HEADLINESIran Women Silent Anthem at Asia CupIran Strikes Prompt Beersheba Sirens EscalationUS Says 2,000 Iran Targets StruckThe time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Iran's women's soccer team refused to sing the country's national anthem before the Asia Cup opener against South Korea in Australia, a gesture reported by The Guardian. The action occurred as Israel continued its campaign against Iran in what is described as Operation Roaring Lion, with accounts that Israeli actions have taken out many of Iran's leaders, contributing to instability that could prompt broader social upheaval. Video shows the players standing in silence as the anthem's instrumental played. Ali Karimi, the former soccer star and current coach, spoke out against the regime in a post on X, celebrating a strike he described as leveling the palace of Iran's former supreme leader. Mitra Hejazipour, a French-Iranian chess grandmaster, also voiced opposition to the regime during this period.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, sirens were heard in Beersheba, the Negev, and the Gaza envelope after Iran launched strikes, with reports noting the regional backdrop of Hezbollah’s actions around Beirut. Separate accounts identified launches from Iran toward Israel, underscoring a widening confrontation as the conflict intensified in the area.In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said the United States would protect commercial shipping in the Middle East if necessary and would offer government-backed insurance to safeguard maritime trade, aiming to ensure the free flow of energy to the world as prices rose on fears over Hormuz shipping. In parallel, US Southern Command said its forces conducted a joint operation with Ecuadorian forces against designated terrorist organizations in Ecuador. US Central Command’s leadership said American forces have struck nearly 2,000 targets in Iran since the start of the operation, severely degrading Iran’s air defenses and destroying hundreds of ballistic missiles, launchers, and drones. The Pentagon identified four of the first American soldiers killed in Operation Epic Fury, members of the 103rd Sustainment Command from Des Moines, Iowa, among others, with ages ranging from 20 to 42, as more casualties were reported and sympathy extended to their families.In Regional Impacts, after evaluating the situation, the home-front authority advised that it is possible to exit from protected areas but to continue staying near covered spaces and to follow civil-defense guidance. French President Emmanuel Macron ordered France’s nuclear-powered aircraft carrier Charles de Gaulle to move from the Baltic to the Mediterranean to protect allied assets during the war in the Middle East, with the carrier to be escorted by frigates and its air wing. Macron said Rafale fighters, air-defense systems, and airborne radar would be deployed in the region and that the effort would continue as necessary. France, the UK, and Germany had previously indicated they were not involved in strikes on Iran by the United States and Israel but were prepared to defend allied airspace and deter missiles and drones, with Macron noting a recent strike on a British base in Cyprus as a catalyst for the move.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Qatari authorities said they dismantled two networks tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, arresting 10 people accused of espionage and sabotage inside Qatar. Seven detainees were said to be gathering intelligence on critical and military sites, while three were allegedly preparing acts of sabotage and had undergone drone training; authorities seized communications equipment and data tied to sensitive facilities, and suspects admitted affiliation with the IRGC. Separately, the Israeli military reported intercepting several missiles that crossed from Lebanon, with most shots being shot down and one projectile falling in the area, leaving no casualties reported at the time.In US Policy Concerning Israel, the State Department outlined steps to assist Americans wishing to leave Israel amid Operation Roaring Lion, including options to depart using available commercial transportation since Ben-Gurion Airport remains closed. The embassy cautioned that it cannot conduct direct evacuation flights and noted limited options inside the country, urging citizens to enroll in the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program to receive emergency notices and updates.In Israeli Domestic Politics, emergency medical teams continued to survey the north after shelling, with no injuries reported at this stage. MdA teams were dispatched to locations where reports were received, and the public was urged to remain compliant with civil-defense guidance as the situation evolved.In Uplifting News, this Purim season was celebrated underground in a parking garage, yet carried with it bright energy, joy, and a resilient ...
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