Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-03 at 14:02

HEADLINES
Israel Launches 70 Strikes Across Iran
US F-15E Downed Over Southern Iran
Global Food Prices Rise on Iran Conflict

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 Operation Lion's Roar, the Israeli Defense Forces say it has carried out more than 70 strikes in western and central Iran over the past 24 hours, targeting ballistic missile launch sites, UAV storage facilities, and IRGC weapons storage and air defense system sites as part of a wide campaign against terror infrastructure in Tehran.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, sirens have sounded repeatedly in northern Israel over the past hour.

In Iranian Retaliation, AeroSentinel's production facility in Petach Tikva sustained heavy damage late Thursday night after a 400-kilogram Iranian ballistic missile strike, with company officials saying they will restore capabilities as quickly as possible and noting their drones and aerial solutions are designed for border patrol and sensitive surveillance missions. A post on X from Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf, the Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, followed today’s shoot down of an American F-15E Strike Eagle over Southern Iran.

In US Military Role, additional footage shows a US Air Force HC-130J “Combat King II” CSAR aircraft, accompanied by two MH-60G “Pave Hawk” CSAR helicopters, flying over populated areas in the countryside of Southern Iran while searching for the crewmembers of the downed American F-15E Strike Eagle.

In Regional Impacts, world food prices are set to rise further if the Iran-related conflict persists, with the FAO reporting March prices at the highest level since September of the previous year and a potential uptick if the conflict continues; the FAO Food Price Index rose 2.4% from February, is about 1% higher than a year ago, and remains roughly 20% below its March 2022 peak, as Hormuz-related disruptions weigh on costs and farming decisions.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel’s Supreme Court ruled that tax breaks for dividends do not apply to employees who already benefit from ESOP tax breaks, eliminating double tax breaks; the decision hinges on Section 102 of the Income Tax Ordinance and explains the distinction between the capital track and the salary track in ESOP taxation, with implications for many tech workers including new residents.

In Uplifting News, Dutch prosecutors say priceless Romanian artifacts recovered a year after they were stolen from the Drents Museum in Assen, including the 2,500-year-old Helmet of Cotofenesti and three gold bracelets; the Netherlands paid Romania about 5.7 million euros in compensation last year, and the artifacts have been highlighted in UNESCO’s Virtual Museum of Stolen Cultural Objects, with INTERPOL noting the search for the third bracelet remains ongoing.

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/iran-news/article-892008
https://t.me/ILtoday/18362
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-892002
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19990
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19989
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892005
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/banking-and-finance/article-891991
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892007