Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-26 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Trump says Iran war ahead of schedule
Gulf demands seat at Iran talks
Iran proxies strike Kurdistan Hezbollah hits Israel

The time is now 12:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said the Iran war was “extremely” ahead of schedule at his first cabinet meeting since the conflict began, arguing the mission would have taken four to six weeks initialy and noting that at twenty-six days in they are “extremely, really, a lot ahead of schedule.” He claimed Tehran is “begging to work out a deal” while insisting the Iranian regime is now admitting it has been decisively defeated, and he broached NATO allies’ reluctance to send naval assets to secure the Strait of Hormuz as a fresh point of pressure. The remarks were delivered at the White House alongside top officials, including the secretary of state and the defense secretary. In the Hebrew remarks, President Trump said they are talking to the right people and that the Iranians are eager to make a deal, adding that though some call it war, he described the operation as a military one that has been very successful and that the regime has been effectively altered.

In Regional Impacts, Gulf states have voiced a claim to sit at the table in any talks between Iran and the United States aimed at ending the war in the Middle East, with the Gulf Cooperation Council underscoring the need for Gulf participation. The region has seen Iranian attacks targeting energy infrastructure, US forces, and other sites, with the UAE noted as bearing a substantial impact. Attacks have reached energy facilities and multiple Gulf states, prompting calls from regional voices for a halt to attacks and for Gulf states to be included in diplomatic efforts to resolve the crisis, as GCC officials and regional media cited increased tensions arising from Iran’s campaign and counterstrikes by the United States and its allies.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran-backed Iraqi militias have intensified strikes on Kurdistan, with Rudaw reporting more than 450 attacks since the war began, including drones and rockets that have killed at least 14 people and wounded 85. The violence has targeted hotels, US facilities, and the UAE consulate in Erbil, with Kurdish Peshmerga forces sustaining casualties from missiles this week and attacks continuing through March 25–26. Separately, a deadly Hezbollah rocket barrage on Nahariya in northern Israel left one man dead and eleven people injured, with additional casualties and damage including to gas infrastructure and a residence in Moshav Margaliot, and sirens signaling further alerts across central Israel as the conflict persisted.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a senior Iranian official told Reuters that no realistic pathway for US–Iran talks exists at this stage, after Tehran reviewed a US 15-point plan to end the war and found it “one-sided and unfair,” serving only US and Israeli interests and lacking the minimum requirements for success. The official said Iran would only consider ending the war on its own terms and through mediators such as Turkey and Pakistan attempting to bridge gaps, with no formal talks arranged yet and the proposal conveyed through Pakistan and discussed by Iran’s senior leadership.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel’s National Security Council has advised Israelis abroad to skip Passover events that are unsecured or held in public spaces, citing heightened risk from Iran, its proxies, and lone extremists after recent attacks in Belgium and the Netherlands. The advisory notes the holiday period and other dates bring congregations that could become targets, and it urges Jews and Israelis abroad to exercise heightened precautions and to avoid major gatherings when traveling in countries around Iran, including Azerbaijan, Georgia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, and Gulf states.

In Uplifting News, a trove of gold coins dating back to Imperial Russia was unearthed under a house in Torzhok, revealing a hoard of 409 coins valued in melt terms at roughly a half-million dollars. The find includes hundreds of gold 10-ruble coins and a spread of smaller denominations, recovered during a joint expedition with historical museums and dating back more than a century, offering a glimpse into a period long past and a potential windfall for collectors and historians alike.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/trump-insists-iran-operations-extremely-ahead-schedule
https://t.me/abualiexpress/118774
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891322
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891316
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-891315
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891308
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-891313
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/archaeology-around-the-world/article-891182