Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-02 at 09:03

0:00President 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. The time is now 9.03 a.m. in New York. I'm Noah Levi and this is the latest Israel today, ongoing war report. In Operation Lions Raw, the Israel Defense Forces say it has dropped 25 zero bombs on 600 Iranian targets since the conflict began on Saturday. Of those targets, 150 ballistic missiles were destroyed. Dozens of missile launchers were hit. 200 air defense

1:01targets were struck. And 20 Iranian leadership targets were eliminated. While the operation initially focused on destroying ballistic missile capabilities, officials say it has shifted to weakening the Islamic regime itself. With the aim that within a week or more, the regime will be sufficiently weakened to allow Iranian protesters to topple it. United States President Donald Trump has floated ending the operation sooner or shutting it down within about four weeks. But Israeli defense forces sources prefer extending the effort to degrade missile capabilities and further weaken the regime. The Israeli defense forces say it has drafted 110,000 reservists into active duty and is prepared to draft more if necessary. There is no decision yet to invade Lebanon. In direct Israeli-run clashes, former President Mahmoud, Ahmadinejad and several of his close associates and bodyguards were killed in an air strike on his Tehran home two days ago. With reports noting he had been under house arrest, after taking part in a palace coup attempt weeks earlier. Separately, Israeli pilots identified

2:06Iranian troops attempting to attack them and struck the position. In U.S. military role, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth said the strikes on Iran would not become an endless war, and that the aim is to destroy Tehran's missiles, navy, and other security infrastructure. We're hitting them surgically, overwhelmingly and unapologetically. He said at a Pentagon briefing. General Dan Cain, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, said it would take time to achieve military objectives in Iran, and that additional American casualties were expected. While the United States continues to send more troops to the Middle East as the operation proceeds, in regional impacts, Damascus under interim President Ahmad al-Sharah is quietly seeking to absorb southern Syria. Israel's best defense against this creeping Islamist state is to ensure it fails. Behind closed doors, Damascus's leadership in visions and northern scenario, for the Drew's majority swader province within the next two months under us, and Jordanian brokered road map, to curb border drugs muggling, with security forces moving into the province

3:10to enforce peaceful integration. The plan relies on handing administrative control to shake Hickmat al-Hidri and his son Salman, whose national guard currently operates in the area. The analysis notes a fatal flaw in Damascus's approach, and argues that it could present a historic opportunity for Israel. In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, experts say the 2024 war-weakening Hezbollah is essential for the current Iran operation, Lieutenant Colonel Rees. Sarit Zahavi, founder of the Alma Research and Education Center, told the Jerusalem post that Hezbollah's capabilities are weakened but remain dangerous, and its involvement has helped Israel target missiles, weapons facilities, and personnel that had built up over years. In a related development, the head of Hezbollah's intelligence headquarters in Beirut was eliminated in a targeted Israeli strike today. In Israeli economy and business, India's quiet role in Israel's labor reset after Okt, seven reflects a structural shift in how Israel sources labor, manages risk,

4:13and builds resilience in an era of chronic insecurity. After the Okt, seven attacks, cross-border Palestinian labor in the construction sector collapsed, and Indian construction workers have joined the wartime economy, reinforcing bilateral ties highlighted by Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Israel. 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.