army has tried to stay out of the war, three Lebanese soldiers were killed by Israeli shelling earlier this month during a failed Israeli commando operation in eastern Lebanon.

Israeli spy firm’s alleged visit to Slovenia raises tensions on eve of vote

Slovenia’s prime minister accuses “foreign services” of interfering in this coming Sunday’s election after a report alleged officials from Israeli private spy firm Black Cube visited the country in December and met the main opposition contender.

A group of journalists and activists from the non-governmental 8 March Institute alleges that representatives of Black Cube, including its CEO Dan Zorella and adviser Giora Eiland, the former head of Israel’s National Security Council, met conservative populist Janez Jansa on December 22 in Ljubljana, based on flight records and other intelligence.

Slovenia’s Intelligence and Security Agency on Monday confirmed the arrival of the Black Cube representatives in December but could not confirm they met Jansa, the leader of the opposition SDS party that leads in polls.

Black Cube does not respond to a request for comment. Jansa denies meeting the company.

Israel invests $1.6 million to develop new approaches for strengthening national resilience

The Israel Innovation Authority and the Tekuma Directorate announce a NIS 5 million ($1.6 million) plan for a new national research laboratory that will harvest and analyze real-time data on stress from the population in southern Israel to help startups, researchers, government entities, and academia develop new approaches to strengthening resilience.

Communities close to the Gaza Strip have suffered decades of stress from Palestinian terror, culminating in the Hamas invasion of Jewish communities on October 7, 2023, which saw the murder of 1,200 people and the abduction of 251, all of whom have since been returned, alive or dead.

Among the subjects to be explored at the laboratory in the southern city of Sderot will be sleep, behavior, emotion, environmental conditions, and responses to emergency situations.

Expected to open between October and March next year, the laboratory will be located in Sderot, near the Gaza border.

The idea, according to the Innovation Authority, is to plug two gaps: a lack of applied research infrastructure for studying mental health and resilience in a living community over time, and the absence of infrastructure to help industry development, validate, and scientifically prove technologies to aid resilience.

The Tekuma Authority, tasked by the government with rehabilitating the Gaza border area, hopes the new initiative will draw top scientists to the region and provide jobs.

A joint statement says, “Mental health and community resilience have become a strategic challenge for health systems, local authorities, education, welfare, and the defense system, but today decisions are made almost without continuous, objective, and integrative measurement of the population’s condition.”

The laboratory will collaborate with Ben-Gurion University and Sapir College, both located in southern Israel.

Netherlands probing if Rotterdam synagogue attack has Iran link, minister says

The Netherlands is investigating whether Iran was involved in the attack on a Rotterdam synagogue on Friday, Justice Minister David van Weel says, adding that the suspects apprehended for the attack had most likely been recruited.

“The possibility that Iran is involved in this attack is… being explicitly investigated,” Van Weel tells parliament, though he does not cite a conclusive link between Iran and the attack ahead of the investigation’s conclusions.

Dutch prosecutors said on ​Monday that the ‌four men suspected of causing the Rotterdam synagogue explosion ​had done so ​with terrorist intent.

The four, aged 17 to 19, ​were ​apprehended ⁠shortly after an arson ​attack caused ​a ⁠fire at the synagogue early ⁠on ​Friday.

In the past week, several attacks have taken place in the Netherlands, including one on a Jewish school in Amsterdam. There has also been an attack on a synagogue in Liege, in neighboring Belgium.

The attacks, which caused no injuries, were all claimed on social media platform X by an extremist group, though police are still investigating whether the group was actually behind them.

Van Weel previously said that ​a link between the explosions in Amsterdam and ​Rotterdam ⁠could not be excluded, but did not confirm any claims made on social media.

The ​attacks have ​triggered heightened ⁠security at Jewish sites in the Netherlands.

Concerns about possible attacks against ⁠Jewish communities ​around the world have risen ​following US and Israeli attacks on Iran and the subsequent response from Tehran.

Macron: France won’t take part in operations to unblock Strait of Hormuz ‘in current context’

President Emmanuel Macron says that France will not take part in operations to unblock the Strait of Hormuz, and that France is carrying on with work to prepare a coalition that could provide freedom of navigation once hostilities end.

“We are not party to the conflict and therefore France will never take part in operations to open or liberate the Strait of Hormuz in the current context,” Macron said at the start of a cabinet meeting to discuss the conflicts in the Middle East.

“However, we are convinced that once the situation becomes calmer… we are ready, alongside other nations, to take responsibility for an escort system,” he adds.

IDF says it struck Hezbollah rocket launchers ahead of expected barrage

The IDF says it struck Hezbollah rocket launchers in eastern Lebanon and command centers belonging to the terror group in Beirut a short while ago.

Several more Hezbollah command centers were struck in Beirut overnight, the military says.

The rocket launching sites in the eastern Beqaa Valley had been used in previous attacks on Israel, the IDF says, adding that it also hit other launchers and weapon depots in southern Lebanon.

בשלושה מרחבים שונים בלבנון: צה"ל תקף משגרי רקטות ועשרות תשתיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה

צה"ל ממשיך בתקיפות לעבר תשתיות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בביירות מתחילת מבצע "שאגת הארי".
לפני זמן קצר, צה"ל תקף מפקדות של ארגון הטרור חיזבאללה בביירות. זאת, בנוסף למספר מפקדות נוספות שהותקפו… pic.twitter.com/P5PQWuh3yj

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 17, 2026

A short while ago, the IDF warned that Hezbollah is likely planning a major rocket barrage on Israel tonight.

Mexico open to hosting Iran’s World Cup games, president says

Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum says that her country would have no problem hosting Iran’s matches in the 2026 World Cup, if soccer governing body FIFA agrees.

Iran’s football federation has asked FIFA to move their World Cup matches to Mexico from the United States due to concerns about the safety of its players after the US and Israel launched a joint airstrike campaign against the Islamic Republic.

Jerusalem marathon postponed from March 27 to April 17

The Jerusalem International Marathon will be rescheduled for April 17, the municipality says. The annual event was originally scheduled for March 27, but has been postponed by three weeks for security reasons due to the war with Iran, it says.

Participants who had registered for the marathon will be automatically re-registered for the new date. Runners who wish to cancel their participation or transfer their registration to the 2027 marathon will be able to do so via the marathon website, the city says.

“The Winner Jerusalem Marathon is a major and important event for the city, runners from across the country, and the international community of marathon runners, but first and foremost, we are concerned about the safety of the participants, teams, and the public,” says Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion. “I thank all partners and participants for their patience and invite all registrants to register and participate in the marathon on the new date.”

Israel raises quota for passengers allowed on flights to Europe

Beginning today, Israel is easing restrictions on the passenger quota for flights departing Tel Aviv’s Ben Gurion Airport to destinations in Europe.

The Transportation Ministry approves an increase in the permitted passenger quota to up to 120 passengers per flight from the previous limit of 100. This applies to outbound flights operated by Israeli airlines El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Air Haifa.

As early as the end of the week, the Transportation Ministry is considering increasing the capacity on outbound flights using narrow-body aircraft to Europe to about 170 passengers.

The ministry on Monday removed the 100-passenger limit on flights to North America and began allowing Israeli airlines to operate those flights at full capacity.

Hezbollah denies it has members in Kuwait after 16 suspects arrested

Hezbollah denies it has any members in Kuwait a day after the Gulf country announced the arrest of 14 Kuwaitis and two Lebanese nationals allegedly affiliated with the group over a “sabotage plot.”

“Hezbollah categorically denies the allegations and accusations issued by the Kuwaiti interior ministry,” the Iran-backed Lebanese terror group says in a statement, calling the allegations “baseless” and adding: “There are no Hezbollah cells, members or networks in Kuwait.”

IDF says Hezbollah plans major rocket fire in coming hours

The IDF says it has identified preparations by Hezbollah to carry out major rocket fire on Israel in the coming hours.

According to the military’s indications, the terror group is planning to fire a large number of rockets at both northern and central Israel.

The IDF says it is carrying out various actions in an attempt to thwart the planned barrage from Lebanon, and is prepared to intercept the rockets with air defenses.

The military says it does not want to cause unnecessary panic among the public, and, therefore, issued the public notice.

Last week, the IDF acknowledged that it was a mistake not to update the public ahead of a large Hezbollah rocket and drone attack on northern Israel, especially once Israel’s assessments of the planned barrage were leaked on social media and published by international media.

Poland says it won’t dispatch troops, bucking US call for naval support in Strait of Hormuz

Poland will not send troops to Iran as the conflict does not directly affect its security, Prime Minister Donald Tusk says, adding that the United States and other powers understood Warsaw’s decision.

US President Donald Trump called on allies over the weekend to help secure the Strait of Hormuz as Iranian forces continue attacks on the vital waterway amid the US-Israeli war on Iran, now in its ​third week.

Poland’s government “does not plan any expedition to Iran, and this does not raise any doubts on the part of our allies,” Tusk says before a government meeting.

He says this covers Poland’s land, air and naval forces, which are still being built up in the face of the conflict over the border in Ukraine.

Tusk says securing the Baltic Sea remains a central element of Poland’s strategy.

A number of other US allies, including Germany, Spain and Italy, have said they have no immediate plans to send ships to help reopen the Strait of Hormuz, which Iran has effectively shut with attacks and threats of attacks.

Senior Trump official resigns over Iran war, claiming it was launched due to Israeli pressure

The head of the United States’ National Counterterrorism Center, Joseph Kent, has resigned over the US-Israel war in Iran, saying in a letter to President Donald Trump posted on X that “Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation.”

“I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this war due to pressure from Israel and its powerful American lobby,” writes Kent, who faced criticism over ties to white nationalists before he was tapped for the senior post in the Trump administration.

“Early in this administration, high-ranking Israeli officials and influential members of the American media deployed a misinformation campaign that wholly undermined your America First platform and sowed pro-war sentiments to encourage a war with Iran.

“This echo chamber was used to deceive you into believing that Iran posed an imminent threat to the United States, and that should you strike now, there was a clear path to a swift victory. This was a lie and is the same tactic the Israelis used to draw us into the disastrous Iraq war that cost our nation the lives of thousands of our best men and women. We cannot make this mistake again,” Kent claims.

After much reflection, I have decided to resign from my position as Director of the National Counterterrorism Center, effective today.

I cannot in good conscience support the ongoing war in Iran. Iran posed no imminent threat to our nation, and it is clear that we started this… pic.twitter.com/prtu86DpEr

— Joe Kent (@joekent16jan19) March 17, 2026

Iran detains dozens, warns of risk from ‘enemy’ during festival

Iran arrested 10 foreigners among dozens rounded up on suspicion of collaborating with Israel and the US, Iranian media said on Tuesday, as officials warned people to stay at home during a festival that they said could be exploited by “the enemy.”

Iran’s police chief Ahmadreza Radan said on Sunday that at least 500 people had been arrested since the start of the war pitting Tehran against Israel and Washington, accusing the detainees of sharing information with adversaries.

In addition to the 10 foreign individuals arrested in the northeastern Khorasan Razavi province, 55 people were detained in the southern Hormozgan province, the semi-official Tasnim news agency reported on Tuesday.

The group of foreign individuals, whose nationality was not given in media reports, are accused of collecting information on sensitive sites and preparing field operations. The larger group arrested in southern Iran was presented as “mercenaries” of the US and Israel.

The ministry of intelligence tells state media that hundreds of Starlink systems, which some Iranians use to bypass an internet shutdown, were seized in a nationwide operation and reminded people that owning such technology could be subject to the severest punishments.

Meanwhile, the police chief also warned of the possibility that a popular festival held on Tuesday evening may see adversaries “create insecurity in the country.”

In January, the country saw nationwide anti-government protests, which were quashed in the biggest crackdown in the Islamic Republic’s history.

Chaharshanbe Suri (Scarlet Wednesday), an ancient Zoroastrian feast, is held on the eve of the last Wednesday of the Iranian calendar, with Iranians usually setting off fireworks and jumping over fires at their home courtyard or in the streets.

“The enemy may seek to cause accidents and even casualties with such actions in order to inflame the atmosphere in the country,” Radan said, according to state media.

A spokesperson for Tehran’s firefighters also called upon people not to go outside for the festival and instead celebrate at home.

No injuries reported after day’s seventh Iran missile attack

No injuries are reported in Iran’s latest ballistic missile attack on Israel, the seventh since midnight.

A small number of missiles were launched, which were likely intercepted or struck open areas, according to initial military assessments.

Sirens had sounded in the Jerusalem area and parts of central Israel.

Lufthansa extends Tel Aviv flight suspension until April 9

Germany’s Lufthansa Group has extended its suspension of flights to Tel Aviv through April 9 due to the significant air traffic restrictions in the Middle East, it says.

For operational reasons, the flagship carrier has also stopped flights to Riyadh through April 5, though ITA Airways’ scheduled flights will continue as scheduled, it adds.

IDF urges Iraq, Yemen civilians to report ‘terror activities’ to confidential Telegram account

The Israeli military calls on citizens of Iraq and Yemen to contact a confidential army Telegram account to report on “terror activities” carried out by Iranian militia groups in their countries.

“I understand the difficult situation you are living in, under the harsh conditions that the militias operating in your countries,” says army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee in a message to “the citizens of Iraq and Yemen.”

Adraee says he has received “many messages” in recent days: “Some of you send me information about terror activities carried out by the militias. Many of you ask me to contact Israeli authorities so that your country does not find itself in a situation similar to what Iran is experiencing.”

But Adraee adds that he is “not the appropriate address for such requests.”

“The most I can do is direct you to the Israeli Military Intelligence Directorate’s Telegram channel via the link shown on the screen. The link is safe for you and maintains complete confidentiality,” he says.

#عاجل ‼️ رسالة إلى مواطني العراق واليمن
⭕️أفهم الوضع الصعب الذي تعيشون فيه، في ظل الظروف القاسية التي أوصلتكم إليها الميليشيات التي تعمل في بلديْكم باعتبارها دمى بيد النظام الإيراني لسنين طويلة.
⭕️إنني أتلقى في الأيام الأخيرة الكثير من الرسائل من مواطنين يشعرون بالقلق من مستقبل… pic.twitter.com/qD0xwQF04I

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 17, 2026

After Larijani kill, PM says Israel ‘destabilizing’ regime in hope to give Iranians ‘opportunity to remove it’

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu says that Israel’s elimination of Iranian official Ali Larijani is part of its goal to “destabilize” the Iranian regime in its ongoing aerial assault with the United States, in an effort to give the Iranian people “the opportunity to remove” the regime from power.

Israel’s assassination of Larijani, as well as of Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani, reflects its “destabilizing this regime in the hope of giving the Iranian people an opportunity to remove it,” Netanyahu says in a video message released by his office.

“This will not happen all at once; it will not happen easily. But if we persist, we will give them the opportunity to take their fate into their own hands,” the premier continues.

He adds that “at the same time, we are assisting our American allies in the Gulf” amid Iran’s attacks on the region, saying he “spoke at length” about the issue yesterday with US President Donald Trump.

“There is cooperation between our air forces and navies, between me and President Trump and his team. We will assist both through indirect attacks, which generate tremendous pressure on the Iranian regime, and through direct operations. There are many more surprises,” Netanyahu says.

Times of Israel issues statement on threats to our reporter, Polymarket response, police investigation

The Times of Israel issues a statement regarding the threats to our military correspondent, Polymarket’s response, and the Israel Police investigation.

ToI “is horrified that our military correspondent Emanuel Fabian has received death threats as a result of his work,” the statement reads.

“The Times of Israel was pleased to see Polymarket condemning those threats, and saying it has ‘banned the accounts’ of all those involved. We were pleased to see Polymarket saying it would be providing the details of those responsible to the relevant authorities.”

“We see considerable grounds for concern about a market for betting on real events where lives are at risk,” the statement adds.

“We await progress in the Israel Police investigation of the matter,” it concludes.

Syria’s Damascus restricts sale of alcohol under new Islamist rulers

Syria’s capital has restricted the sale of alcoholic beverages to select Christian neighborhoods, the latest incident hinting at increasing social conservatism under Islamist authorities.

In a decree, Damascus city says that “the sale of alcoholic beverages is prohibited in restaurants and nightclubs throughout Damascus,” citing “numerous complaints and at the request of the local community, and with the aim of eliminating practices that violate public morals.”

“The sale of sealed alcoholic beverages is restricted to the Bab Touma, Qassaa, and Bab Sharqi districts, and only in establishments designated for this purpose as per the commercial building permit.”

Additionally, businesses selling alcohol must be at least 75 meters away from mosques, churches, schools and cemeteries and at least 20 meters away from police stations and government offices.

Businesses currently selling alcohol have three months to comply with the new rules.

Syria’s new Islamist authorities have not officially imposed restrictions on public behavior since longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was overthrown in December 2024. But some incidents have sparked concern about creeping social conservatism. A January makeup ban for female public sector employees drew controversy. Last year, authorities enforced full body swimwear in public beaches, and a deadly attack on a Damascus nightclub in May further exacerbated people’s concerns.

Apparent Iranian cluster munition causes damage in Rishon Lezion

Iran’s latest missile attack caused damage in central Israel, apparently by a cluster munition from a ballistic missile.

Footage shows that the impact caused a crater and flipped over a car in Rishon Lezion.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says it has not received any reports of injuries.

At least six other impact sites are reported elsewhere in central Israel, caused by possible cluster munitions or other falling fragments, rescue services say.

Report: Some 300 Basij members killed in overnight strikes

London-based Iranian opposition outlet Iran International says that some 300 Basij members were killed in waves of overnight strikes in the Islamic Republic.

Israel said earlier it killed the head of the force, Gholamreza Soleimani, as well as his deputy and other top officials, but has not offered figures.

The Basij carries out enforcement operations for the regime and violently suppresses dissent.

The report says strikes hit various command and logistics centers, including a site that housed hundreds of vehicles used by Basij forces to patrol and enforce the will of the regime. It says units that had key roles in cracking down on protests were hit hard.

Soldiers attacked by extremist settlers in the southern West Bank, one lightly hurt

An IDF soldier was lightly hurt after being attacked by extremist settlers in the southern West Bank earlier today.

The military says that “Israeli civilians” threw stones at soldiers operating near the settlement of Kiryat Arba, close to Hebron, injuring one.

In another incident, the IDF says troops were attacked by Israelis after authorities dismantled several illegally built structures near Hebron.

The evacuation of the settlers’ outpost was carried out by the military and Civil Administration, following an order signed by Central Command chief Maj. Gen. Avi Bluth.

The IDF says that the order was signed “due to criminal acts, unusual violence, and serious crime incidents carried out from the area, which affected the stability and security of the region.

“Upon completion of the enforcement activity, the forces were violently attacked,” the IDF says, adding that no injuries were caused.

The IDF says it views attacks on troops “gravely.”

No injuries reported in sixth Iranian missile attack since midnight

No injuries are reported in Iran’s latest ballistic missile attack on Israel, the sixth since midnight.

Rescue forces are responding to reports of impact sites, possibly caused by cluster munitions or falling fragments following interceptions.

A small number of missiles were launched in the attack, which set off sirens across central Israel.

UAE says it intercepted 10 Iranian missiles, 4 drones

The United Arab Emirates intercepted 10 ballistic missiles and 45 drones launched by Iran today, according to the Emirati defense ministry.

In total, says the UAE, it has intercepted 314 ballistic missiles, 15 cruise missiles and 1,672 drones since the US-Israel war on Iran began on February 28.

Iranian missile launched toward central Israel

The IDF has detected a new ballistic missile launch from Iran.

Sirens are expected to sound in central Israel in the coming minutes.

Iran’s envoy in Moscow denies new supreme leader being treated in Russia

Iran’s ambassador to Russia, Kazem Jalali, has denied a media report that the country’s new Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei is receiving medical treatment in Moscow, the state TASS news agency reports.

Kuwaiti newspaper Al-Jarida reported over the weekend that the 56-year-old, who was reported to have been injured in a US-Israeli airstrike that killed his father, had been moved to Moscow for medical treatment following President Vladimir Putin’s personal invitation.

Lebanese army says one soldier killed by Israeli strike

Lebanon’s military says an Israeli strike on a car and a motorcycle in southern Lebanon killed one of its soldiers and wounded four.

In a statement, the Lebanese army says that “as a result of an Israeli hostile raid” in the Nabatiyeh region, a soldier was injured and “died of his wounds” while four others were wounded.

There is no immediate comment from the Israeli military.

Unvaccinated 17-year-old dies of measles, Health Ministry says

The Health Ministry reports that an unvaccinated 17-year-old boy died of measles last night. The boy suffered from underlying conditions. When hospitalized two and a half weeks ago, he was diagnosed with measles.

This is Israel’s 17th death from measles since the current outbreak began last May.

Of the other 16 deaths, most of the deceased were otherwise healthy infants and children with no underlying conditions who were not vaccinated.

The ministry adds that measles can be prevented through an effective and safe vaccine.

Air Force carrying out new wave of strikes in Tehran

The Israeli Air Force has launched a new wave of strikes against Iranian regime infrastructure sites in Tehran, the IDF announces.

The strikes come after the IDF announced that it killed Iran’s “de facto leader” Ali Larijani, the commander of the Basij paramilitary force, Gholamreza Soleimani, and other top Basij officials in Tehran overnight.

Extremist settler found guilty of terror charges in killing of Palestinian mother

More details have been published on yesterday’s conviction of a Jewish terrorist in the 2018 stone-throwing attack that killed Palestinian Aisha Rabi. Rabi, a Palestinian mother of eight, was killed when the rock he threw struck her in the head as she was driving.

The Lod-Central District Court found that the extremist settler committed acts of nationalist-motivated manslaughter, aggravated stone throwing at a vehicle, and deliberately damaging a vehicle, all as acts of terror.

The court issued its ruling in a 2-1 decision yesterday. Only a summary of the ruling was published, since the perpetrator was a minor at the time he committed the offense.

The court sent the youth for review by the Youth Probation Service in order to proceed with arguments for sentencing.

Manslaughter as an act of terrorism is punishable by up to 25 years in prison, depending on the gravity of the incident.

The State Attorney’s Office said in response that the court in its ruling refuted the alibi claimed by the youth, “the lies of the defendant,” and the “contradictions in the later and more elaborate versions he gave.”

IDF confirms Iran’s ‘de facto leader’ Ali Larijani killed in airstrike overnight

Following Defense Minister Israel Katz, the IDF also confirms that top Iranian official Ali Larijani was killed in an airstrike in Iran overnight.

Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, was targeted by the Israeli Air Force in the capital Tehran.

The military says that Larijani “served as the de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime,” following the killing of the late supreme leader Ali Khamenei.

“For years, Larijani was considered one of the most senior and veteran figures in the leadership of the Iranian terror regime and was close to the regime’s leader, Ali Khamenei,” the IDF says.

It says that after Khamenei’s killing in the opening strikes of the war on February 28, “Larijani established his position as the de facto leader of the Iranian terror regime and led the fighting against the State of Israel and countries in the region.”

“As part of his role, Larijani led the political-security coordination of the Iranian terror regime and was involved in directing its international activity,” the statement continues.

The military also says that during the wave of protests in Iran earlier this year, “Larijani led enforcement and violent suppression actions and even personally oversaw the massacre carried out against Iranian demonstrators.”

Reports: 3 killed in IDF strike on vehicle in Gaza Strip

Gaza-based media outlets report that three people were killed and 14 were wounded in an IDF strike on a vehicle in the al-Mawasi area of Khan Younis in the southern Gaza Strip.

There are no immediate details on the targets of the strike.

????عاجل | شهيدان و12 إصابة جراء قصف مركبة في مواصي خانيونس، وصل منها 7 إصابات إلى مستشفى المواصي الميداني و5 إصابات إلى مستشفى الأمل التابعين لجمعية الهلال الأحمر الفلسطيني. pic.twitter.com/eCCVEZzE0D

— غزة الآن – Gaza Now (@nowgnna) March 17, 2026

Iranian cluster munitions cause damage at several sites in central Israel

Cluster bomb munitions from an Iranian ballistic missile caused damage at several locations in central Israel, rescue services say.

Footage shows small craters that were caused by the impacts. One cluster munition caused damage to a train station.

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says there are no reports of injuries.

Damage was caused at several locations in central Israel by cluster bomb munitions from an Iranian ballistic missile. pic.twitter.com/LK5UfK8b12

— Emanuel (Mannie) Fabian (@manniefabian) March 17, 2026

Cluster bomb munition impacts reported in central Israel

Medics are responding to reports of several suspected cluster bomb munition impacts in central Israel after Iran’s latest ballistic missile attack, the fourth since midnight.

Magen David Adom says it has not received any reports of injuries so far.

The missile fire set off sirens across central Israel.

Sirens expected in central Israel as missile launched from Iran

The IDF has detected another ballistic missile launch from Iran.

Sirens are expected to sound in central Israel in the coming minutes.

Missile debris kills one in Abu Dhabi as Iran presses Gulf attacks

Falling debris from a missile intercept killed one person in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi this morning and injured two medical staff in Kuwait, authorities say, as Iran presses its attacks against Gulf countries.

The oil-rich Gulf has been heavily hit by Iranian attacks in response to US-Israeli strikes that sparked the Middle East war, with Tehran targeting US assets but also civilian infrastructure.

Debris fell in the Bani Yas area “following the interception of a ballistic missile by air defenses,” the Abu Dhabi Media Office says on X.

The day before, a Palestinian national was killed on the edge of the city when a missile hit his car.

As well as hitting ports, airports, residential buildings and hotels along with military sites across the region, Iran has also struck energy facilities across the hydrocarbon-rich Gulf.

On the east coast of the country, the oil industrial zone of Fujairah was hit this morning, sparking a fire but causing no injuries, local authorities say.

It is the second day in a row that the site is hit, with a source telling AFP on Monday that oil storage loading had been shut down by an attack.

Senior Iranian official: New supreme leader rejected ceasefire proposals

Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei has rejected proposals for reducing tensions or for a ceasefire with the United States that were conveyed to Tehran by two intermediary countries, a senior Iranian official says.

Khamenei’s stance for revenge against the US and Israel was “very tough and serious” in his first foreign policy session, the official says, without clarifying whether the leader attended the session in person.

The senior official, who asks not to be named, says the supreme leader said it was not “the right time for peace until the United States and Israel are brought to their knees, accept defeat, and pay compensation.”

Three sources told Reuters on March 14 that the Trump administration has rebuffed efforts by Middle Eastern allies to start diplomatic negotiations aimed at ending the Iran war.

Democrats party distances itself from activist’s AI video removing religious MKs’ headscarves

Yair Golan’s The Democrats party distances itself from left-wing atheist activist Naor Narkis after a series of social media posts in which he criticized married Orthodox women for wearing traditional head coverings.

In an AI-generated video prominently featuring The Democrats party logo posted on Monday, Narkis portrayed several religious politicians, including Settlements and National Projects Minister Orit Strock and Otzma Yehudit MK Limor Son Har-Melech removing their headscarves and letting down their hair, likening hair covering to “religious coercion.”

“Raise your voice for the freedom of Israel’s women,” Narkis wrote in English.

In a subsequent post this morning, Narkis asks why it is okay for the Israeli government to push for removing head coverings in Iran but it is not okay for The Democrats to do so in Israel.

The party says that the video “has no connection to us.”

Narkis founded a movement in 2024 called Hozrim Betvuna (“Returning to Reason”) whose self-stated goal is to provide information to “help those who wish to leave the ultra-Orthodox world.” He said in 2025 that he was considering a run for office in the 2026 national elections with The Democrats.

In his video, Narkis was likely riffing off a previous AI-generated video posted by Science and Technology Minister Gila Gamliel, calling for the “freedom of Iran’s women,” in which women could be seen removing hijabs to reveal Gamliel herself, Sara Netanyahu and Melania Trump.

The Israel Women’s Network condemns Narkis’s “difficult and unpleasant video,” which it says “illustrates how vulnerable women are in the age of AI.”

“Israeli Knesset members and ministers are exposed to public criticism every day, which is of course legitimate, but the criticism should be about what they do, not how they look. Undressing women using editing software is not criticism,” and expresses only “humiliation, belittling and contempt,” the group argues.

National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir also slams the video, “in which artificial intelligence technology is used to humiliate and objectify religious Knesset members and ministers by removing their head coverings.”

“This is a grave, shameful and unrestrained act that borders on sexual harassment,” he says, calling it hypocritical and falsely accusing women’s rights groups of staying silent.

Iran issues Larijani ‘statement’ — a handwritten note for sailors’ funeral that does not disprove his death

After Iranian state media generated anticipation that Israel’s claims about Ali Larijani’s death in an airstrike would be contradicted by an upcoming statement by the senior Iranian official, the statement turns out to be a photo of a handwritten message from Larijani for the funeral of Iranian sailors killed in the US strike on the Iris Dena on March 4.

It does not disprove Israel’s assertion he was killed in an Israeli airstrike last night.

“The martyrdom of the brave members of the Navy of the Army of the Islamic Republic in Dena is part of the sacrifices of the proud nation that has emerged in this time of struggle against international oppressors,” Larijani wrote in what might have been his final missive. “Their memory will always remain in the heart of the Iranian nation, and these martyrdoms will strengthen the foundations of the Army of the Islamic Republic for years to come within the structure of the armed forces.”

UN body investigating fatal strike on Iranian girls school

A UN inquiry has started investigating a fatal strike on a primary school on the first day of US-Israeli attacks on Iran, one of its members tells reporters.

The attack on the Shajareh Tayyebeh School consisted of two missile strikes in quick succession that killed 168 children, mostly girls, Iranian officials said in Geneva on Monday.

Reuters reported on March 5 that US military investigators believe it is likely that US forces were responsible but have not yet reached a final conclusion or completed their investigation. The Pentagon has since elevated the probe.

“We’re at an early stage of that investigation,” Max du Plessis, a member of the UN Fact-Finding Mission on Iran, tells a Geneva press conference, saying that it has credible reports backing Iran’s death toll.

“It’s clear to us that whatever happens in respect of such an event, given the innocent lives that have been lost, there is a critical need for such an investigation to be done and for an independent outcome to follow,” he says.

If US fault is confirmed, it would rank among the worst incidents of civilian deaths in decades of US military strikes in the Middle East.

UN says ‘unprecedented’ 36,000 Palestinians displaced in West Bank in one year

The UN urges Israel to immediately halt its dramatic settlement expansion in the West Bank, raising concerns of “ethnic cleansing” with over 36,000 Palestinians displaced in a year.

A fresh report from the United Nations rights office, looking at the 12 months up to October 31, 2025, warns that Israel’s accelerating expansion of settlements and expanding control over large parts of the West Bank are driving “unprecedented” displacement.

“The displacement of more than 36,000 Palestinians in the occupied West Bank represented the mass expulsion of Palestinians on a scale previously unseen, amounting to unlawful transfer that is prohibited under international humanitarian law,” the report says.

Alongside “the extensive displacement of Palestinians in Gaza,” it “appears to indicate a concerted Israeli policy of mass forcible transfer throughout the occupied territory, aimed at permanent displacement, raising concerns of ethnic cleansing.”

The report points to the advancement or approval by Israeli authorities of around 27,200 housing units in the West Bank, as well as 36,973 housing units in East Jerusalem, whose annexation by Israel was not recognized by much of the international community.

Also during the 12-month-period, “an unprecedented 84 settlement outposts were established across the occupied West Bank, bringing the total number to more than 300,” the report says. Israel says the territory’s status is disputed and does not see it as an occupation.

In addition to roughly three million Palestinians, more than 500,000 Israelis live in settlements and outposts in the West Bank, which most of the international community views as illegal.

Violence in the West Bank, which Israel has held since 1967, has risen sharply since the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack on Israel triggered the Gaza war.

IDF detects Iranian missile launch toward northern Israel

A new ballistic missile attack from Iran has been detected by the IDF.

Sirens are expected to sound in northern Israel in the coming minutes.

‘A year of freedom’: Netanyahu, Herzog send Nowruz greetings to ‘brave’ Iranian people

Amid the ongoing US-Israeli aerial assault against the Islamic Republic, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has wished the “brave people of Iran” a happy Nowruz ahead of the Persian New Year, in a video message shared by his office.

“To the brave people of Iran, I wish you, as I do every year, a happy holiday season, beginning with the Festival of Lights,” Netanyahu says in the video, which was released late last night.

“It reflects the enduring belief of the Iranian people that light will triumph over darkness, and that good will prevail over evil. This year, the holiday carries special meaning. Celebrate it with your friends, your families, and your loved ones,” he continues.

“I take this opportunity to wish you a happy Nowruz — a year of freedom and a new beginning filled with hope for all of you, my dear friends,” the premier says.

President Isaac Herzog sends his own “warm wishes” to the Iranian people, ahead of Charshanbeh Suri, the first festivity of Nowruz, which begins this evening.

“To the people of Iran, as the president of Israel, I am sending you warm wishes on the Festival of Fire, Charshanbeh Suri,” Herzog says in a video message released this morning.

تبریکات گرم از اسرائیل به مردم ایران به مناسبت جشن آتش، چهارشنبه سوری.

Warm wishes from Israel to the people of Iran on the Festival of Fire, Charshanbeh Suri. pic.twitter.com/VBWiPibK9C

— יצחק הרצוג Isaac Herzog (@Isaac_Herzog) March 17, 2026

“May this Festival of Fire, which is a unique, ancient tradition of your people, bring with it best wishes, warmth, and happiness, and change that you so well deserve. You deserve better. You deserve change. You deserve good. I hope that this Charshanbeh Suri will bring with it a real change — change in the region, change in Iran, change for the future of our children,” Herzog concludes.

Israel and the United States continue to press ahead with their military assault, which Israeli and American leaders have said aims to “create the conditions” for the Iranian people to overthrow the ruling regime.

Air Force hits underground Hezbollah site storing hundreds of rockets

The Israeli Air Force struck an underground Hezbollah site in southern Lebanon used by the terror group to store weapons, the military says.

According to the IDF, Hezbollah stored cruise missiles and hundreds of rockets at the subterranean facility, located in the Kafra area. The strike was carried out yesterday.

הותקפה תשתית תת קרקעית לאחסון מצבור אמצעי לחימה: צה"ל ממשיך להעמיק את הפגיעה בארגון הטרור חיזבאללה

חיל האוויר תקף אתמול במרחב כפרא שבדרום לבנון בהכוונת אמ"ן ופיקוד הצפון, תשתית טרור תת קרקעית רחבה בדרום לבנון בה אוחסנו מצבורי אמצעי לחימה ובהם טילי שיוט ומאות רקטות.

מתחילת… pic.twitter.com/oFWcs7hvsG

— צבא ההגנה לישראל (@idfonline) March 17, 2026

Defense Minister Katz says Ali Larijani killed in Israeli airstrike

Top Iranian official Ali Larijani was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Iran last night, Defense Minister Israel Katz says.

The IDF confirmed targeting Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council.

The IDF, meanwhile, said that a separate strike killed Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

“Larijani and the Basij commander were eliminated overnight and joined the head of the annihilation program, Khamenei, and all the eliminated members of the axis of evil, in the depths of hell,” Katz says during an assessment this morning, according to his office.

FM Sa’ar calls Greek Orthodox patriarch after monastery hit by Iranian missile pieces

Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar speaks with Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Jerusalem Theophilos III after a fragment from an Iranian missile hit the roof of a Greek Orthodox monastery next to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre.

According to Sa’ar’s office, he tells the patriarch that Iran is intentionally firing at civilian targets, and is hitting religious sites belonging to Jews, Christians, and Muslims.

IDF says it killed Basij paramilitary force chief, his deputy, other top officials

The IDF confirms killing Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani in a strike in Iran overnight.

Soleimani was targeted while at a tent camp that was recently established by the Basij. According to the IDF, the Basij set up the camp after the military struck many of the headquarters of the paramilitary force.

In addition, the strike also killed the deputy commander of the Basij and other top officials in the paramilitary force, the IDF says.

The Basij is known for its role in violently suppressing anti-regime protests, and is believed to be responsible for countless deaths of Iranian civilians.

The IDF also confirms that it targeted top Iranian official Ali Larijani in Tehran overnight, although it says that it is still looking into the results of the strike, and it remains unclear if he was killed.

Meanwhile, top Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Akram al-Ajouri and other top officials in the terror group were targeted by the IDF in a strike on Wednesday, according to the military. The military believes al-Ajouri was likely killed in the strike, but says it is still working to confirm this.

Israeli officials say overnight strike also targeted Basij chief Gholamreza Soleimani

Basij paramilitary force commander Gholamreza Soleimani was also a target of an Israeli strike in Iran overnight, according to Israeli officials.

It is still unclear if Soleimani was killed or injured in the strike.

Officials say that top Iranian official Ali Larijani was also targeted overnight, and another strike days ago targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Akram al-Ajouri and other top officials in the terror group.

Israel targets top Iranian official Ali Larijani in overnight airstrike

Israel targeted top Iranian official Ali Larijani in an airstrike in Iran overnight, according to Israeli officials.

It is unclear if Larijani, the secretary of Iran’s National Security Council, was killed or injured in the strike, the officials say.

Larijani was the right-hand man of late supreme leader Ali Khamenei until the latter’s killing at the start of the war, and was seen as a leading figure in the regime since Khamenei’s death.

Meanwhile, another recent Israeli airstrike in Iran targeted Palestinian Islamic Jihad leader Akram al-Ajouri and other top officials in the terror group, according to defense sources.

IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir appears to confirm the details. During an assessment this morning, Zamir says that “significant elimination achievements were also recorded overnight, with the potential to impact the campaign’s achievements and the IDF’s missions” — in an apparent reference to the strike targeting Larijani.

“This is in addition to eliminations carried out in recent days in Iran against external elements, also linked to the Palestinian arena,” Zamir says, referring to the Islamic Jihad officials.

He says that the “senior operatives involved in terrorist activity from Gaza and from Judea and Samaria (West Bank)” were hiding in a safe house in Tehran when they were struck.

IDF: Forces evacuate Israelis who entered Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus without authorization

The IDF says that this morning a bus carrying dozens of Israeli civilians entered the Joseph’s Tomb compound in the city of Nablus without authorization, and that violent clashes broke out between them and Palestinians.

“IDF forces evacuated the Israelis from the area, and they were transferred to police for questioning,” it adds.

Earlier, footage circulated showing Breslov Hasidim who had entered Joseph’s Tomb in Nablus.

المستوطنون يقتحمون قبر يوسف في شارع عمان شرق مدينة نابلس pic.twitter.com/Reqn2CmyAm

— قناة عودة الفضائية (@AwdehTV) March 17, 2026

Iraq in talks with Iran to allow oil tankers through Strait of Hormuz

Iraq’s oil minister says Baghdad is in contact with Iran to allow some oil tankers to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, the state news agency reports.

Iraq is also working to resume exports through the Kirkuk-Ceyhan pipeline to Turkey as it seeks to offset disruptions to shipments caused by the Hormuz crisis, after some vessels were attacked off the Iraqi coast during transfers.

‘Deepening the blows’: IDF says it hit Iranian military sites in Tehran, Shiraz, Tabriz

A wave of Israeli airstrikes in three areas of Iran yesterday targeted Iranian military sites and infrastructure, the IDF says.

Dozens of Israeli Air Force fighter jets dropped dozens of bombs during the strikes in Tehran, Shiraz, and Tabriz.

In Tehran, the IDF says it bombed various security headquarters, including those belonging to Iran’s Intelligence Ministry and Basij paramilitary force, as well as sites used to store and launch drones, ballistic missiles, and air defense systems.

In Shiraz, the IAF struck a headquarters of Iran’s internal security forces, as well as a ballistic missile storage site, the military says.

In Tabriz, Israeli fighter jets destroyed additional air defense systems “to expand air superiority,” the IDF says.

The IDF says the strikes are part of a “phase of deepening the blows to the core systems and capabilities of the Iranian terror regime.”

Wizz Air, British Airways extend suspension of flights to Israel

Hungarian low-cost airline giant Wizz Air and British Airways further extend their suspension of flight services to and from Tel Aviv as Ben Gurion Airport remains closed for foreign airlines amid the war on Iran.

Wizz Air says it will extend its cancellation of flights through April 7, from the previously announced date of March 29. The budget carrier had been poised to set up an operational aviation hub in Israel as early as April, which could have boosted competition and brought down sky-high fares.

Citing the “continuing uncertainty of the situation in the Middle East and airspace instability,” British Airways postpones the resumption of flights to June 1. The airline also cancels all flights ​to and from Amman, Bahrain, and Dubai.

Israel’s airspace has been shut to foreign airlines since February 28, when the war with Iran began.

IDF repeats warning for civilians in south Lebanon to head north of Zahrani River

The IDF repeats its wide-scale evacuation warning of southern Lebanon, telling civilians they should evacuate to the north of the Zahrani River.

The warning was first issued on Thursday.

“Hezbollah’s terror activities are forcing the IDF to act forcefully against it in that area, and it does not intend to harm you,” says army spokesman Col. Avichay Adraee.

“Airstrikes are ongoing, as the IDF is operating with great force in the area. Therefore, for your safety, we again urge you to evacuate your homes immediately and move at once to the north of the Zahrani River,” he says.

“Any movement southward may put your lives at risk,” Adraee adds.

#عاجل‼️ تحذير عاجل إلى سكان جنوب لبنان المتواجدين جنوب نهر الزهراني

????إن نشاطات حزب الله الإرهابية تُجبر جيش الدفاع على العمل ضده بقوة في تلك المنطقة وهو لا ينوي المساس بكم.

????الغارات مستمرة حيث يعمل جيش الدفاع بقوة كبيرة في المنطقة. ولذلك وحرصًا على سلامتكم نعود ونناشدكم… pic.twitter.com/LStBkBQh3V

— افيخاي ادرعي (@AvichayAdraee) March 17, 2026

The IDF has pushed troops deeper into southern Lebanon in recent days to push away the threat of Hezbollah from the border.

However, the IDF has said that Hezbollah is launching most of its attacks from even deeper within southern Lebanon, and not from areas close to the border.

Footage: Breslov Hasidim entered Nablus without authorization

Palestinian media outlets publish footage showing Breslov Hasidim who entered Joseph’s Tomb in the city of Nablus without coordination with the IDF.

The footage shows them speaking with members of the Palestinian Authority security apparatus.

הפרגוד: משא ומתן בין חסידי ברסלב לשוטרי הרשות הפלסטינית לאחר שפרצו חלק מהשער לקבר יוסף ונכנסו. הצבא לא בשטח עדיין. pic.twitter.com/lHG0in2xeg

— הפרגוד (@moshepargod) March 17, 2026

The Times of Israel has learned that Israeli security forces are attempting to extract them. The IDF has not yet issued a response.

Health Ministry says 70 people hospitalized due to war in past 24 hours

The Health Ministry reports that in the past 24 hours, 70 people have been hospitalized with injuries as a result of the conflict with Iran and Hezbollah.

Among those treated in hospitals, four are in moderate condition and 146 are in good condition.

Nine people have been treated for anxiety.

The ministry does not give a breakdown of the causes of injuries, and some might have been sustained by people trying to reach shelter rather than as a direct result of missile fire from Iran or rocket fire from Lebanon.

The ministry also says that since the beginning of the war with Iran on February 28, 3,530 people have been admitted to hospitals, 86 of whom are currently hospitalized. Among those hospitalized, eight people are in serious condition, 16 people are in moderate condition, and 60 are in good condition.

The ministry’s figures include both civilians and soldiers.

IDF says more forces move deeper into southern Lebanon

The IDF says it has pushed even more forces deeper into southern Lebanon as part of an expanded buffer zone, established after Hezbollah began attacking Israel earlier this month.

The 36th Division, which began a raid in southern Lebanon last week, began a new “targeted ground operation toward an additional objective” in recent days, the military says. Before the troops pushed into the area, the IDF says it carried out massive airstrikes and artillery shelling.

The IDF says the ground operation is aimed at expanding “the forward defense area.”

In addition to the 36th Division’s raid, the IDF announced yesterday that the 91st “Galilee” Regional Division was also conducting a “targeted ground operation” in the eastern sector of southern Lebanon.

Meanwhile, the 146th Reserve Division remains deployed defensively to the western sector of southern Lebanon.

The IDF has been preparing to deploy even more forces in southern Lebanon and further expand its buffer zone to push away the threat of Hezbollah from the border.

Gulf states pressing US to neutralize Iran for good as Hormuz crisis deepens

Gulf Arab states did not ask the US to go to war with Iran, but many are now urging it not to stop short by leaving the Islamic Republic still able to threaten the Gulf’s oil lifeline and the economies that depend on it, three Gulf sources tell Reuters.

At the same time, these sources and five Western and Arab diplomats say Washington is pressing Gulf states to join the US-Israeli war. According to three of them, President Donald Trump wants to show regional backing for the campaign, to bolster its international legitimacy as well as support at home.

“There is a wide feeling across the Gulf that Iran has crossed every red line with every Gulf country,” says Abdulaziz Sager, chairman of the Saudi-based Gulf Research Center and familiar with government thinking.

“At first we defended them and opposed the war,” he says. “But once they began directing strikes at us, they became an enemy. There is no other way to classify them.”

The attacks have reinforced Gulf fears that leaving Iran with any significant offensive weaponry or arms manufacturing capacity could embolden it to hold the region’s energy lifeline hostage whenever tensions rise.

As the war enters its third week, with US and Israeli airstrikes intensifying and Iran firing at US bases and civilian targets across the Gulf, a Gulf source says the prevailing mood among leaders was unmistakable: that Trump should comprehensively degrade Iran’s military capacity.

The alternative, the source says, is living under constant threat. Unless Iran is severely weakened, he says, it will continue to hold the region to ransom.

Maritime official: Naval escorts will not guarantee safe passage through Strait of Hormuz

The head of the International Maritime Organization has said that naval escorts through the Strait of Hormuz will not “100 percent guarantee” the safety of ships attempting to transit the waterway, the Financial Times reports.

Military assistance is “not a long-term or sustainable solution” to opening up the strait, Arsenio Dominguez tells FT.

Blasts echo across Dubai after missile alert

Three explosions echo across Dubai after a missile alert early on Tuesday, according to an AFP correspondent.

The blasts follow a mobile phone alert to residents to “immediately seek a safe place” over “potential missile threats.”

Lebanese state media reports Israeli strikes in 3 different Beirut neighborhoods

Lebanese state media says that Israel has carried out dawn airstrikes on three Beirut neighborhoods, hitting a residential building.

“A series of raids and artillery shelling targeted southern towns at dawn,” Lebanon’s national news agency reports.

“Israeli warplanes carried out two airstrikes targeting the Kafaat and Haret Hreik areas. In another raid, the aircraft struck a residential apartment on the upper floors of a building located at the end of Venice Street in the Doha Aramoun area.”

Rocket warning sirens sound in Kiryat Shmona, surrounding communities

Warning sirens sound in the northern city of Kiryat Shmona and surrounding communities, indicating a rocket attack by Lebanon’s Hezbollah.

Maryland man sentenced to more than 3 years for threatening Jewish institutions

The US Justice Department says a Maryland man has been sentenced to more than three years in prison for threatening Jewish institutions and organizations.

Clift Seferlis, 55, of Garrett Park, Maryland, is sentenced to 37 months in prison, three years of supervised release, and a $40,000 fine.

In 2024 and 2025, Seferlis sent at least 40 threatening letters and two postcards to more than 25 Jewish institutions, including synagogues, Jewish museums, community centers, schools, nonprofits, and a delicatessen.

The letters, sent via US mail, threatened to destroy buildings and harm individuals, with the intent to intimidate the recipients, the Justice Department says.

Seferlis pleaded guilty to 17 counts of mailing threatening communications and eight counts of obstructing the free exercise of religious beliefs.

No injuries or impacts reported after most recent Iranian missile attack

The Magen David Adom ambulance service says it has received no reports of impacts or direct injuries after the latest Iranian missile attack, with medics treating several people hurt while headed for shelters or suffering from acute anxiety.

The IDF says those ordered to take shelter amid the attack can now leave their homes.

Iranian advisers to Iraqi militias said killed in Baghdad strike

A missile strike on a house in Baghdad on Tuesday killed two people, with initial reports suggesting they are “Iranian advisers” to Tehran-backed groups, a security official tells AFP.

Another two sources from Iran-backed factions confirm that a strike hit a house hosting Iranian advisers in the al-Jadiriyah neighborhood, killing at least two people.

Smoke seen rising from US embassy in Baghdad after its attacked with rockets and drones

Rockets and at least five drones were launched at the US embassy in Baghdad early Tuesday from areas around the city, Iraqi security sources say, describing the attack as the most intense since the start of the US-Israel war with Iran.

A Reuters witness saw at least three drones heading in the direction of the embassy. The C-RAM air defense system shot down two of them while a third struck inside the embassy compound, from which fire and smoke could be seen rising, the witness says.

IDF says it launched simultaneous ‘extensive’ waves of strikes in Tehran and Beirut

Amid the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel, the military announces that it has launched “extensive” strikes against targets in both Tehran and Beirut.

In the Iranian capital, the IDF says it’s striking “infrastructure of the terror regime,” while in Beirut it’s attacking Hezbollah targets.

The simultaneous attacks come after Iran and Hezbollah have launched a number of concurrent attacks on Israel, which they say have been coordinated.

Fresh Iran missile fire sets off sirens across central Israel

The Israel Defense Forces says Iran has launched a fresh ballistic missile attack toward the country, with sirens sounding in Tel Aviv, other central Israeli communities and some parts of the West Bank.

Rubio asks US diplomats to push allies to blacklist Iran’s Revolutionary Guards, Hezbollah

US President Donald Trump’s administration is urging US diplomats abroad to push allies to designate Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Lebanon-based Hezbollah as terrorist groups, citing elevated risk of attack, according to an internal State Department cable seen by Reuters.

The directive, dated March 16 and signed by US Secretary of State Marco Rubio, was sent to all US diplomatic and consular posts worldwide. It asks US diplomats to deliver the message to their counterparts “at the highest appropriate level” and no later than March 20, adding that the advocacy efforts to get these groups blacklisted should be coordinated with Israeli counterparts.

The Trump administration is attempting to rally reluctant allies — many of whom were not briefed ahead of the US-Israeli air war that started two weeks ago — to support its military operation.

In one sign of trouble for that effort, several US allies said Monday they had no immediate plans to send ships to help the US unblock the Strait of Hormuz, rebuffing Trump’s plea to keep the vital oil shipping waterway open.

“With the elevated risk of attack from Iran and its partners and proxies, all governments must move expeditiously to diminish the capabilities of Iran and Iran-aligned terrorist groups from attacking our respective nations and citizens,” one of the talking points in the cable says.

The IRGC is an elite military force whose purpose is to protect Shi’ite Muslim clerical rule in Iran. It controls large parts of Iran’s economy. Both the IRGC and Hezbollah are already designated as terrorist groups by the United States and some other countries.

The cable doesn’t provide details on the elevated risk but cites examples of how Tehran has attacked its neighbors in the Middle East and urges joint action.

“We assess that the Iranian regime is more sensitive to collective action than unilateral action, and that joint pressure is more likely to compel behavior change by the regime than unilateral actions alone,” the cable says.

It adds that such designations would increase pressure on the Islamic Republic and limit its ability “to sponsor terror activities” around the world.

“President Trump is focused on securing peace in the Middle East,” a State Department spokesperson says. “The IRGC, Hezbollah, and other Iranian backed proxies destabilize governments and undermine regional peace.”

UAE announces temporary closure of airspace in ‘exceptional precautionary measure’

The United Arab ​Emirates’ General Civil Aviation Authority announces the temporary and full closure of the country’s airspace, as “an exceptional precautionary measure,” amid rapidly evolving regional security developments, the state news agency reports.

UAE’s defense ministry said earlier it was responding to incoming missile and drone threats from Iran.

Ex-wife of Michigan synagogue attacker told 911 that he was suicidal

The man who drove his pickup truck into a Detroit-area synagogue was described as suicidal in a 911 phone call to police by his former wife that day, a TV station reports.

The call to Dearborn Heights police came around the same time last Thursday that Ayman Ghazali attacked Temple Israel and its early childhood learning center in West Bloomfield Township, WXYZ-TV reported. The FBI says he exchanged gunfire with a guard and killed himself while inside the vehicle, which also caught fire.

There was no indication in the call that Ghazali’s ex-wife knew that he had targeted the synagogue, roughly 25 miles (40 kilometers) from his home.

“I feel like he’s really upset,” she told police, according to WXYZ, which obtained a recording of the 911 call.

She noted that Ghazali, who was a naturalized US citizen, had lost family members during an Israeli airstrike on March 5 in Lebanon. A memorial service was held for them at the Islamic Institute of America in Dearborn Heights.

“He’s like suicidal,” Ghazali’s ex-wife told police, later adding that his “voice is not stable. I just want to make sure he’s OK.”

She said she didn’t know if he had weapons. Dearborn Heights police went to Ghazali’s house, but no one was there.

The FBI says Ghazali waited in his vehicle outside the synagogue for two hours before ramming it into the building where dozens of children were inside. No children were hurt.

Israel’s military said Sunday that the man’s brother, Ibrahim Ghazali, who was killed in the recent airstrike, was a Hezbollah commander in Lebanon. The FBI’s Detroit office, which is investigating the synagogue attack, declines to comment on that description.

No injuries reported in latest Iranian missile attack

No injuries are reported in the latest Iranian missile attack on Israel, as the IDF says residents in targeted areas can now leave bomb shelters.

Iran launches ballistic missile attack, triggering sirens in north

Sirens sound in communities across northern Israel, as the IDF detects another Iranian ballistic missile attack.

“Defense systems are working to intercept the threat,” a statement from the military says.

US designates Jewish Iranian-American held in Iran as wrongfully detained — family

Kamran Hekmati, a Jewish Iranian-American jeweler from Long Island, traveled to Iran last year to visit family but was detained and has been held there since. He is currently imprisoned in the notorious Evin Prison and is believed to be among a half dozen Americans detained in Iran.

The family, which disclosed last year that Iran imprisoned Hekmati for traveling to Israel for his son’s bar mitzvah, says the State Department notified them on Monday that he has been designated as wrongfully detained. Such a designation moves supervision of a detained American’s case to the Special Presidential Office of Hostage Affairs, which functions as the US government’s chief hostage negotiator.

“This designation is an official recognition by the US Government that Kamran is being held on false charges in an effort by the Iranians to leverage the US Government,” Shohreh Nowfar, his cousin, says in a statement.

The designation “reassures us that our government has our back in the effort to get Kamran home safely,” Nowfar said.

The State Department last week designated Iran as a state sponsor of wrongful detention, accusing the country of engaging in hostage diplomacy.

NEWS

The Islamic Republic of Iran has sentenced an Iranian American Jewish man from New York to prison on charges of traveling to Israel 13 years ago for celebrating his son's bar mitzvah.

Kamran Hekmati, a 70-year-old jeweler who traveled to Iran in May for a brief visit, has… pic.twitter.com/PrVDLuozdj

— Yashar Ali ???? (@yashar) November 7, 2025