Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has approved the state budget for the 2026 fiscal year, allocating a record amount to the defense sector. The budget, totaling 850.6 billion shekels (around 271 billion dollars), passed early Monday by a vote of 62 to 55, according to The Times of Israel. The Defense Ministry will receive approximately 458 billion shekels, marking the largest defense allocation in the country’s history. Passing the budget before the Tuesday deadline also prevented an automatic early election that would have been triggered by a delay.

Following the approval, opposition leader Yair Lapid sharply criticized the budget, calling it “the biggest theft in the country’s history.” In a post on social media platform X, he accused the government of taking money from reservists and hardworking citizens and handing it to corrupt individuals and those avoiding military service.

The record defense spending and the opposition’s strong reaction highlight deep political divisions over fiscal priorities and governance in Israel.

Middle East researcher Mohammad Elmasry has said that Israel is preparing for long-term wars across several countries despite becoming increasingly isolated in the region. In an interview with Al Jazeera, the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies professor noted that Israel’s latest national budget stands at 271 billion dollars, the highest in its history, reflecting an intention to sustain multiple military campaigns.

Elmasry explained that the United States historically provides Israel with 3.8 billion dollars in annual military aid, which increases during wartime. However, he observed that political dynamics in the U.S. are shifting, with more Americans criticizing both Israel and Washington’s support for it. He suggested that Israel’s new budget signals it does not see itself near the end of any conflict but rather in the middle or early stages.

According to Elmasry, Israel appears to be preparing for a series of prolonged or sequential wars aimed at realizing its vision of a “Greater Israel,” potentially involving Syria, Lebanon, Palestinian territories, and Iran.

An Iranian missile attack has caused a fire at an oil refinery in the Israeli port city of Haifa, according to Israeli media reports. The incident occurred as Iran’s confrontation with the United States and Israel entered its second month. The refinery, identified as the Bazan facility in northern Israel, caught fire following the strike.

Reports also noted that the same location had been targeted earlier on March 19. The renewed attack underscores the continuing cycle of strikes and counterstrikes between Iran and Israel, which have intensified in recent weeks. The reports did not mention any casualties or the extent of the damage caused by the fire.

The ongoing hostilities reflect a deepening regional conflict, with both sides engaging in repeated military actions. Further developments are expected as the situation remains volatile and unresolved.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an expansion of military operations in southern Lebanon. In a video statement from the Northern Command, he said the decision was made in response to continuous rocket attacks by Hezbollah and increasing security risks along the border. Netanyahu stated that he had instructed the expansion of the existing security buffer zone and expressed determination to fundamentally change the situation in the north.

According to the report, this move aligns with Israel’s declared effort to replicate the so-called “Gaza model” of control. However, it remains unclear whether the new directive will involve advancing beyond the current boundary or merely strengthening positions within the existing area.

The announcement underscores escalating tensions along the Israel-Lebanon frontier, with uncertainty over the scope and impact of the planned military expansion.

Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, has approved the 2026 national budget while the country remains engaged in war with Iran. The total budget amounts to about 245 billion dollars, with more than 45 billion dollars allocated to the military sector. This represents an increase of over 10 billion dollars compared to the previous year.

The new defense allocation is more than double that of the 2023 budget, which had been passed in February before the outbreak of the Gaza war that year. Ahead of the vote, Israel’s far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich described the moment as a “historic turning point” for the country.

The expanded military funding underscores Israel’s heightened defense priorities amid ongoing regional conflict, reflecting a significant shift in national spending priorities.

Israel has stated that no hazardous materials were released from a factory damaged in an Iranian missile strike. The attack took place on Sunday in the Neot Hovav industrial area near Beersheba. According to Israel’s Environmental Protection Minister Idit Silman, the site was thoroughly inspected and no substances posing a risk to human life were found.

Following the inspection, authorities decided to reopen nearby roads and resume operations in the area. Earlier, residents had been advised to stay indoors due to fears that dangerous chemicals might have spread after the strike.

The Times of Israel reported that eleven people were injured in the industrial zone attack, citing Al Jazeera as the source.

Authorities in Israel have warned of a potential chemical leak following an Iranian attack on the Neot Hovav industrial zone near Beersheba. The incident occurred on March 29, 2026, and residents living close to the area were instructed to stay indoors as a precaution. Emergency services confirmed that one person was injured in the attack.

The Neot Hovav industrial zone is located about four miles from the southern Israeli city of Beersheba and houses facilities containing hazardous materials. Israeli media reported that residents were told to keep their windows closed due to fears that dangerous substances from the affected factory could spread into nearby areas.

The warning follows heightened regional tensions, with Iranian and Israeli military actions reported in recent days. Authorities are continuing to monitor the situation to prevent further risks to public safety.

Israel has started rationing the use of its most advanced missile-defense interceptors as Iranian missile attacks continue almost daily for four weeks. The decision comes amid concerns over dwindling stockpiles of these high-tech weapons, which are crucial for defending against ballistic threats. Recent Iranian strikes directly hit the cities of Dimona and Arad, where Israel’s attempt to counter the attacks with less powerful defense systems failed.

Missile strikes continued across Israel on Thursday, causing widespread alarm among residents. The ongoing exchanges follow a period of intensified hostilities between Iran and the joint U.S.-Israeli military operations. The sustained barrage has forced Israel to conserve its interceptor reserves while maintaining national defense readiness.

The situation highlights the growing pressure on Israel’s defense infrastructure as it faces persistent missile threats and limited interceptor supplies, raising concerns about the country’s ability to sustain prolonged defense operations if the attacks continue.

Multiple explosions and missile alerts were reported across Israel on March 29, 2026, following successive missile attacks launched from Iran and Hezbollah. According to Al Jazeera, debris from intercepted missiles caused damage in the Haifa Bay area. Israeli media reported that Hezbollah’s rockets struck northern Israel and the Galilee region, triggering sirens in more than 100 cities.

The Israeli military confirmed that waves of ballistic missiles from Iran were detected, prompting precautionary sirens in Tel Aviv, Jerusalem, Ashdod, and other locations. Debris from intercepted missiles reportedly fell in Haifa, leading to material damage in the bay area, as reported by Israeli radio.

The situation highlights escalating hostilities involving Iran, Hezbollah, and Israel, with widespread alerts and localized damage across northern and central Israel.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels have claimed responsibility for a second round of attacks on Israeli territory. According to Yahya Sari, spokesperson for the group’s military wing, the strikes targeted southern Israel on Saturday using cruise missiles and drones. He said several key military installations were hit during the operation.

The Israeli military confirmed detecting a missile launched from Yemen toward its territory and stated that air defense systems were active in response. This marks the first official acknowledgment of an attack from Yemen since the conflict involving Iran, the United States, and Israel entered its second month. The Houthis later said they had fired ballistic missiles at Israeli military sites in the occupied West Bank, describing the action as retaliation for Israeli strikes in Lebanon, Iran, and Palestine.

Sari warned that if other parties join the war against Iran and its allies, the Houthis are prepared to expand their military operations.

Israeli Army Chief of Staff Yaal Zamir has warned that the country's military faces a serious risk of internal collapse due to severe troop shortages and the strain of ongoing conflicts on multiple fronts. Speaking at a recent security cabinet meeting, Zamir said the army is under extreme pressure from battles against Iran and Hezbollah, as well as operations in Gaza, Lebanon, Syria, and the West Bank.

According to a report by Yedioth Ahronoth, Zamir cautioned that reserve forces cannot sustain the current level of pressure for much longer. He criticized the government for failing to address structural issues such as the recruitment of ultra-Orthodox Jews, amendments to the reserve law, and the extension of mandatory service. Zamir emphasized that the army is already overstretched, with rising violence in the West Bank forcing additional deployments.

He further warned that without urgent legislative action, the military could soon be unable to fulfill its duties even under normal conditions, potentially leading to a severe decline in Israel’s overall military readiness.

Hezbollah has intensified attacks on northern Israel, destroying several settlements including Misgav Am, Teshuba, and Gad. The mayor of Margaliot broke down in tears while describing the devastation. On Wednesday, local council heads met government officials via Zoom to discuss the worsening situation, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu urging them to prevent residents from leaving their areas.

During the meeting, Mayor Avichai Stern accused the government of failing to support border communities, saying Israeli homes and infrastructure had turned into ruins. He criticized Netanyahu’s government as a major failure, urging immediate action or acknowledgment of its inability to manage the crisis.

Meanwhile, Hezbollah claimed to have carried out 82 operations against Israeli forces in the past 24 hours, destroying two Israeli tanks. Fierce ground battles continue in southern Lebanon, particularly around Qantara and Miniara, where both sides are engaged in intense fighting.

An Iranian missile attack on Israel on Friday killed one person and injured several others, according to Israeli emergency services. The Magen David Adom (MDA) reported that the latest strike hit Tel Aviv, killing one man and injuring two others aged 65 and 50. In southern Israel’s Kuseife, two more people aged 37 and 21 were wounded by shrapnel. Air raid sirens sounded in Jerusalem following the attack, and emergency teams were deployed across central Israel.

The Israeli military confirmed that missiles were launched from Iran and said defense systems were activated to counter the threat. A military officer reported that a residential apartment was struck by cluster munitions, a type of weapon that disperses smaller explosives over a wide area. Both Iran and Israel have previously accused each other of using such weapons. Witnesses and AFP correspondents reported explosions heard from Jericho in the occupied West Bank and sirens in Jerusalem.

Iran’s foreign minister Abbas Araghchi earlier warned that Israel would pay a “heavy price” after attacks on two major Iranian steel plants and a nuclear facility.

Iran carried out a retaliatory attack following Israeli strikes on its nuclear and power facilities, according to reports on March 28, 2026. The assault caused widespread damage in several areas, including Tel Aviv, where one person was confirmed dead. Israel’s Broadcasting Authority reported that debris from Iranian rockets fell in at least 11 locations across the greater Tel Aviv area. Israel’s Home Front Command said emergency teams were deployed for rescue and relief operations.

Israel’s Channel 14 confirmed that one person was killed in Tel Aviv, while the Magen David Adom ambulance service stated on social media that a man around 60 years old was pronounced dead at the scene. Two others were injured in central Israel. Air raid sirens were activated across multiple regions, including the Negev Desert, Dimona, Beersheba, Arad, and Ashkelon.

The Iranian strike followed Israel’s earlier attacks on two nuclear facilities and two major steel plants in Iran, after which Tehran had vowed a “harsh response.”

Israeli forces prevented Palestinians from performing Friday prayers on Salah al-Din Street in occupied Jerusalem, according to a report by Wafa News Agency. Local sources said the forces entered the area and gave several dozen worshippers and an imam only three minutes to leave their prayer spots before forcibly dispersing them.

The incident occurred amid the continued closure of the Al-Aqsa Mosque, which has remained shut for the past 28 days. The closure has affected worshippers who typically gather there for prayers, leading some to attempt to pray in nearby streets such as Salah al-Din.

The report did not specify whether any arrests or injuries occurred during the dispersal, and no official comment from Israeli authorities was mentioned.