Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-25 at 14:02

HEADLINES
Israel plans Iran campaign with US
Iran island seizure plan backed regional ally
Israel expands Lebanon push against Hezbollah

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, Jerusalem already had comprehensive plans to launch a wide-scale military campaign against Iran, given the unfinished business of June 2025. The article notes that with the direct involvement of the United States in the campaign against Iran, there have been increasingly heated accusations from across the political spectrum in the US that Washington has gotten mixed up in a war for, and at the direction of, Israel. These claims, the piece says, stand in stark contrast to how events have unfolded and to the profound nature of what is transpiring as a result of Operation Roaring Lion in terms of Israel’s geostrategic reality. The article says this contradicts antisemitic claims that the Jews control everything and are the source of all ills. It points to the sequence of events leading up to the US’s part in the conflict—Operation Epic Fury—and that operation’s scope and execution, noting that it contradicts the spurious narrative. One need only remember how this conflict began, after tens of thousands of Iranian protesters were slaughtered by their own government, with countless more injured, tortured, and imprisoned, when US President Donald Trump tweeted that “help is on the way.”

In Iranian Retaliation, the Iranian Parliament Speaker warns that there is a plan to seize one of Iran's islands with the backing of a regional country, and if that occurs, Iran would strike its essential infrastructure.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF's 162nd Division and 98th Division are set to join operations against Hezbollah terrorists within southern Lebanon, alongside the 91st and 36th Divisions, to conduct sweeps for concealed Hezbollah weapons. This latest push would extend the removal effort into the second line of villages in the region, building on prior operations in fall 2024 that focused on destroying the first line of villages. At the start of the current conflict, the military had prepared the 91st, 36th, 162nd, 98th, and 146th Divisions for deployment in border areas, and with the addition of the 162nd and 98th Divisions the penetration into southern Lebanon is being expanded.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Netanyahu seeks to avoid snap vote as Iran war gives no boost in polls. The prime minister is racing to pass a state budget and stave off early elections he would likely lose, with the war in Iran not yet delivering the expected improvement in his standing. In the war’s early days, his camp saw an opening to hold elections ahead of an anticipated October date, but nearly four weeks into the conflict, reports indicate he is aiming to prevent an early contest. A possible trigger remains that if Parliament fails to pass the budget by March 31, a vote would be held within 90 days. Some confidants have floated a June vote, while Netanyahu has been moving to secure a majority for the budget by allocating funds to political allies.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Peace plans, Hitler propaganda, and betrayal. The Jerusalem Post’s must-listen news roundup with Shifra Jacobs — the top stories, clear and concise. The item notes the editorial work and hosting credits, including editors Shir Perets and Shifra Jacobs, with copyright credited to 2026 Jpost Inc.

In Uplifting News, Despite Iran war, 40 American, Canadian Jews make aliyah ahead of Passover. Forty North Americans became Israeli citizens on Wednesday, including 25 who landed at Ben Gurion Airport and 15 who were already in Israel and completed the process the same day, arriving just before Passover and in the middle of the ongoing war with Iran. The new immigrants came from communities across the US and Canada and said the security situation did not push them away, and in some cases it strengthened their resolve, according to Nefesh B’Nefesh, which coordinated the group with the Ministry of Aliyah and Integration, The Jewish Agency for Israel, Keren Kayemeth LeIsrael, and Jewish National Fund-USA. Among those arriving was Eli Schwartz, a 30-year-old lawyer from Minneapolis, who said the war had actually deepened his commitment. “The war actually motivated me even more to make Aliyah,” he said. The arrivals were welcomed at the airport by Aliyah and Integration Minister Ofir Sofer, Nefesh B’Nefesh co-founder and executive director Rabbi Yehoshua Fass, and representatives of major Zionist institutions.

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/opinion/article-891148
https://t.me/newssil/196504
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-891128
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-891196
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-891185
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-891190