HEADLINES
Israel drops 15,000 bombs on Iran
IDF accuses Lebanese army of deception
Court weighs budgets for haredi education

The time is now 8:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Defense Minister Katz and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir said the IDF has dropped 15,000 bombs on Iran since the war began February 28, a total executives say is more than four times the munitions used in Operation Rising Lion in June 2025. They note the overall pace of Israeli and American attacks has cooled since mid-March. In the war’s early days, both Israel and the United States were striking about 1,000 targets daily, a tempo unsustainable because of wear on aircraft and the need for pilots to rest. From March 13 to 19, the bombs counted rose from roughly 10,000 to about 12,000, with days that saw 200 attacks or fewer. A separate update from within the period describes a high tempo in the last 24 hours, with more than 13,000 munitions fired, most aimed at Iran’s industrial sector and infrastructure, with officials signaling further large-scale actions in the hours ahead.

In Regional Impacts, Israeli officers say the Lebanese army lied to the IDF about enforcing demilitarization in southern Lebanon, and that Hezbollah has reestablished infrastructure there as Israeli forces pressed operations. Over the past week, IDF troops in southern Lebanon have intensified activity around the town of El-Khiam to locate terrorists, weapons, and infrastructure. The new pace of ground-search work is being carried out as authorities assess Hezbollah’s continuing presence in the area.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli authorities report that Nukhba force cells were eliminated in a strike in central Gaza as operations continue in the region. In recent days, IDF units have stepped up activity around the border area, focusing on locating terrorist infrastructure and operatives. A separate investigative thread notes a strike near the home of a public figure has prompted questions about targeting choices. Separately, prosecutors have brought charges against a 14-year-old from central Israel, indicting him in the Tel Aviv Youth District Court for working with Iranian operatives, performing tasks for cryptocurrency payments, and related offenses such as contact with a foreign agent and passing information to the enemy. In another case, reports say a 14-year-old Israeli boy was recruited by Iranian operatives to provide footage of Tel Aviv and the area around the IDF headquarters. A further indictment describes another 14-year-old who sprayed graffiti and filmed sensitive sites in Tel Aviv for Iranian handlers, with requests to target Foreign Minister Gideon Saar’s home that the student could not fulfill during school. In a related assessment, Iran is portrayed as asserting victory and presenting hard terms to the United States as a condition for a return to ceasefire negotiations, reflecting the depth of Tehran’s stance in the conflict.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice is scheduled to hear at 12:30 p.m. a case challenging budget transfers to haredi education networks, tied to a December 25, 2025 Finance Committee transfer that funded education, including money directed to haredi institutions. The Knesset Legal Department contends the Finance Ministry acted unlawfully by advancing most of the funds before formal committee approval, and that lawmakers were not clearly informed they were effectively ratifying funds already dispersed. The petitions were filed by Hiddush and Democratic MK Naama Lazimi and were heard alongside a parallel petition by Yesh Atid lawmakers. In a separate security briefing, the head of Aman, Shlomi Binder, and the Air Force commander signaled a decision to begin arming the budget for a long conflict, reflecting a shift to sustained munitions procurement in service of a drawn-out security engagement.

In Uplifting News, a new platform called IsraelForPesach.com has been launched to connect people who are unexpectedly staying in Israel over Passover with families willing to host meals and, in some cases, provide overnight accommodations. The free, community-run site aims to help Israelis, students, tourists, and others who anticipated leaving for Passover but find themselves staying in the country. Creator Juda Honickman says the idea grew from messages from students, families in Israel, and worried parents abroad, highlighting a spirit of openness as communities prepare for the holiday.

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
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