• Day 13 of the US/ Israel War with Iran
  • Operation Roaring Lion has now lasted longer and caused far greater damage in Iran than Rising Lion
  • Hezbollah launches its largest barrage against Israel since the November 2024 ceasefire
  • Schools in Israel remain shuttered, and most restrictions continue

Missile and Rocket Fire

  • Missile and rocket sirens sounded across large parts of Israel overnight after a joint Iran–Hezbollah attack. Hezbollah launched about 200 rockets toward northern Israel (its largest barrage since the November 2024 ceasefire), while Iran fired ballistic missiles toward central Israel.
  • Of the 200 Hezbollah rockets, 80 fell short of the border, landing in Lebanon. Israeli commentators said that the attack was less an act of aggression than a statement: a declaration that Hezbollah intends to fight to the end. Magen David Adom reported no fatalities, though responders treated several people who were injured while moving to protected spaces, and police said shrapnel caused property damage in central Israel.
  • Hezbollah said it also launched missiles at an IDF Military Intelligence base housing Unit 8200 near Tel Aviv yesterday. The terror group described the strike as a barrage of “advanced missiles.”  Their statement came after the Iranian Revolutionary Guards had already announced that  they had carried out a joint missile operation with Hezbollah against targets in Israel. Israel said there were impacts and damage in central Israel, although no injuries were reported.
  • A rocket fired from Lebanon struck the yard of a home in Moshav Haniel in central Israel, causing extensive damage and leaving the reinforced secure room as the only part of the building undamaged. Footage showed a crater at the impact site; the blast virtually destroyed the structure. The resident and her caregiver reportedly reached the safe room during a 90-second warning and were likely saved as a result. Fire and Rescue Services said no one was injured and firefighters searched to ensure nobody was trapped.
  • A key distinction remains between missiles launched from Iran and rockets fired by Hezbollah in Lebanon. In the case of Iranian attacks, Israeli civilians typically receive an early warning alert on their phones about ten minutes before the expected impact, allowing them time to move closer to a shelter. This is usually followed by a siren approximately 90 seconds before impact. By contrast, rockets launched from Lebanon provide virtually no advance warning due to the close proximity to Israeli towns and cities. As a result, residents are often taken by surprise and may have only seconds to reach shelter.
  • Israel’s Health Ministry said 179 people were admitted to hospitals over the past 24 hours due to the Iran war, including civilians and soldiers. It said four were in moderate condition and 157 in good condition, with 18 treated for anxiety. Since the war began on February 28, the ministry said 2,745 people have been admitted to hospitals, with 85 currently hospitalized. Of those hospitalized, it reported 11 in serious condition, 10 in moderate condition, and 64 in good condition.
  • Using a number of new apps, Israelis are tracking the number of alerts and sirens received in their cities, the amount of time spent in their shelters, and more. See an example here.

The War with Iran

  • Fresh Iranian missile volleys continued overnight and into the morning, with the IDF reporting multiple ballistic-missile attacks, including a fourth launch since midnight. Sirens sounded across the Jerusalem area, central Israel, and the country’s north. All missiles were intercepted or fell in open areas; there was no major damage or injuries reported. Authorities also noted that fragments from interceptions fell in several areas.
  • Israeli media is noting that while the overall number of missiles being launched in attacks from Iran has decreased dramatically, it takes only one missile to disrupt the entire country, causing sirens, dashes, panic, and sleepless nights. Thankfully, missiles are almost always intercepted.
  • Israel said it was launching “extensive” airstrikes in Tehran, describing a new wave of Israeli Air Force attacks aimed at Iranian regime sites in the capital. Separately, Iran said that Israeli drone activity over Tehran was seen on Wednesday evening. Several members of Iran’s security forces and the Basij volunteer force who were stationed at checkpoints were killed.
  • The US military released footage showing strikes on Iranian aircraft in southern Iran, declaring that several planes had been destroyed. The video showed hits on a Lockheed C-130 Hercules, Lockheed P-3 Orion, and an Ilyushin Il-76. CENTCOM said the aircraft included US-made planes supplied to Iran before the 1979 Islamic Revolution. The statement described the campaign as methodically dismantling Iranian air capability.
  • Israel’s ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, said that in the first twelve days of the war, Israel has hit eight times the number of targets that it hit during the Twelve Day War with Iran, last June.
  • The Israeli and US militaries continue to coordinate closely. Listen to this conversation between the pilots of a US and an Israeli fighter jet following the successful completion of a mission.
  • The intelligence branch of the Revolutionary Guards reportedly threatened members of Iran’s Assembly of Experts (the body responsible for selecting the Supreme Leader) as well as their family members, in order to force them to choose Mojtaba Khamenei as the next leader.

The War with Hezbollah

  • The IDF said it struck 10 Hezbollah command posts in Beirut’s southern suburbs and dozens of rocket launchers across Lebanon during a 30-minute span. The military said the attacks hit launchers and operatives planning to fire rockets at Israel, as well as command posts in Dahiyeh, which is inside the capital. According to the IDF, those command posts were used by Hezbollah’s intelligence unit and the elite Radwan force.
  • Lebanon’s health ministry reported that an Israeli strike on the Beirut seafront area of Ramlet al-Bayda killed at least seven people and wounded 21, describing it as an attack on a vehicle. A separate report later said the death toll from an earlier Israeli strike on central Beirut had risen to eight dead with 31 wounded.
  • Hezbollah’s remaining long‑range missile arsenal is still substantial, with Israeli assessments indicating the group retains over 1,000 long‑range missiles. Reporting suggests that Hezbollah may still have tens of thousands of shorter‑range rockets, despite sustained Israeli strikes. In response to the assessment, IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir ordered significant reinforcements to Israel’s northern front, signaling the potential of deeper ground-force involvement in Lebanon. The move reflects concern that Hezbollah retains the capacity to continue striking Israel’s home front, even as its infrastructure and command posts are being targeted.

Israel’s Home Front

  • The Religious Services Ministry published a list of safe and protected women’s mikvaot (ritual baths), following pressure from the religious rights organization ITIM. Under wartime regulations issued shortly after the Iran war began, these mikvaot were allowed to remain open only if they included a standard shelter reachable within the required alert time, while men’s mikvaot were ordered closed. (Under halachah, there are strict requirements regarding women’s ritual baths that do not apply to men).
  • President Isaac Herzog met at the President’s Residence with Bernie Galsim Lavarias, the widower of Mary Ann V. De Vera, a Filipino national killed in an Iranian missile attack on Tel Aviv last week. The meeting, held on March 12, included the Ambassador of the Philippines to Israel, Aileen Mendiola. Herzog conveyed condolences to the family and to the Filipino people, and spoke about De Vera’s actions during the attack, saying she helped save the life of an Israeli woman. The president also expressed appreciation for the contribution of the Filipino community to Israeli society and its role during times of crisis.
  • Israeli media reported that the ultra-Orthodox parties understood that a proposed draft-exemption law was unlikely to pass in the Knesset, and have therefore prioritized budgetary demands. Multiple outlets said that the Haredi factions have an interest in passing the 2026 state budget and that there is no feasibility of passing the conscription law after the budget because “there simply won’t be a majority.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced the government was putting aside the conscription legislation in order to pass the budget quickly to help cover war costs. The government has also authorized about $1.6 billion in discretionary funds for Haredi institutions and other coalition priorities, drawing condemnation from the Opposition.
  • Israel’s Ministry of Transport says that all Israelis who have been stuck in the UAE will be returned to Israel by the weekend.

Global and Diplomatic Developments

  • Spain has formally withdrawn its ambassador from Israel, further downgrading diplomatic relations between the two countries. According to Spain’s official gazette, the ambassador’s post has been terminated and Spain’s embassy in Tel Aviv will now be led by a chargé d’affaires. The move follows months of strained relations and marks an escalation in Spain’s diplomatic response to Israel’s military actions.
  • Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar said that only Iranians can topple their regime, but argued they “have no chance” without outside assistance. He said Israel cannot bring down the government itself, but described an effort to create conditions enabling regime change by the Iranian people, emphasizing the weakening of repression mechanisms such as IRGC bases, headquarters, and command-and-control sites.
  • US President Donald Trump said Iran is “pretty much at the end of the line,” while also saying that “doesn’t mean we’re going to end it immediately.” He claimed “the Straits are in great shape,” referring to the Strait of Hormuz, even as Iran has largely shut it down to oil transport in retaliation for US-Israeli strikes. Asked about a report that Iran is trying to carry out an attack in California, he said it was being investigated without providing details. Trump also said US law enforcement has eyes on “all” Iranian-linked sleeper cells in the US and reiterated that the US wants to see new leadership in Iran.
  • The cost of the US war effort against Iran has surged rapidly, with a Pentagon briefing saying that the opening week alone cost more than $11.3 billion. The figure does not include many expenses tied to the military buildup preceding the strikes, meaning the total for the first week could rise significantly. Defense officials had earlier told Congress that about $5.6 billion in munitions were used in just the first two days of fighting. The Center for Strategic and International Studies estimated that the first 100 hours of Operation Epic Fury cost $3.7 billion, or more than $891 million per day, with $3.5 billion of that not previously budgeted.
  • The US Energy Department said it will release 172 million barrels of oil from the Strategic Petroleum Reserve beginning next week. The department said the release would take about 120 days to deliver based on planned discharge rates. In its statement, the agency accused Iran of manipulating and threatening the energy security of America and its allies.
  • Oil markets reacted sharply to the latest escalations in the war, with Brent crude topping $100 a barrel early Thursday after having spiked near $120 days earlier. Reports described worsening supply concerns due to Iranian attacks on commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, which carries about a fifth of the world’s crude oil under normal conditions. The International Energy Agency agreed to unlock 400 million barrels from reserves — its largest release ever.

The Region

  • Iran published a list of potential Iranian targets that included offices of US tech giants Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and Nvidia in Gulf countries and Israel. Iran said this as part of an expansion of the conflict into “infrastructure warfare,” saying Iran’s scope of targets was “gradually expanding.”
  • A major fire broke out near Bahrain International Airport after an Iranian attack. Bahrain’s Interior Ministry said fuel tanks were targeted and urged residents in surrounding neighborhoods to remain indoors and close windows and ventilation openings due to smoke. Bahrain had moved some aircraft out of the airport area earlier on Wednesday.
  • Saudi Arabia said it intercepted multiple drones, including a drone headed toward the Shaybah oilfield (the third such interception reported within a day) and also said it shot down a drone approaching a district housing foreign embassies. Using language unusual for Saudi officials, the drone incidents were described as “enemy” attempts.
  • Kuwait’s Defense Ministry also said its air defenses intercepted several drones as Iran carried out strikes on Gulf countries.
  • Explosions were reported in downtown Dubai, with a correspondent describing one as very loud and saying small clouds of smoke rose above a residential neighborhood.
  • Italy’s Foreign Minister said an Italian base in Erbil in Iraqi Kurdistan was attacked, with no injuries. He said all Italian soldiers were safe in a bunker and that he had spoken with Italy’s ambassador to Iraq. Italy has troops in Erbil training the Kurdistan security forces as part of an international coalition force.
  • Iraq said an attack on Basra port killed at least one person and forced authorities to halt operations at all the country’s oil terminals. Separate attacks on two oil tankers near Iraq saw one Indian crew member killed, and 38 rescued.
  • A Thai bulk carrier, the Mayuree Naree, was hit while transiting the Strait of Hormuz, with its owner saying three crew members were believed trapped in the engine room. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they struck the Thai-registered ship and a Liberia-flagged vessel because the ships ignored “warnings.”

Jewish Federations and Partners

Jewish Federations of North America’s Israel office has activated our emergency protocols and is in close contact with the government of Israel and our partners.

Some Jewish Federations partner updates:

The Jewish Agency for Israel

The Roaring Lion Fund continues to provide emergency financial assistance to bereaved families, the injured, and those whose homes were destroyed in coordination with local municipal welfare departments. To date, 1,115 requests for emergency grants have been received, of which 469 have already been paid, totaling approximately $600,000. This includes:

  • 16 grants for bereaved families
  • 10 grants for individuals who were injured
  • 443 grants for families whose homes were destroyed

Thirty individuals have been given temporary housing at the Ye’elim Absorption Center in Beer Sheva. This includes seniors who do not have access to safe rooms or shelters, as well as families whose homes have been damaged and are undergoing renovation.

The Jewish Agency organized emergency flights for 322 passengers enabling the safe departure of Israel Experience program participants, Federation groups, and others. Leveraging the Agency’s longstanding relationship with El Al, we were also able to secure places for 60 high school students from a North American high school on one of the scheduled rescue flights.

The Jewish Agency’s senior housing company, Amigour, has significantly scaled up its response since the start of the Operation. Over 5,000 food packages have already been distributed to elderly residents ensuring they have essential supplies without needing to leave the safety of their homes.

American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee (JDC):

  • Through its Back on Track program, JDC broadened employment rehabilitation outreach, proactively contacting current and former participants affected by renewed escalation and expanding services to Beit Shemesh, Be’er Sheva, and northern Israel for newly displaced individuals.
  • Support for displaced families has included JDC assistance for young children in evacuation hotels, with activity and movement kits and equipment provided to daycare centers serving up to 150 displaced children to help maintain routines and manage stress.
  • Nationwide resilience efforts continued as JDC delivered online training for older adults and caregivers, reaching more than 3,600 participants with guidance on physical safety, emotional wellbeing, and coping during emergencies.

Yedidim

  • Yedidim is Israel’s largest volunteer-based non-medical emergency assistance organization, providing rapid, on the ground help for incidents such as people trapped in elevators, vehicle breakdowns, and home access emergencies.
  • Jewish Federations-supported Yedidim has played a central role in safe room emergency response during Operation Roaring Lion, handling 37,880 emergency related calls. Using repair kits funded through Federation support, volunteers repaired doors and windows in 6,305 safe rooms and rescued residents from 1,143 safe rooms where jammed doors left people trapped inside during alerts.
  • Prior Federation investment strengthened Yedidim’s large scale emergency readiness, including upgrades to volunteer management technology and the distribution of specialized safe room repair kits. These preparations enabled rapid dispatch of volunteers and sustained response capacity during periods of repeated sirens and widespread residential disruptions.

See Jewish Federations’ Joint Security Guidance for Jewish Institutions Following Strikes on Iran.

Jewish Federations continue to monitor the situation on the ground very closely and will report as needed.