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

HEADLINES
Shiraz IRGC Commander Killed Amid Clashes
Iran Threatens Gulf Energy and Water Infrastructure
Britain Allows US Base Use for Strikes

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, weekend reports describe a broad pattern of strikes and counterstrikes across Iran and its surroundings, with multiple outlets citing actions attributed to the United States and Israel. The IRGC Basij Shiraz unit commander was reported killed last week, a claim carried by Fars News Agency and echoed by Iran International, which named him as Ebrahim Mortazavi-Nasb. State media also reported an attack on Bandar Abbas’s radio transmitter, yielding one dead and one injured, and eyewitness footage circulated of strikes on Tehran, Khormarbad, and Yazd, along with claimed hits on Bandar Abbas, Bandar Khamir, and Bushehr. Video circulated showing flames at an IRGC site in Shiraz and an activation of Tehran’s air defense system, while reports described an air-force headquarters strike in Dushan Tappeh, West Azerbaijan. A separate video described a massive bombardment on an IRGC site in Bidkaneh west of Tehran, and in Israel, a Iranian barrage across central Israel prompted a cluster munition strike in the Drom Hasharon region with authorities saying there were no casualties, though some people were injured or treated for panic as responders checked several sites including Petah Tikva.

In Iranian Retaliation, Tehran warned it would strike energy and water infrastructure across the Gulf if the United States follows through on threats to attack its electricity grid, raising fears of disruption in a region dependent on desalination for drinking water. The White House had set a Monday deadline tied to reopening the Strait of Hormuz, and air raid sirens were heard across parts of northern and central Israel as a wave of Israeli strikes on Tehran was reported. Brigadier General Ebrahim Zolfaghari, spokesman for Iran’s Khatam-al Anbiya Central Headquarters, delivered a taunting line directed at President Trump, while Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said the Strait of Hormuz is not closed and warned that threats will not sway Iran. In response to Trump’s ultimatum, the president told NewsNation to “see whether or not he’s right,” as the region watched for further developments and potential retaliatory steps.

In US Military Role, the United States and allied partners discussed the strategic importance of reopening the Strait of Hormuz to stabilize the global energy market, with discussions between President Trump and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer noting allied willingness to coordinate, including Britain authorizing US use of bases to strike Iranian missile sites attacking ships in the strait. Meanwhile, US Marines with the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit conducted a gun shoot aboard the USS Tripoli as it moved through the US 7th Fleet area en route to the Middle East in support of Operation Epic Fury, illustrating continued military activity in the region as tensions remain high.

In Regional Impacts, the UAE’s Foreign Minister Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan said the Emirates will never be blackmailed by terrorists, responding to criticism of Gulf policy and reaffirming security partnerships with Washington as air defenses were activated after detecting missiles and drones aimed toward the Gulf. The region faced heightened alerts as Iran broadened its strikes, with reports noting the scale of Iranian missile and drone activity since the conflict intensified. A Hebrew-language report from Metula described sirens and alerts amid intensified Iranian launches toward Israel, with claims of fragmentation zones in the Tel Aviv metropolitan area and further security actions by the IDF, including cautions to civilians and the monitoring of security conditions.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US State Department advised Americans worldwide to exercise increased caution amid the Middle East war, reflecting the broader risk environment and ongoing travel advisories for international travel in the context of the conflict.

In Uplifting News, community resilience and support continued to be a bright note amid the crisis. Chasdei Lev joined elected officials and community leaders at its annual Passover distribution, delivering essential support to thousands of families ahead of Pesach. Separately, a reflection piece described how a war has brought a US-born Israeli officer and his family closer, highlighting bilingual work environments and the ongoing cooperation between American and Israeli forces as a human dimension of the conflict.

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-890846
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https://t.me/DefenderDome/19576
https://t.me/JewishNews24/51726
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https://www.jpost.com/international/article-890847
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https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1299913
https://t.me/JewishNews24/51727
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https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-890843