Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-30 at 17:03

HEADLINES
US vows response after Iran Haifa attack
US deploys hundreds of special forces
Iran approves Hormuz shipping levy

The time is now 5:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the latest reporting shows the United States planning a response to Iran’s attacks on Israel’s Haifa oil refinery and on a water and electrical plant in Kuwait, with officials signaling action soon. President Trump told the New York Post that “you’ll see shortly” and urged Tehran to strike a deal “before it’s too late,” saying there has been “total regime change” with a new leadership that has been “much more reasonable,” and that he would “let you know that in about a week” whether Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf is willing to cooperate. Trump also addressed questions about the health of Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, saying he is “very seriously injured,” and that “we don’t know [if he is alive],” though he suggested the regime remains a factor. Within this topic, reports note that Iran leaked emails attributed to former Mossad chief Tamir Pardo detailing personal information, contracts, and a letter to the Trump administration opposing Netanyahu. Separately, Trump’s remarks to various outlets describe a readiness to respond to the Haifa attack and to press for a week-long deadline for a deal. A senior Arab world journalist described Iran’s blocking of Hormuz as potentially translating into an advantage for Israel. Taken together, the items illustrate a moment of high tension and swift political maneuvering as the crisis widens.

In US Military Role, CBS reports that hundreds of United States special operations forces, including Navy SEALs and Army Rangers, are now in the Middle East, alongside Marines who arrived on Friday, with the 82nd Airborne Division beginning to deploy as well.

In Regional Impacts, the Iranian Parliament approved a bill authorizing a levy of up to $2 million on ships passing through the Hormuz Strait. Lebanese sources also claim Israeli forces are setting fire to residential buildings in Nakoura in the western sector of southern Lebanon.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, defense sources say ending the IDF’s war on Iran could be delayed while President Trump decides on Hormuz and the nuclear issue; if Iran does not accept a deal, Trump would decide how to address the Hormuz crisis, potentially using ground forces to open the Straits, and he has already been using airpower to begin the process. Trump also indicated an interest in asking Arab states to help pay for the Iran war, a notion White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said the president has considered and may expand on; talks with Iran continue and progress, with Iran privately agreeing to some Washington points despite public posturing, though what Iran says privately will be tested. After Pope Leo XIV’s warning that God rejects prayers of those who wage war, the White House defended prayers for US troops, with Leavitt saying there is nothing wrong with leaders calling on the American people to pray for servicemembers and those serving overseas.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the opposition mistakenly voted in favor of amendments to the 2026 state budget that would add hundreds of millions of shekels to haredi institutions, a move later halted by Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara, who called the transfers unlawful. The opposition argued the budget was approved lawfully, while UTJ’s Degel HaTorah faction responded that the matter had been handled properly by an unprecedented majority. Separately, the High Court is expected to strike down the law allowing death sentences for terrorists, with the first petition against the measure filed by the Association for Civil Rights in Israel, arguing the law creates an inverse relationship between the severity of the penalty and how readily it can be imposed.

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-891699
https://t.me/newssil/197245
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-says-us-will-shortly-respond-to-iranian-attack-on-haifa-refinery/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1303325
https://t.me/newssil/197238
https://t.me/newssil/197244
https://t.me/newssil/197241
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-891707
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-891703
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/after-popes-remark-white-house-defends-praying-us-troops
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-891704
https://t.me/newssil/197243