HEADLINESIsrael widens strikes into Tehran and BeirutSeventh US soldier dies in strikesNATO downs second missile in Turkish airspaceThe time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, a senior Israel Air Force officer told Walla that the planes entering Iran at the outset faced very high risk as air defenses were only partially restored, and that the pilots took that risk with the understanding they could strike a surface-to-surface missile squadron capable of hitting Israel and its citizens. He said the IDF has been preparing for a long war, not just with Iran but across the region, and while, so far, there have been no major surprises in Iranian capabilities, the forces cannot relax because the regime and the IRGC could still mount unexpected moves. The Israeli Air Force is striking simultaneously in Tehran and Beirut. StandWithUs’s latest update through March 9 reports two people killed in central Israel after another Iranian missile attack, taking the operation’s death toll to 15. The update also names the Iranian regime’s hardline move to install Mojtaba Khamenei, the son of the late supreme leader, as its new ruler, and notes that Iran and Hezbollah continue firing missiles, rockets, drones, and cluster bombs at Israeli civilians. It says Hezbollah has been instructed to attack the Lebanese army if it intervenes in the conflict, and it highlights calls for Australia to grant asylum to the Iranian women’s soccer team after anthem protests. The update also notes Sergeant Benjamin Pennington, aged 26, as the seventh American soldier to die in the ongoing US-Israeli operation targeting the regime, and recaps the February 28 operation as the United States and Israel launched a coordinated strike against the regime, with claims that Ayatollah Khamenei has been eliminated and that the arch-terrorist of the Middle East is no longer in power.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Tehran Province Police Headquarters was completely destroyed.In Iranian Retaliation, another launch from Iran occurred.In US Military Role, The New York Times reports that the United States, the only power currently using Tomahawk missiles in this conflict, may have been responsible for the strike on the Iranian girls’ school in Minab, where over 175 people were killed. A video appears to show a Tomahawk striking a naval base tied to the IRGC near the Shajarah Tayyebeh elementary school, filmed from a nearby construction site. The report says satellite imagery, social media, and other verified videos suggest the school was damaged by a precision strike that occurred at the same time as attacks on the naval base. The NYT notes that the footage, if accurate, would indicate the United States is the actor behind the strike in that location.In Regional Impacts, NATO said it shot down a second ballistic missile from Iran in Turkish airspace, prompting Turkey to warn Tehran not to take provocative steps as the alliance emphasizes its readiness to defend all allies. Washington urged American citizens to leave southeastern Turkey, where US troops are stationed. Since the US-Israeli strikes began, Iran has retaliated across the region, though Turkey appears to have been spared despite the presence of US troops at Incirlik. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan pledged to take the necessary measures to defend the nation, and NATO forces also intercepted a Turkey-bound ballistic missile. In other developments, the second Iranian corvette of the Shahid Soleimani class is on fire near Bandar Abbas port, and reports indicate ships are navigating the Strait by switching off their transponders during transit and turning them back on afterward.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah rocket fire triggered sirens in Tel Aviv, with hits reported in open areas but no initial injuries according to MDA, while emergency responders noted some impacts in central and other areas of Israel.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Canada could face its own Bondi Beach, Haskel warns after Toronto synagogue shootings. Israel’s Deputy Foreign Minister led an emergency online briefing for Canadian opinion leaders, journalists, and politicians, emphasizing the need to counter antisemitism and to explain Israel’s war, Operation Roaring Lion. She described diaspora communities as targets and said Iranian agents operate in many countries, focusing on building an active network of “truth ambassadors” to counter narratives about Iran’s terrorism.In Israeli Economy and Business, the Board of Peace issued tenders for Gaza villages, a base for international troops, and a management headquarters in Israel, signaling ongoing postwar planning for Gaza despite the Iran-wide conflict. The Board reportedly has opened a bank account with a budget estimated at $60 million to $70 million, with funds said to come from regional entities rather than the US or Israel, ...
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