Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-31 at 16:02

HEADLINES
IRGC Targets US Firms Starting April 1
US Deploys Carriers to Deter Iran
France Blocks Munition Plane, Israel Pauses Trade

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it will target US companies in the region as of April 1 in retaliation for attacks on Iran, listing eighteen firms including Microsoft, Google, Apple, Intel, IBM, Tesla, and Boeing. The threat promises the destruction of the targeted units in exchange for each attack by Iran, starting at 8 p.m. Tehran time on Wednesday, April 1. The United States State Department said it was tracking reports of threats against locations where American citizens gather in Saudi Arabia, including hotels, US businesses and educational institutions, and advised Americans in the country to shelter in place until further notice. The Israeli Defense Forces announced a Wednesday deadline tied to pre-war Iran targets, with Iran having previously threatened to target US and Israeli academic institutions in the region, according to Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmail Baghaei.

In US Military Role, the White House said the US military is prepared to thwart any attacks by Iran, noting a 90 percent drop in ballistic missile and drone attacks by the regime. The movement of forces to the region is underway, with the USS George H.W. Bush, a Nimitz-class aircraft carrier, departing Naval Station Norfolk alongside its accompanying warships, and reports that a third carrier has been deployed to the Middle East as part of a broader buildup.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces reported striking several Hezbollah launchers in southern Lebanon and destroying launching cells, with the air force continuing to target identified launch sites in the hours ahead. Analysts note Hezbollah is closely tied to the IRGC, underscoring the link between Tehran's regional network and its allied groups.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israeli officials say a US strike on Iran’s energy sites could yield strategic leverage, with a target bank focused on energy facilities and critical infrastructure reportedly prepared and awaiting a decision by the United States leadership before any potential action.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Bennett pledged that the next government will be built on a “covenant of those who serve,” promising to govern only with those who have served and to restore Israel’s international standing, while ruling out partnerships with certain parties unless they embrace core principles on education, universal service and public funding. Netanyahu, for his part, said the Iranian regime is weaker than ever and highlighted what he called ten significant hits against Iran since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, including efforts against Hamas and Hezbollah and improvements in US-Israel coordination. He also framed Iran’s sizeable military investments as being squandered, describing ten plagues against the regional axis.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel said it will halt defense trade with France, directing officials to scale back and end defense procurement from France over what Israeli officials describe as hostile actions toward Israel since the war began. The decision, reportedly endorsed by Defense Minister Israel Katz and Defense Ministry Director General Amir Baram, follows an incident in which France blocked an American plane carrying munitions for Israel from entering French airspace, and officials indicated alternative arrangements had been sought but the move to end ties is definitive.

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-891830
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/us-ready-thwart-iran-attacks-after-irgc-threats-american-firms
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1303774
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h15wjjtowg
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1303782
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74250
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byjcjcfo11x
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-891845
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-891834
https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-says-irans-trillion-military-investment-is-down-the-drain-cites-ten-plagues-against-regional-axis/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/03/31/israel-halts-all-defense-trade-with-france/