Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-26 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Air Force Major Fueled Rising Lion Bets
Navy Intel Targets Iran Hezbollah Tangsiri
Nahariya Strike Kills Ori Peretz

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, a reserve Air Force major passed information to a friend about the start of Operation Rising Lion so that he could bet on the date on Polymarket; the friend won about $162,000 on the bet and split the winnings with the reservist, with the major's involvement reportedly leading to several more successful bets. Israeli naval intelligence has directed precise fire on targets linked to Iran as part of operations described as Operation Roaring Lion, with the Israeli navy hammering Hezbollah and allowing the air force to focus on the Islamic Republic. Naval intelligence has also been cited as assisting in recent days with the assassination of Iranian Naval Chief Alireza Tangsiri and with the elimination of key Iranian naval cruise-missile production sites and submarine-related targets in Tehran, aims that could reduce Iran's ability to threaten the Strait of Hormuz.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Home Front Command issued a preliminary alert across areas including the southern Negev, Arava, the Dead Sea region, Judea, central Negev, and western Negev after reports of missiles fired from Iran toward Israeli territory. The IDF said air defenses are intercepting the threat, and the public was urged to enter protected spaces and remain there until further notice, exiting only when explicitly advised. In Nahariya, a deadly strike occurred with a fatality identified as Ori Peretz and 25 people hospitalized following the attack on the city.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Netanyahu cooled talk of regime collapse in Iran, arguing that the lessons from Gaza show that the United States and Israel share end goals and that differences lie in methods, with an emphasis on hostage returns and security objectives rather than a single path. Separately, European powers said Russia is helping Iran target US forces and planned to raise the issue with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio at a G7 meeting in France, citing reported Russian satellite imagery and drone upgrades that assist Iran in its conflicts. Meanwhile, Trump says talks with Iran are progressing and that he has postponed strikes on Iran’s energy infrastructure, while Iranian officials publicly reject Trump’s terms.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Columbia’s Hillel director argues that a Jewish student’s campus experience should be measured by the support available when incidents occur, not by the incidents alone. A recent American Jewish Committee and Hillel International survey found that 42% of Jewish college students nationally reported experiencing antisemitism, underscoring the importance of campus structures—professional staff, strong partnerships with administrators and across the university, and active Jewish student organizations—to provide effective support in times of need.

In Uplifting News, Eurovision odds makers predict Israel will win the televoting portion again this year, with Israel’s entry Michelle fronted by Noam Bettan receiving strong support. Eurovision World projects a 26% chance of the top televote for Israel, while Polymarket places Israel at about 36% for the televote; Greece and Finland follow in second and third. If Bettan repeats a televoting victory, Israel would mark a consecutive triumph in that portion of the contest.

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.ynetnews.com/article/sjjp4m7o11l
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-891355
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1301716
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/26/netanyahu-cools-talk-of-regime-collapse-in-iran/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/europeans-press-us-over-russian-support-iran
https://t.me/ILtoday/18169
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-891372
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-891377