Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-02 at 20:02

HEADLINES
Iran Attacks Across Five Cities US Denies
Randy George Fired as Army Chief
France Bans 40th Paris Muslim Gathering

The time is now 8:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, reports describe a wave of powerful attacks across Iran in Tehran, Shiraz, Isfahan, Tabriz, and Khorramabad. In a separate development, the United States Central Command said these reports are false, stating that all United States fighter jets are accounted for. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has again claimed it shot down an American fighter jet off the coast of Qeshm Island, but the released video does not appear to show the downing, with flares visible toward the end of the clip.

In US Military Role, United States Army Chief of Staff Randy George was fired by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, effective immediately, as part of a department reshaping tied to the administration’s national security agenda. The Pentagon did not specify a reason for the departure. The Army remains the largest service, with about 450,000 active-duty soldiers, and thousands have been deployed to the Middle East to support air defense operations. Defense Secretary Hegseth has signed a memorandum directing military installation commanders to allow uniformed personnel to request to carry privately owned firearms while in nonofficial duty on domestic bases. Earlier today, United States Air Force strikes targeted the B1 Bridge in Karaj, described by a US official to Reuters as military justified, aimed at eliminating a planned military supply route to sustain Iran’s ballistic missile and attack drone forces.

In Regional Impacts, France bans the 40th annual gathering of Muslims in Paris amid terrorism fears and security risks, with Paris police saying the ban was issued at the Interior Minister’s request due to elevated risk and a large police presence planned in the coming days. The decision follows heightened security at sensitive sites after a foiled bomb attack on Bank of America offices amid the broader context of tensions in the region. Hebrew-language updates describe sirens along the frontline in towns such as Kfar Yuval, Dishon, and Malakhi, with reports of 12 fall zones around Petah Tikva and no injuries; the updates also reference broader regional tensions and related actions in the Middle East.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israeli opposition warns Donald Trump to stay out of Israel’s elections, arguing that the upcoming vote is an internal matter of a sovereign state and urging involvement from outside figures be avoided.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Education Minister Yoav Kisch says a group attempted to force entry to his home during a siren, describing the intruders as an extremist and deranged gang of criminals. A video shows them banging on the gate as sirens sound, and Kisch says eight minutes were available to seek shelter, but the group stayed put. He calls the incident a grave red line, and fellow ministers have condemned the action, calling for accountability.

In Uplifting News, passengers on an American flight from Atlanta to Puerto Rico captured one of the closest videos of the Artemis II launch from their plane, a clip that has gone viral with some viewers commenting on how near the rocket appeared. In sports, Maccabi Tel Aviv has surged into the Euroleague Play-In race with a 17-16 record, returning to Belgrade and then to the club’s home arena in Tel Aviv region amid ongoing regional conflict, after securing the Israel State Cup prior to the latest war. General Manager Claudio Coldebella spoke with La Gazzetta dello Sport about the season, the challenges of competing under pressure, and the club’s resilience.

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
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