Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-30 at 22:02

HEADLINES
Isfahan strike escalates Iran conflict, West warned
Al Salmi tanker hit off Dubai, fire
US mulls ending Iran war without Hormuz

The time is now 10:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, authorities report additional documentation of fire and smoke rising after a strike described as producing massive secondary explosions in the city of Isfahan in Central Iran. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Newsmax CEO Chris Ruddy that President Trump is showing amazing leadership and fortitude as the two discussed US-Israeli joint operations against Iran. In an exclusive interview, Netanyahu also asked, “The question is, will the West wake up?” and criticized what he called the remarkable weakness of European leaders in underestimating Iran’s missile capabilities as the timeline for the Iran War becomes a matter of public discussion.

In Iranian Retaliation, Kuwait’s Petroleum Corporation says an Iranian attack struck the Kuwaiti-flagged crude oil tanker M/T AL SALMI while it was anchored off Dubai in the Persian Gulf. The vessel, fully loaded at the time, sustained significant damage with a fire burning onboard; no injuries have been reported and concerns are rising about a potential oil spill in UAE waters. Separately, Iraqi police cited to Al Jazeera say Iran attacked the American logistical support camp near Baghdad’s airport, part of the broader retaliation dynamics in the region.

In US Military Role, the White House and its aides are reportedly weighing options as the administration contemplates ending the war with Iran without reopening the Strait of Hormuz. The Wall Street Journal reports that President Trump told aides he would be willing to conclude the military campaign even if the strait remains largely closed, leaving a complex reopening operation for a later date. The report notes the first option would be to end the war through negotiations with Tehran, while a second would have Gulf States and NATO lead any effort to reopen the strait; officials also say a four- to six-week window is a rough estimate for a reopening campaign. Separately, a Financial Times report cited by Pentagon officials says a broker for Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth sought a multimillion-dollar investment in major defense firms before the Iran strike; a Pentagon spokesman called the report “entirely false and fabricated” and demanded a retraction.

In Regional Impacts, Gulf States are pressing President Trump to continue attacks on Iran until the Islamic regime is no longer a regional threat, according to a report by The Associated Press. Gulf and Israeli officials cited by AP said Iran has not yet been sufficiently weakened, and Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates are taking the lead in applying pressure, with Oman described as taking a different stance. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also spoke of long-term remedies, saying that a rerouting of energy pipelines to the Mediterranean could provide a lasting solution to the Hormuz crisis, noting that about 20% of global oil exports pass through the Strait and that pipelines could bypass Iran’s choke point if built westward across Saudi Arabia to the Red Sea and Mediterranean.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, alarms sounded in the north over fears of a drone incursion from Lebanon, signaling the broader tension along Iran’s regional proxies and the spillover into neighboring fronts as the conflict persists.

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
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https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/trump-tells-aides-he-willing-end-iran-war-without-reopening-hormuz-wsj-reports
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1303357
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