Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-29 at 21:02

HEADLINES
- Iran designates US-Israeli universities as targets
- Regional escalation widens: drones intercepted, Gulf anxious
- IDF suspends Netzah Yehuda over CNN incident

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran has designated all Israeli and US-tied universities in the Middle East as legitimate targets in the ongoing war, a stance issued after strikes on Isfahan University of Technology and Iran University of Science and Technology in Tehran. Tehran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson Esmail Baghaei condemned those attacks and said other Iranian research centers have been struck. The IRGC released a statement accusing “the invading American‑Zionist forces” of targeting Iranian universities and warned the White House rulers that universities affiliated with Israel and the United States in West Asia will be legitimate targets. The statement also urged employees, professors and students of American universities in the region, as well as nearby residents, to stay at least one kilometer away from these campuses to protect their safety.

In Regional Impacts, sirens were reported in Be'G'er as Iran said it conducted wide attacks; two Yemeni drones were intercepted. The report notes a major breakthrough recently achieved in Lebanon and says Iran is moving to draw Israel into a new trap, with Egypt entering the event. The escalation in the war is pushing Gulf states to the brink, and the drama near Naot Hovav followed an Iranian missile strike.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, black smoke was seen rising from the Camp Victory Complex at Baghdad International Airport after a rocket attack by Iranian-backed paramilitary groups in Iraq.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir suspended the 914th Netzah Yehuda Battalion from operations in the West Bank after soldiers accosted a CNN news crew, injuring one and damaging camera equipment. The suspension will last while the unit undergoes a process to reinforce its professional and ethical foundations, with resumption of deployments subject to a decision by IDF Central Command Chief Major General Avi Bluth and additional measures to be implemented later. Germany, France, Italy, and the United Kingdom expressed deep concern over a bill that would expand Israel’s death penalty provisions for terrorists. They warned that the measure could have a discriminatory character and undermine Israel’s democratic commitments. The bill would allow execution of terrorists who kill in the context of terrorism, would not require a unanimous verdict, and death sentences could be carried out within 90 days of sentencing by hanging. They urged Israeli lawmakers to abandon the measure as it moves through the Knesset plenary next week.

In Uplifting News, Chief Rabbi Kalman Meir Bar called on religious leaders to defend mosques, churches, and synagogues and to reject all religious violence. He urged that protection combine strong law enforcement with a broader rejection of violence and that leaders of all faiths publicly condemn attacks on places of worship and acts of vandalism. He noted Judaism’s emphasis on the sanctity of life and human dignity. In sports, Israel’s national soccer team played Georgia to a 2-2 draw in a friendly at Mikheil Meskhi Stadium in Tbilisi, ahead of autumn Nations League fixtures. Georgia’s Khvicha Kvaratskhelia scored twice, with Israel’s substitutes Guy Mizrachi and Omri Gandelman tying the game.

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.jpost.com/middle-east/article-891581
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1302877
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19823
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-891582
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-891578
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-891580
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-891579