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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-20 at 05:02
Published 4 weeks, 2 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
Israel Strikes Tehran IRGC Spokesman Naeini Killed
Raz Cohen Indicted for Iran Spy Contacts
IRGC Designated Terrorist by Six Nations
The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel's Defense Forces say the IDF launched a series of strikes targeting Iranian regime infrastructure across Tehran in the early hours of Friday, with hits on sites in western and central Iran as part of an effort to reduce fire aimed at Israel and to maintain air superiority. Iranian state media reported that IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naeini was killed in the strikes. Video footage circulated by N12 News appeared to show explosions in Tehran, with reports of strikes in Parchin, Kerman, Arak, and Bandar-e Lengeh. On Thursday night, the military said it had struck more than 130 infrastructure sites belonging to the regime, including ballistic missile sites, UAV facilities, and defense systems across western and central Iran. US Central Command posted satellite imagery of the Karaj Surface-to-Surface Missile Plant showing the damage caused after a US strike on March 11, comparing it to earlier images. Iranian television later reported Naeini was eliminated.
In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a reserve soldier from Jerusalem who served in the Iron Dome air defense system, Raz Cohen, has been indicted on security offenses for allegedly passing information to Iranian operatives in exchange for payment. The indictment says he maintained contact with Iranian elements and passed along sensitive information related to Iron Dome activity. He was arrested at the start of the war and questioned by Lahav 433 in a joint investigation with the Shin Bet; his detention has been extended and the indictment filed on Friday. The case underscores concerns about Iranian attempts to recruit Israelis for intelligence work. Separately, loud explosions were heard in the central region, triggering alarms and prompting searches by responders; no injuries were reported at this time as emergency crews respond to reports following a night of Iranian launches and Israeli strikes.
In Iranian Retaliation, medics and paramedics from Magen David Adom were dispatched to sites where reports of strikes were received, treating people who were wounded while moving to shelters. At this point, no casualties have been confirmed.
In Regional Impacts, an opinion piece argues Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has three levels: political, military, and economic. The political level is described as the strongest, while the economic part is viewed as the weakest. The piece references historical examples such as Napoleon’s blockade of Britain in 1806 and Egypt’s blockade of the Straits of Tiran in 1967, and notes that blockades can backfire, though not universally. The author suggests outcomes depend on a range of factors.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, six countries have designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization following discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar: Iceland, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Liechtenstein. The move follows efforts by the EU to add the IRGC to its list of terrorists and comes amid broader discussions about Hezbollah. US officials have urged allies to designate the IRGC and Hezbollah as terrorist groups. In Tehran, Iranian lawmakers later dressed in IRGC uniforms to pass a bill targeting the armies of EU countries listed by the bloc. A second report notes a second wave of alerts as additional siren warnings were issued in anticipation of further strikes following a night of Iranian launches and Israeli actions.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, an exchange at a security cabinet meeting saw National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir clash with IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Gener
Israel Strikes Tehran IRGC Spokesman Naeini Killed
Raz Cohen Indicted for Iran Spy Contacts
IRGC Designated Terrorist by Six Nations
The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel's Defense Forces say the IDF launched a series of strikes targeting Iranian regime infrastructure across Tehran in the early hours of Friday, with hits on sites in western and central Iran as part of an effort to reduce fire aimed at Israel and to maintain air superiority. Iranian state media reported that IRGC spokesperson Ali Mohammad Naeini was killed in the strikes. Video footage circulated by N12 News appeared to show explosions in Tehran, with reports of strikes in Parchin, Kerman, Arak, and Bandar-e Lengeh. On Thursday night, the military said it had struck more than 130 infrastructure sites belonging to the regime, including ballistic missile sites, UAV facilities, and defense systems across western and central Iran. US Central Command posted satellite imagery of the Karaj Surface-to-Surface Missile Plant showing the damage caused after a US strike on March 11, comparing it to earlier images. Iranian television later reported Naeini was eliminated.
In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a reserve soldier from Jerusalem who served in the Iron Dome air defense system, Raz Cohen, has been indicted on security offenses for allegedly passing information to Iranian operatives in exchange for payment. The indictment says he maintained contact with Iranian elements and passed along sensitive information related to Iron Dome activity. He was arrested at the start of the war and questioned by Lahav 433 in a joint investigation with the Shin Bet; his detention has been extended and the indictment filed on Friday. The case underscores concerns about Iranian attempts to recruit Israelis for intelligence work. Separately, loud explosions were heard in the central region, triggering alarms and prompting searches by responders; no injuries were reported at this time as emergency crews respond to reports following a night of Iranian launches and Israeli strikes.
In Iranian Retaliation, medics and paramedics from Magen David Adom were dispatched to sites where reports of strikes were received, treating people who were wounded while moving to shelters. At this point, no casualties have been confirmed.
In Regional Impacts, an opinion piece argues Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz has three levels: political, military, and economic. The political level is described as the strongest, while the economic part is viewed as the weakest. The piece references historical examples such as Napoleon’s blockade of Britain in 1806 and Egypt’s blockade of the Straits of Tiran in 1967, and notes that blockades can backfire, though not universally. The author suggests outcomes depend on a range of factors.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, six countries have designated Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization following discussions with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar: Iceland, Moldova, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, North Macedonia, and Liechtenstein. The move follows efforts by the EU to add the IRGC to its list of terrorists and comes amid broader discussions about Hezbollah. US officials have urged allies to designate the IRGC and Hezbollah as terrorist groups. In Tehran, Iranian lawmakers later dressed in IRGC uniforms to pass a bill targeting the armies of EU countries listed by the bloc. A second report notes a second wave of alerts as additional siren warnings were issued in anticipation of further strikes following a night of Iranian launches and Israeli actions.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, an exchange at a security cabinet meeting saw National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir clash with IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Gener