HEADLINES
Mortozov laid to rest after Yehud strike
US-Israel air alliance tightens over Iran
Iranian mines threaten Strait of Hormuz

The time is now 4:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Mortozov, 40, was laid to rest in Petah Tikva after dying of wounds suffered in an Iranian cluster bomb strike that hit a Yehud construction site on Monday. First responders said the victims were not in a shelter when the munition struck, and Mortozov died a day later in hospital; Rustam Gulomov, 61, was killed in the same attack. Mortozov, a Petah Tikva resident, is survived by his wife and three children, aged 15, 12 and 4, and had moved to Israel from Azerbaijan in 2007. At the funeral, his son Jubran expressed his grief, saying he would never forget his father and promising to care for the family; Mortozov’s brother also spoke at the service.

In US Military Role, an American pilot radioed to an Israeli pilot: “Be safe out there, strike hard,” signaling close coordination as the two allies continue air operations. The IDF says the Israeli Air Force and the US Air Force are operating with full aerial freedom over Iranian skies.

In Regional Impacts, the United States Central Command said it sank several inactive Iranian naval vessels, including 16 minelayers, as Tehran appears to begin mining the Strait of Hormuz. Iran is thought to hold between 2,000 and 6,000 naval mines, though only a few dozen have been laid recently, and officials say the United States is exploring options to restore commercial maritime traffic through the chokepoint that handles a substantial share of global oil and gas shipments. Separately, naval drones described as explosive-laden unmanned surface vessels have been used in at least two attacks on oil tankers in the Gulf, underscoring a dangerous new threat to the corridor; the first attack struck the MKD VYOM off Oman, and a later strike hit the Sonangol Namibe near Iraq’s Khor al Zubair port, prompting concern over further disruption of regional energy flows as markets react to the widening conflict.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, five people were injured when a rocket hit a residence in the Upper Galilee after Hezbollah and Iran launched a joint attack on Israel, with four injuries attributed to anxiety; firefighting crews and United Hatzalah responded to multiple sites as rockets and shrapnel affected northern communities and a fire started in a forest area. The IDF said it was conducting strikes in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut in response to the barrage. In northern Israel, alarms and reports of rockets and shrapnel continued, and emergency services provided treatment for a man in his 50s with a mild hand injury. TheIDF later indicated it would respond with heavy fire in Lebanon following Hezbollah’s barrage, and threats of further missile fire toward southern Israel were reported as the conflict escalated.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Iran has demanded a guarantee that neither the United States nor Israel will attack again before signing a ceasefire for the current conflict, according to unnamed Iranian officials cited by Bloomberg. In parallel, the UN Security Council approved a resolution drafted by Bahrain on behalf of the Gulf Cooperation Council condemning Iran’s attacks against regional states, with 13 votes in favor and two abstentions from Russia and China; the measure calls for an immediate halt to Iran’s attacks and threats. Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danon, said Iran is targeting regional states out of despair as the world begins to recognize Tehran’s true intentions.

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.timesofisrael.com/amid-mortozov-victim-of-iranian-cluster-bomb-strike-laid-to-rest-in-petah-tivka/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjlapv15bg
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-889642
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/03/sea-drones-target-oil-tankers-middle-east-conflict-risks-widen
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-889639
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295127
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295124
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295123
https://t.me/hnaftali/22214
https://t.me/ILtoday/17677
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-889644
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1295125

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-03-11 at 16:02