HEADLINESIsrael Drones Hit Tehran Toll ClimbsFuel Tankers Attacked in Iraqi WatersHezbollah and Iran Fire on Israel FrontsThe time is now 11:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Iranian regime security personnel and Basij militia members were reported killed in Israeli drone strikes on Tehran, according to Iran International citing state media. The IRGC-linked Fars News Agency put the toll at least ten people. The drones were said to have targeted checkpoints in District 14 near the Mahallati Highway, District 15 across from the Hashemabad gas station, District 16 on Fadaiyan-e Islam Street, and District 1 at the end of Artesh Boulevard. Residents heard explosions and exchanges of fire as Iranian defenses attempted to intercept the incoming drones. An unnamed official cited by Fars claimed the operations were carried out by Mossad and “monarchist groups” attempting to infiltrate operatives and carry out sabotage inside Iran; the claim was not supported with evidence. Tehran residents have tightened security with more checkpoints and intensified nighttime patrols.In Iranian Retaliation, a reporter asked if Iran tries to hit back, whether officials have been briefed about how many Iran sleeper cells could be inside the United States right now. President Trump responded, “I have been and a lot of people came in through Biden with his stupid open border. But we know where most of them are. We've got our eye on all of them, I think.”In US Military Role, a White House spokesperson asserted that the left-wing media is lying and pushing a fake narrative of mixed messaging about the objectives of Operation Epic Fury. The administration says four clear objectives have been laid out: destroy the terrorist Iranian regime’s missiles and raze their missile industry, annihilate the regime’s navy, ensure its proxies can no longer destabilize the region or attack US forces, and guarantee the regime cannot obtain a nuclear weapon.In Regional Impacts, shipping in the Gulf and along the Strait of Hormuz has slowed markedly as the conflict has intensified since late February. Iranian explosive-laden boats reportedly attacked two fuel tankers in Iraqi waters, setting them ablaze and killing one crew member; Iraqi port officials said a body was recovered, though it was not immediately clear which ship it belonged to. The vessels involved were the Marshall Islands-flagged Safesea Vishnu and the Zefyros, which had loaded fuel cargoes in Iraq. The Safesea Vishnu’s US-based operator was identified in the reporting. The attacks mark an escalation amid efforts that have kept many ships from passing through the strait, which handles about a fifth of the world’s oil. The Saudi Ministry of Defense said an Iranian one-way attack drone was downed earlier near the Diplomatic Quarter in Riyadh. Thai-flagged bulk carrier M/R MAYUREE NAREE evacuated after a strike by an Iranian uncrewed surface vessel while transiting the Strait of Hormuz. Filipino sailor George Miranda remains missing after assisting a stricken vessel as a broader group of more than 6,000 Philippine seafarers continues to work in the region. The Strait of Hormuz remains a focal point of the conflict, and no casualties are reported in some incidents so far.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah and Iran continued coordinated barrages on northern and central Israel, with rockets and missiles targeting the Galilee, Haifa, the Sharon, and the Gush Dan region; drone alerts sounded in the Golan and Galilee Panhandle, and sirens were reported in Eilat. All missiles from Lebanon were intercepted.In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump commented that Iran “are pretty much at the end of the line,” adding it does not mean immediate action, but they have no navy, no air force, and no systems of control.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Home Front Command informed that residents in central and northern Israel could leave protected areas as the composite attack event concluded. Separately, alarms were activated.In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, at a Republican Jewish Coalition symposium on antisemitism, speakers criticized Tucker Carlson, with Sen. Ted Cruz calling him “the single-most dangerous demagogue in the country,” while praise was directed at President Trump for saying Carlson is not MAGA. There was no direct criticism of JD Vance, though some attendees expressed skepticism about Candace Owens and Carlson. Norm Coleman, the national chairman of the RJC, said he has no concerns about Vance.In Israeli Economy and Business, crude oil prices continued to rise, with WTI around the mid-$90s per barrel.In Uplifting News, Israelis found respite in humor amid the crisis as Eretz Nehederet delivered a wartime edition, offering a moment of levity with news clips and skits reflecting the strain of ongoing attacks. The show opened with a Finance Ministry ...
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