Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-13 at 22:02

HEADLINES
- Iranian retaliation strikes US refueling planes
- Trump footage shows strikes on Kharg Island
- Israel readies Lebanon invasion after Hezbollah killing

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, five US Air Force refueling planes were struck and damaged on the ground at Prince Sultan air base in Saudi Arabia, with no fatalities reported and the aircraft undergoing repairs. The briefing notes that at least seven air refueling planes have been damaged or destroyed in recent days, and it recalls a Thursday incident in which two KC-135 refueling planes collided, resulting in one aircraft crashing and all six crew members being killed.

In US Military Role, footage published by President Donald J. Trump shows strikes against Iranian military targets on Kharg Island in the Northern Persian Gulf, a port hub for the export of up to 90 percent of Iran’s oil products. The footage depicts strikes on an airbase and other sites that likely include air defenses and missiles launch sites operated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. CENTCOM says the strikes targeted military facilities and avoided oil installations. Three additional B-52H Stratofortress bombers from the 5th Bomb Wing, based at Minot Air Force Base in North Dakota, arrived at RAF Fairford in Gloucestershire, England, joining 12 B-1B Lancers and three other B-52Hs already forward deployed to the United Kingdom as part of Operation Epic Fury.

In Regional Impacts, alarms were heard in Metula as tensions flare, with the Pentagon noting that cooperation with Israel is changing the campaign after the reported killing of Hezbollah’s top commander and the Israeli chief of staff ordering a ground maneuver in Lebanon. An attack in Umm al-Fahm targeting two men is reported, with a 25-year-old man dying of his injuries. The article also notes messaging from the Mossad toward the Iranian public and describes a combined Iran–Lebanon attack that produced heavy damage in the Galilee region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel is described as preparing to launch a full-scale ground invasion of Lebanon, potentially the largest such operation since 2006, aimed at seizing territory south of the Litani River and dismantling Hezbollah’s military infrastructure. The Trump administration backs a major Israeli operation in Southern Lebanon but urges limits on damage to the Lebanese state, including not bombing Beirut’s airport or infrastructure managed by the Lebanese government. A separate report describes a combined barrage from Iran and Lebanon that triggered sirens across northern Israel, with a building struck in the Upper Galilee and emergency teams treating at least one person for shock.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that Trump will not abandon Israel in the war with Iran, praising his leadership, moral clarity, and steadfast support for Israel. Separately, the United States is set to recognize Somaliland after Israel.

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/international/article-889882
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19182
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19181
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-889881
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19180
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1296031
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/72521
https://t.me/DefenderDome/19183
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bky11lnz5zl
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-889754
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/72529