Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-02 at 13:03

HEADLINES
- IDF Kills Iran Oil Headquarters Commander
- Yemeni missiles trigger Israeli red alerts nationwide
- Iran mobilizes millions in Janfada campaign

The time is now 1:03 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 said it struck and killed Jamshid Eshaqim, the commander of Iran's Oil Headquarters, earlier this week following intelligence from the IDF Intelligence Directorate. The Oil Headquarters is described by the IDF as a core part of Iran's armed forces, enabling ongoing activity and military buildup through profits from oil sales. Eshaqim led the financial arm of Iran's regime as well as the military industries responsible for ballistic missiles and the regime's mechanisms of repression, and he helped allocate funds for Iran's proxies across the Middle East, notably Hezbollah and the Houthis. The IDF notes that oil revenues have funded the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and other forces for years, with dedicated oil-sale headquarters helping to manage that income despite sanctions.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, red alerts and sirens were reported in Jerusalem, the Dead Sea and the Tel Aviv area as tensions and cross-border fire resurfaced. Reports describe a volley of missiles launched from Yemen toward Israel, with alarms and warnings in central Israel. One account notes that a Yemeni missile was intercepted over the Petah Tikva area, leaving damage limited to property and no injuries. Residents were urged to shelter and follow emergency guidance.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran launched a volunteer recruitment drive named Janfada, or Sacrificing Life, amid fears of a potential US ground invasion. A nationwide text urged citizens to prepare to defend the country against US–Israeli threats. Mohammad Ghalibaf, Speaker of the Iranian Parliament, said that within less than a week a powerful national campaign had brought forward around 7 million Iranians who had stepped up and declared they are ready to pick up arms and stand in defense of the nation, noting that Iranians don’t just talk about defending their country and have done it before.

In US Military Role, the USS George H.W. Bush carrier strike group departed Naval Station Norfolk for the Middle East, with reports that it could join the Lincoln and Ford in the region, potentially bringing three carriers to operate there. The Lincoln is currently in the Arabian Sea, while the Ford is temporarily docked in Croatia for repairs following a fire. Officials said the Bush, America’s newest Nimitz-class carrier, is expected to arrive in the Middle East in coming weeks, with the region likely to see continued carrier presence for the foreseeable future.

In Regional Impacts, the IRGC attacked an Amazon cloud computing center in Bahrain, with Bahrain's interior ministry and civil defense teams reporting a fire at a company facility after the strike and ongoing extinguishing efforts. Bahrain has called for a UN Security Council vote on a resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz. Iran's semi-official Fars News Agency listed several bridges as potential military targets in the region, including in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, Abu Dhabi and Jordan, while Mehr reported drone attacks against US fighter jets at Jordan's Al Azraq base.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel's Defense Minister Katz issued a stark warning to Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem, declaring that he and his associates would pay a very heavy price for attacks on Israeli citizens during Passover and would end up at the bottom of hell with Nasrallah and other eliminated proxy leaders. The warning followed assessments that Iran and Hezbollah could coordinate attacks at the start of the holiday, after Iran fired around 10 ballistic missiles minutes before Passover began. Officials also indicated that coordinated actions at the holiday’s start were being considered.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Cabinet meeting is scheduled for 11:30 tomorrow.

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.

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