Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-31 at 15:02

HEADLINES
- Israel says Iran crippled after major strikes
- Iran threatens 18 US firms, alarm spreads
- UAE bars Iranian citizens from entry

The time is now 3:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, in a pre-recorded address on Tuesday night, said Israel has severely weakened the Iranian regime as the campaign continues. He outlined 10 significant hits since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, including decimating Hamas and Hezbollah and fighting West Bank terror, and noted 10 achievements of the war against Iran. He stressed that the Ayatollah’s regime is weaker than ever and Israel is stronger, highlighting renewed US-Israel cooperation as they fight side by side against Iran. He also said Israel has managed to distance the Iranian nuclear threat and to break the strength of Iran’s proxies. In the same period, reports indicate new strikes targeting Isfahan, Bushehr, and Natanz after Arak, Parchin, and Fordow have already been heavily damaged.

In Iranian Retaliation, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps issued a threat against 18 US companies, listing names such as Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing, promising the destruction of their units in exchange for Iran’s attacks, effective from 8 p.m. Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1. The US State Department said it is tracking threats against locations where American citizens gather in Saudi Arabia and urged citizens to shelter in place until further notice, as the IDF set a Wednesday deadline to have destroyed all critical and essential pre-war Iran targets. Iran had previously threatened to target US and Israeli academic institutions in the region.

In Regional Impacts, the latest shelling in the north left four people injured, with three evacuated to the Galilee Medical Center in Nahariya, two described as having mild injuries from the blast and one person treated for anxiety; a six-year-old boy was treated on site for minor glass-related injuries and did not require hospitalization. On the southern front, the Lebanese Army began evacuating positions in southern Lebanon, including the Christian villages Ain Ebel and Rmeich and the Shi’a villages of A-Tiri, Barashit and Beit Yahoun, amid fears that Hezbollah would exploit the shift. Following diplomatic pressure from the Apostolic Nuncio, Lebanon officially agreed to keep Internal Security Forces units in the two Christian villages, halting the planned security withdrawal and ensuring that Rmeich and Ain Ebel remain under state authority. In a related development, the United Arab Emirates issued a ban on entry and transit through Dubai for Iranian citizens, taking effect immediately and barring all Iranian passport holders, including those with UAE residence permits; Iranians outside the UAE will not be able to return, and visa applications have reflected similar refusals.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah is described as nothing less than an arm of the IRGC, evidenced by their nearly identical emblems and organizational alignment.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett told The Jerusalem Post that the next government will be based on a “covenant of those who serve,” promising to form a government only with people who have served and to restore Israel’s international standing. He also indicated he would not partner with haredi parties unless they accept his core principles. Meanwhile, Netanyahu and Knesset member Boaz Bismuth said the controversial haredi draft bill would be advanced amid ongoing IDF manpower shortages, despite wartime concerns; the plan followed warnings from IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir that the army is nearing its breaking point, though no new law has yet been enacted and the measure is described as part of a broader legislative push.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Bank of Israel data show that the strengthening shekel contributed to a 47.6 billion shekel loss versus 2024, underscoring the impact of currency movements on the economy.

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/israel-news/article-891834
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74252
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891830
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1303762
https://t.me/selena_updates/60336
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74249
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74250
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-891845
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-891831
https://t.me/newssil/197392
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1303766