Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-02 at 14:02

HEADLINES
Israel kills Makram Atimi, Iranian missile commander
Iran drones strike US facility near Baghdad
US carrier group heads to Middle East

The time is now 2:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, an airstrike targeted a major highway bridge connecting Tehran to Karaj, with sources saying the strike was intended to disrupt Iranian supply routes used to transport missile and drone components. The IDF said it eliminated Makram Atimi, commander of a central Iranian ballistic missile unit, in a precise strike in the Kermanshah area, and that Atimi was responsible for dozens of missile launches toward Israel. The army said it also killed several battalion commanders from the same unit, which it said was behind repeated launches from northwestern Iran, and that these operations form part of a broader effort to degrade Iran’s missile capabilities and command structure. Separately, the IDF said it struck and killed Jamshid Eshaqi, the commander of the Iranian Armed Forces’ Oil Headquarters, which the army described as financing the regime’s activities and enabling its military buildup through oil profits; the strike against Eshaqi took place earlier in the week following intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate, with the agency noting Eshaqi led the regime’s financial arm and the military industries responsible for missile production and repression.

In Iranian Retaliation, two drones targeted a US diplomatic facility near Baghdad Airport, security sources said on Thursday. The Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps also attacked an Amazon cloud computing center in Bahrain, with ISNA reporting the Bahrain site was damaged on Wednesday after an Iranian strike, and civil defense teams were seen extinguishing a fire at a company facility following the attack. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said civil defense teams were handling the aftermath, and Bahrain’s Foreign Minister urged the United Nations Security Council to move on a resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran’s state media outlet Fars News Agency listed several bridges as potential targets in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi, and Jordan, while Mehr News Agency reported related statements from the regime’s outlets.

In US Military Role, the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group departed Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia on Tuesday and is en route to the Middle East, with plans to arrive in coming weeks. The deployment would bring the number of US aircraft carriers in the region to as many as three, joining the USS Abraham Lincoln already in the Arabian Sea and the USS Gerald R. Ford temporarily docked in Croatia for repairs after a fire. Officials cited by The Wall Street Journal said the Bush would operate alongside the Lincoln and Ford for a sustained presence, though the US Navy declined to comment on future operations.

In Regional Impacts, a security official described the city of Petah Tikva as “living by luck,” noting that a missile fall occurred in open ground and caused damage along a street. Red alert sirens continued to sound in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the Tel Aviv area. An announcement claiming liberation for all areas of the country was also reported, though the details and scope were not clarified in this briefing.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, alerts were raised in the north as a result of firing from Lebanon, with sirens indicating cross-border activity that regional observers are monitoring as part of the broader confrontation.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israel sees mixed signals in US-Iran talks and fears the possibility of a temporary ceasefire. Officials say talks are being conducted along two channels: Vice President JD Vance is in contact with Pakistan’s army chief, who relays messages to Tehran, while envoy Steve Witkoff communicates directly with Iran’s foreign minister.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a cabinet meeting is scheduled for 11:30 tomorrow.

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-891953
https://t.me/newssil/197601
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891951
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/02/idf-reveals-irans-plan-for-passover-never-fully-materialized/
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-891950
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1304432
https://t.me/newssil/197605
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7981
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1304438
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1labx3jwx
https://t.me/newssil/197604