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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-09 at 10:05
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
HEADLINES
- IDF Iran launchers reduced 75% public supports
- Iranian missile inscription fragment lands near farm
- Hegseth rising star in Israeli Iran coverage
The time is now 10:04 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Operation Lion's Roar, the IDF says Iran can continue firing for an extended period even after a 75% reduction in ballistic-missile launchers, a figure the military says marks progress from 65% two days earlier. On Saturday night, officials reassured Israelis that while sirens spiked and millions sought safety in shelters, the IDF had destroyed about three-quarters of Iran’s missile launchers and that missiles fired fell to roughly 10–14 on that day, from about 100 on the war’s first day and 20–25 in recent days. The military cautioned that early gains in reducing fire may not translate into an immediate, lasting lull, noting that there were significant hits in Israel on Sunday and Monday and that the overall rate of launches has not fallen dramatically in the past several days. Israelis also show strong support for the campaign, with a public opinion survey indicating broad backing across political lines and high trust in the security establishment. More than 80% express strong trust in the IDF, and over 85% in the Air Force and Home Front Command; about 63% say the campaign should continue until the Iranian regime falls, though only a small share believe that outcome is likely, and public sentiment on Iran’s nuclear program mirrors that cautious outlook.
In Iranian Retaliation, a large fragment of an Iranian missile bearing inscriptions commemorating “martyrs” and a verse from the Quran landed near children herding sheep at a farm in the Binyamin region, with no injuries reported. The debris fell near a boy in the pasture, and authorities described the incident after videos and photos circulated showing the inscriptions. Local officials noted the fragment landed as sirens wailed, and one farmer was tending his flock nearby when the piece struck the ground. Yisrael Ganz, who visited the scene, said the missile bore names linked to the regime’s martyrs, and described the inscription as part of a broader pattern seen in debris from recent barrages.
In US Military Role, Pete Hegseth has become a prominent figure in Israeli coverage of the war, after moving from relative obscurity to daily attention in Hebrew-language media and social platforms. His Pentagon briefings delivered tough talk on Iran, praise for Israel, and a camera-ready persona that Israeli outlets amplified. Reports say he spoke of “historic” results and warned the conflict would not become an “endless war.” There was also a reported phone call with Defense Minister Israel Katz in which Katz’s office said Hegseth urged Israel to press on “until the end” and added, “We are with you.”
In Regional Impacts, the Tourism Ministry announced that people wanting to leave Israel can book flights with Israeli airlines to various destinations as part of a new aviation framework. Airlines operating in the country—El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Haifa Air—shoulders bookings through official airline sites or authorized travel agents, with a dedicated assistance system for tourists and foreign nationals facing urgent or exceptional circumstances. The ministry stressed that submitting a form for emergency assistance does not guarantee a flight and that this option is intended for those unable to secure a seat through regular channels. Separately, two fires in bomb shelters in central Israel—first in Petah Tikva and then in Yavne—sent 17 people to hospitals with smoke inhalation injuries. About 16 families were evacuated to a nearby school for initial aid. Firefighters extinguished the fires, searched for trapped residents, and ventilated the stairwells; no one was found to be trapped, and a fire investigator was called to examine the incidents.
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- IDF Iran launchers reduced 75% public supports
- Iranian missile inscription fragment lands near farm
- Hegseth rising star in Israeli Iran coverage
The time is now 10:04 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Operation Lion's Roar, the IDF says Iran can continue firing for an extended period even after a 75% reduction in ballistic-missile launchers, a figure the military says marks progress from 65% two days earlier. On Saturday night, officials reassured Israelis that while sirens spiked and millions sought safety in shelters, the IDF had destroyed about three-quarters of Iran’s missile launchers and that missiles fired fell to roughly 10–14 on that day, from about 100 on the war’s first day and 20–25 in recent days. The military cautioned that early gains in reducing fire may not translate into an immediate, lasting lull, noting that there were significant hits in Israel on Sunday and Monday and that the overall rate of launches has not fallen dramatically in the past several days. Israelis also show strong support for the campaign, with a public opinion survey indicating broad backing across political lines and high trust in the security establishment. More than 80% express strong trust in the IDF, and over 85% in the Air Force and Home Front Command; about 63% say the campaign should continue until the Iranian regime falls, though only a small share believe that outcome is likely, and public sentiment on Iran’s nuclear program mirrors that cautious outlook.
In Iranian Retaliation, a large fragment of an Iranian missile bearing inscriptions commemorating “martyrs” and a verse from the Quran landed near children herding sheep at a farm in the Binyamin region, with no injuries reported. The debris fell near a boy in the pasture, and authorities described the incident after videos and photos circulated showing the inscriptions. Local officials noted the fragment landed as sirens wailed, and one farmer was tending his flock nearby when the piece struck the ground. Yisrael Ganz, who visited the scene, said the missile bore names linked to the regime’s martyrs, and described the inscription as part of a broader pattern seen in debris from recent barrages.
In US Military Role, Pete Hegseth has become a prominent figure in Israeli coverage of the war, after moving from relative obscurity to daily attention in Hebrew-language media and social platforms. His Pentagon briefings delivered tough talk on Iran, praise for Israel, and a camera-ready persona that Israeli outlets amplified. Reports say he spoke of “historic” results and warned the conflict would not become an “endless war.” There was also a reported phone call with Defense Minister Israel Katz in which Katz’s office said Hegseth urged Israel to press on “until the end” and added, “We are with you.”
In Regional Impacts, the Tourism Ministry announced that people wanting to leave Israel can book flights with Israeli airlines to various destinations as part of a new aviation framework. Airlines operating in the country—El Al, Israir, Arkia, and Haifa Air—shoulders bookings through official airline sites or authorized travel agents, with a dedicated assistance system for tourists and foreign nationals facing urgent or exceptional circumstances. The ministry stressed that submitting a form for emergency assistance does not guarantee a flight and that this option is intended for those unable to secure a seat through regular channels. Separately, two fires in bomb shelters in central Israel—first in Petah Tikva and then in Yavne—sent 17 people to hospitals with smoke inhalation injuries. About 16 families were evacuated to a nearby school for initial aid. Firefighters extinguished the fires, searched for trapped residents, and ventilated the stairwells; no one was found to be trapped, and a fire investigator was called to examine the incidents.
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