In first, IDF Haredi brigade joins fight vs Hezbollah in Lebanon | Iran threatens Israel & Gulf power plants | CENTCOM chief: Iranian military in ‘state of desperation’
10:52 - For the first time: Soldiers of the Haredi 'Hasmonean' Brigade operate in Lebanon
Soldiers of the IDF's Hasmonean Brigade, the first ultra-orthodox (Haredi) brigade in the army, has been operating in recent weeks in southern Lebanon for the first time, the IDF revealed.
The brigade has been carrying out targeted raids in several areas as part of the "forward defense" effort under the command of the “Baram” 300th Regional Brigade, the IDF said.
"The soldiers, who have taken part in operational activities in Syria, the Judea and Samaria Division, and the Gaza Strip—and are now operating in Lebanon for the first time—yesterday (Sunday) began the first cycle of the brigade’s officers’ course, which will take place at the Hasmonean Brigade’s training base," the military stated.
Brigade commander, Colonel “Shin”, said: “The Hasmonean Brigade will continue to act with bravery in every arena where it is required. Alongside operational activity, we will continue training the next generation of Haredi commanders who will lead the brigade forward. This is another milestone for the brigade, which will continue to operate on the front lines while preserving the Haredi lifestyle of its soldiers.”
🚨 FIRST DEPLOYMENT: HAREDI IDF UNIT ENTERS LEBANON
— Mossad Commentary (@MOSSADil) March 23, 2026
For the first time, fighters from the IDF’s Hasmonean Brigade, a Haredi combat unit, have been operating in southern Lebanon in recent weeks.
The unit is conducting targeted raids under the 300th Brigade as part of Israel’s… pic.twitter.com/fFo2PuN40a
10:31 - Iran threatens to mine Gulf coast & Hormuz Strait if attacked by ground troops
Iran’s Defense Council warned it would block the entire Persian Gulf as well as the Hormuz Strait if its coasts or islands will be attacked by ground troops, after reports that the U.S. military is considering such a step.
“The only way to pass through the Strait of Hormuz for non-belligerent countries is coordination with Iran,” the semi-official Fars News cited the statement.
“Any enemy attempt to attack Iranian coasts or islands” will lead to “all access routes and communication lines in the Persian Gulf and coasts being mined with various naval mines,” the Defense Council said.
“The entire Persian Gulf will effectively be blocked, and the responsibility for this will lie with the threatener,” it added.
10:01 - British PM Starmer condemns 'deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack'
British Prime Minister Keir Starmer sharply condemned the torching of Jewish community ambulances at a synagogue in London's Golders Green overnight.
"This is a deeply shocking antisemitic arson attack. My thoughts are with the Jewish community who are waking up this morning to this horrific news. Antisemitism has no place in our society. Anyone with any information must come forward to the police," he wrote on X.
An arson attack on four ambulances belonging to a Jewish Community Ambulance service in north London is being treated as an "antisemitic hate crime".
— BBC Breakfast (@BBCBreakfast) March 23, 2026
Greg McKenzie had the latest from Golders Green on #BBCBreakfast https://t.co/Mh9QVNh8eM pic.twitter.com/tSzUhVKODa
09:44 - Five children, one adult still in serious condition after Arad missile attack
Five children and one adult who were injured in the Iranian strike in Arad are still hospitalized in serious condition, according to Soroka Medical Center in Beersheva.
Meanwhile, the condition of the 12-year-old boy seriously wounded in Dimona on Saturday has improved, and he was transferred from the pediatric intensive care unit to the surgical department.
Soroka is still treating four other children and seven adults who are in moderate and good condition after the same strikes.
A total of 4,713 Israelis were evacuated to hospitals since the start of the war, the Health Ministry said.
Iranian missiles hit residential complexes in Arad and Dimona, cities in the south of Israel. Many dozens of victims. This is documentation from Arad. pic.twitter.com/fvAAos0uin
— Mike (@Doranimated) March 21, 2026
08:40 - Iranian media post list of Gulf power sites to be targeted, includes UAE nuclear power plant
After Iran threatened to attack power plants across the Middle East, several news outlets published a list of potential targets, which included the United Arab Emirates’ nuclear power plant.
A report by Fars news agency, affilliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), listed several sites, including desalination plants in the Middle East. The list also included the UAE’s Barakah nuclear power plant, which has four reactors near the border with Saudi Arabia.
Iran’s Fars News Agency releases footage of Persian Gulf energy sites Tehran says it will strike if its power plants are attacked. pic.twitter.com/EBQI7RGghK
— Open Source Intel (@Osint613) March 23, 2026
07:15 - Iran threatens to target power plants in Israel and Gulf states
Iran warned it would strike energy and water infrastructure in Israel and across the Gulf if U.S. President Donald Trump carries out his threat to attack power plants in the country.
“If Iran’s fuel and energy infrastructure is attacked by the enemy, all energy infrastructure, as well as information technology...and water desalination facilities, belonging to the U.S. and the regime in the region will be targeted pursuant to previous warnings,” Iranian military spokesman Ebrahim Zolfaqari said, according to state media.
On Saturday evening, President Trump set a 48-hour deadline, warning that the United States would strike Iran’s power plants unless Tehran fully reopened the Strait of Hormuz.
06:30 - 4 Ambulances of volunteer Jewish EMS organization set ablaze in London
Masked arsonists set fire to several Hatzolah ambulances outside the Machzike Hadath Synagogue in Golders Green, a largely Jewish neighborhood in northwest London.
UK police say the incident is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.
“An investigation has been launched after four ambulances belonging to the Jewish Community Ambulance service were set on fire in Golders Green,” Metropolitan Police say in a statement. “Officers remain on scene and the arson attack is being treated as an antisemitic hate crime.”
Hatzolah ambulances up in flames in Golders Green, London in a suspected arson attack. Reports of hooded men seen fleeing the scene. pic.twitter.com/Ht6hj0cePp
— KolHaolam (@KolHaolam) March 23, 2026
05:20 - CENTCOM Chief Cooper says Iranian military in ‘state of desperation’
In an interview with Iran International, Central Command chief Admiral Brad Cooper said the Iranian military is “acting in a state of desperation.”
He based this perception on the pattern of attacks and a noticeable decrease in the volume of the Islamic Republic's fire, as well as the almost complete lack of air defense and naval activity.
"My overall assessment is that we are on track to achieve our main military objectives as planned," Cooper said.
04:45 - International Energy Agency says 40 energy facilities in Middle East have been severely damaged
International Energy Agency (IEA) Director General Fatih Birol, warned that the global economy is under “major threat” from the energy crisis caused by the Iran war, and said that "at least 40… energy assets in the region are severely or very severely damaged across nine countries.”
This comes as U.S. President Donald Trump threatened to target Iranian power plants if the Strait of Hormuz is not fully opened to shipping traffic.
02:30 - New restrictions in outbound flights from Ben Gurion International Airport
Starting Monday afternoon, new restrictions on flights from Ben Gurion International Airport will start, limiting the number of flights and passengers, Transportation Minister Miri Regev announced.
Under the new restrictions, only 50 passengers will be allowed on each flight, down from the current limit of 120. Additionally, only one flight per hour will be allowed for both take off and landing.
The new restrictions come after Iranian ballistic missiles targeted central and southern Israel over the weekend, with multiple impacts and people injured.
00:15 - IDF and Police arrest 5 Israelis after responding to reports of settler violence
IDF troops, Israel police, and Border Police responded to reports of violent attacks, including arson and disturbance of public order, near the village of Deir al-Hatab in Samaria Sunday.
The forces searched a suspicious vehicle near the town, discovering assault weapons. Border Police arrested five Israeli citizens involved in the incident who were taken for questioning.
מספר רכבים ומבנים הוצתו בכפר דיר חטב באזור שכם. הסהר האדום דיווח עד כה על שני פצועים. יש גם דיווחים על יידוי אבנים של מתנחלים מוקדם יותר בצפון בקעת הירדן. לצערי יש סיכוי סביר שזה עוד ימשך הערב. https://t.co/eQ9FWQckSy pic.twitter.com/wjIlkHccMj
— Nurit Yohanan (@nurityohanan) March 22, 2026
In another incident that occurred in the Itamar area, several Israelis assaulted security forces working to restore order. A police officer was injured and damage was caused to a security forces vehicle during this confrontation.
As a result of these incidents, several Palestinians were injured and evacuated for medical treatment.
The All Israel News Staff is a team of journalists in Israel.
