Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-17 at 18:02

President Barack Obama. Virginia, we are counting on you. Republicans want to steal enough seats in

Congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. But you can stop

them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level playing field and let

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The time is now 6.02 pm in New York. I'm Noah Levi and this is the latest Israel today.

Ongoing war report. In direct Israel Iran clashes. Argentina's President Javier Miller used

the anniversary of the 1992 attack on the Israeli embassy in Buenos Aires to condemn Iran.

And reaffirm his support for the United States and Israel. Siting a 2024 court ruling that

the embassy bombing along with the 1994 AMIA Jewish Community Center attack was ordered by Iran.

Millay asserted that in the face of terrorism there can be no truce during the commemoration

at the site of the former embassy. Placing the event in the context of Tehran's actions as

regional tensions persist after the start of a broader confrontation in which Tehran has conducted

strikes and threats that have disrupted regional shipping. Separately a post attributed to

President Donald Trump claimed relations with Iran were going pretty good. While insisting

the Islamic Republic must not possess nuclear weapons. In remarks tied to the regional crisis,

foreign minister Gideon Saar told Fox News that the whereabouts of Iran's new supreme leader

Majtaba Kaminay remain an open question. And prime minister Netanyahu addressed the Iranian people,

saying our air forces with you. In U.S. military role, a British member of parliament urged

London to kick U.S. troops off its bases. Signaling continued debate over allied deployments amid

the Iran confrontation. The U.S. Air Force meanwhile appeared unconcerned about residual air defenses.

With B-minus 1 billion lance of bombers approaching the Persian Gulf not switching off their

transponders as they move toward targets in Iran. The U.S. aircraft carrier Gerald R. Ford deployed

in operations against Iran is expected to temporarily pull into port after a fire on board in the

Red Sea. With Saudi Bay and Crete identified as the likely stop, nearly 200 sailors were treated

for smoke-related injuries, one service member was flown off for treatment, and the Ford's nine

month deployment, which included Caribbean operations prior to its Middle East duty,

has raised questions about morale and readiness. In regional impacts, soldiers from the French

Army's 7th Battalion of Shassar Alpens, part of the 27th Mountain Infantry Brigade, gathered in

Vars' Aliere's Etriset to honour Chief Warant Officer Arnord Frianne, killed in an Iranian drone

attack on a joint Kurdish-French patrol base in Northern Iraq. Following an evacuation order,

residents of Taya and nearby villages began moving northward. Palestinian residents of the

Rashidia refugee camp were reported leaving after an Arabic language evacuation alert issued by

the Israeli military. Iran released video footage showing Ali Larajani alongside his son Morteza,

nicknamed The Scientist, and the head of his security team, all of whom were killed in related

confrontations, a security expert warned that Iran's brain drain, driven by emigration of skilled

workers and students, could threaten Israel's security, noting record numbers of Iranian students

abroad in 2024. Explosions were reported in Bandar Abbas, and air raid sirens sounded in Bahrain.

In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, alarms rang as sirens were heard in

Misgav-AM following fire from Lebanon. Hezbollah published evacuation notices for residents of

Naharia, Curri at S.H. Mona, and the front line. Signalling a broader mobilization in the border

region as hostilities persist along multiple fronts. In Israeli domestic politics, the Knesset

approved in its first reading and updated war budget for 2026, adding 32 billion shackles to

defense spending and raising the deficit ceiling. The measure, past 5345, now moves to the finance

committee before second and third readings, and must clear final votes by the end of March

to avoid automatic dissolution and early elections. The government cited wartime needs and

operation roaring lion as justifications for the increased defense outlays, with discussions

intensifying as opposition members raised questions about the overall outline and deficits.

In anti-Semitism and anti-Jewish hate, Germany's Brandenburg anti-Semitism commissioner resigned

from the far left-dialink party over a resolution condemning Israel, citing harassment within the party,

and saying he could no longer remain aligned with what he described as his convictions.

Party leadership expressed regret and pledged to continue fighting anti-Semitism,

noting that the departure was not about party affiliation, but about upholding principles in

the face of criticism over Israel and related issues. Thank you for tuning into this Israel today,

ongoing war report update. I'm Noah 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.

President Barack Obama. Virginia, we are counting on you. Republicans want to steal enough

seats in Congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years,

but you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level playing

field and let voters decide not politicians. Vote yes by April 21st. Paid for by Virginians for

fair elections.