Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-14 at 08:01

HEADLINES
Israel destroys Tehran space research center
Israel drops Beirut leaflets urging Hezbollah disarmament
Iranian-backed militias likely behind French soldier death

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, the defense minister said the campaign against Iran will continue as long as necessary, and the IDF confirmed it destroyed Tehran's space research center. New evacuation warnings were issued in Beirut as sirens have sounded across Israel more than 50,000 times since the start of the war.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel dropped leaflets over Beirut urging Hezbollah’s disarmament, pairing anti-Hezbollah messaging with an outreach by the IDF’s Unit 504, described in the leaflets as the IDF’s covert operations arm. One flyer opened with “O Lebanese!” and urged the Lebanese public to disarm Iran’s arm in Lebanon, while another flyer resembled a newspaper and asked where Lebanon is headed, with QR codes embedded and references to Unit 504 inviting readers to join “real change.” The leaflets come as fighting between Israel and Hezbollah intensifies and the Israeli campaign continues. Separately, Iranian-backed militias in Iraq were likely behind a drone attack that killed a French soldier serving with Kurdish Peshmerga in the Kurdistan Region. Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia’ al-Sudani pledged an investigation during a call with French President Emmanuel Macron. Iranian-backed militias have targeted the Kurdistan Region with drones and missiles as Iran’s broader tension with the region has grown, and Iraq has allowed some militias to operate within state security structures, complicating efforts to limit attacks while supporting Iraqi and Peshmerga forces against ISIS.

In Uplifting News, shaping Israel’s music notes that women luthiers, though few, are leaving a mark in Israel’s instrument-making scene, carving, varnishing, and assembling string instruments that “sing” in the hands of musicians. The craft, rooted in centuries-old tradition from Austrian and Italian masters such as Stainer, Amati, and Stradivari, has historically been dominated by men, but women are increasingly contributing skilled work in this field. How tennis is bringing Jewish and Arab Israeli children together describes the Freddie Krivine Initiative, which since 2000 has used tennis to bring Jewish and Arab youths together, turning competition into opportunities to learn about one another. The piece notes Israel’s population now stands around 10.37 million, with Jews making up about 77% and Arabs about 21%, and highlights how the initiative has persevered through periods of tension, with Jane Krivine continuing her father’s legacy to foster collaboration through sport.

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/article-889899
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-889900
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-889838
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-889769
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjej00tf9be