VFI News Operation Roaring Lion Enters Third Day; Iran Retaliates with Deadly Strikes on Israel

The third day of Operation Roaring Lion sees intense developments as Iran retaliates with missile strikes on Israel. From Beit Shemesh to Jerusalem, civilians face danger while the IDF mobilizes 160,000 reservists and carries out airstrikes across Iran. Discover the latest updates, witness the resilience of the Israeli people, and join in prayer for peace.

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At least nine people were killed and 51 wounded on Sunday, March 1, when an Iranian ballistic missile scored a direct hit on a residential shelter in Beit Shemesh, marking the deadliest single incident since the start of Operation Roaring Lion. Police confirmed that 11 people remained unaccounted for at the scene as search and rescue teams continued to comb through the rubble. The blast and shockwave almost completely destroyed eight homes in the residential compound.

Four of those killed were believed to have been inside the shelter when its roof collapsed, while others were in adjacent homes. Of the wounded, two were in serious condition and four in moderate condition, with the remainder sustaining light injuries. Magen David Adom evacuated the wounded to Hadassah Ein Kerem, Hadassah Mount Scopus, Shaare Zedek, and Shamir Assaf Harofeh hospitals. Hadassah Medical Center confirmed that 13 patients were taken to Ein Kerem, including three children, with one adult woman listed in serious but stable condition.

IDF spokesperson Lt. Col. Nadav Shoshani accused the Iranian regime of deliberately targeting civilians, stating that this has been their strategy since the beginning of the operation. The IDF said preliminary findings indicate that early warning alerts functioned properly in Beit Shemesh and that the circumstances of the impact remain under investigation. Police Commissioner Danny Levy, speaking from the scene, said explosives experts were working to determine the size of the missile and the type of warhead used, describing the site as very complex and likely requiring work through the night.

(YNN/VFI News)

“Heavenly Father, we lift up the families of the victims killed in Beit Shemesh and all those still missing. Comfort the bereaved, heal the wounded, and strengthen the rescue workers tirelessly searching the rubble. We ask that You shelter Your people under Your wings and protect every civilian from the missiles of the enemy. Surround this nation with Your angels and let Your peace reign. In Yeshua’s Name we pray.”

The warhead of an Iranian ballistic missile struck a site just several dozen meters from the Old City of Jerusalem and only several hundred meters from the Western Wall and the Temple Mount on Saturday, February 28, Israeli police announced on Sunday, March 1. An explosion was heard, and smoke was seen rising from just west of the Old City shortly after the beginning of Operation Roaring Lion. The impact site was identified as the Sultan’s Pool outdoor events venue, located just under a kilometer west of the Temple Mount.

Police sappers from the Jerusalem District neutralized the warhead at the scene. The Old City of Jerusalem is home to some of the most important holy sites in the world, including the Western Wall and the Temple Mount — the holiest sites in Judaism — as well as the Al-Aqsa Mosque, one of the holiest sites in Islam, and the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, believed by Christians to be the site of the crucifixion of Jesus. Magen David Adom confirmed that three people were wounded, including a 46-year-old man moderately hurt by shrapnel and two others lightly injured.

Police commander Dvir Tamir warned that the near-miss proved that all targets are legitimate from the enemy’s perspective. Had the warhead deviated by a few hundred meters, he said, a very serious hit could have occurred — particularly if one of the holy places had been struck while full of worshipers and visitors. The incident underscored the indiscriminate nature of Iran’s retaliatory missile barrages, which have struck residential and sacred areas throughout central Israel.

(TOI/VFI News)

“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” – Psalm 18:2

On the second day of Operation Roaring Lion, the IDF announced on Sunday night, March 1, that it had dropped 2,000 bombs on Iran since the opening strikes on Saturday morning. The Israel Air Force said the pace was so rapid it matched the rate of bombing during the six-day Operation Rising Lion in June 2025, helping achieve air superiority over Tehran much more quickly. Part of the urgency reflected the recognition that US President Donald Trump could end the operation sooner than he did in June 2025.

A major goal of the operation is to carry out a comprehensive dismantling of every aspect of the Islamic Republic’s ballistic missile apparatus. Israel was disappointed that after reducing Iran’s missile stockpile from around 3,000 in June 2025 to approximately 1,300, Tehran managed to rebuild to about 2,500 missiles in only eight months. The air force stated the aim this time is to target not only the central factories that build missiles but also all the raw materials needed to develop them, setting Iran back much further and for a much longer period.

In addition, the IDF struck dozens of Iranian regime headquarters used to oppress protesters, including the Interior Ministry headquarters and the Tharallah headquarters in Tehran. Two Iranian fighter jets — an F-4 and an F-5 — were destroyed on the runway at Tabriz airport as they prepared for takeoff. By late Sunday, the IDF and the US Air Force were close to achieving full air supremacy over Iranian airspace, exponentially increasing the range and volume of targets they could strike.

(JPost/VFI News)

The Lebanese terror group Hezbollah fired rockets at northern Israel on Sunday, March 1, breaking the ceasefire that had held since November 2024 and declaring the attacks were revenge for the killing of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. The rocket barrage marked the first Hezbollah attack on Israel in months, raising fears of a widening multi-front conflict as Operation Roaring Lion continued into its third day on Monday. No injuries or damage were reported in Israel from the initial salvo.

The IDF responded swiftly with airstrikes on targets in Beirut’s southern suburb of Dahiyeh, signaling that Israel would not tolerate Hezbollah’s re-entry into hostilities. Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam condemned the rocket attacks as an irresponsible act and rejected the prospect of Lebanon being dragged into a wider war. The IDF warned that Hezbollah was destroying Lebanon by breaking the ceasefire agreement, and Israeli strikes continued into Monday.

Meanwhile, funerals were held in Beit Shemesh today for victims of Sunday’s deadly Iranian missile strike, with mourners forced to take cover in shelters as sirens sounded during the services. Elsewhere in Israel, 19 people were wounded in a missile impact in Beersheba, and the Israeli Air Force continued bombing dozens of targets in Tehran. U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, speaking at a Pentagon briefing on Monday, pushed back on the notion that the campaign would become an endless conflict, insisting the operation has clear and achievable objectives.

(TOI/VFI News)

“He who dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” – Psalm 91:1

Purim is one of the most joyous holidays on the Jewish calendar. It commemorates a time when the Jewish people living in Persia were saved from extermination. The story of Purim is recounted in the Book of Esther, whose eponymous heroine plays the leading role in saving her people. Explore the powerful significance of the holiday with VFI founder, Barry Segal.

Purim 2026 begins at sundown today, Monday, March 2, and ends at nightfall on Tuesday, March 3. We wish all of you a happy and joyful Purim!

The Israel Defense Forces mobilized approximately 160,000 reservists in recent days, primarily to reinforce the Air Force, border defense units, and Home Front Command, it was announced on Saturday, February 28. The military is also preparing for the possibility of incoming fire from Yemen and Iraq in light of the planned continuation of strikes on Iran. The IDF Operations Directorate initiated a broad reinforcement of ground forces across all sectors and regional commands.

The reinforcements include the deployment of special forces and a large-scale reservist call-up to strengthen readiness for a range of offensive and defensive scenarios. Significant additional forces are being directed to the Air and Naval Forces, along with an increase in available firepower systems. A senior military official described the campaign as a joint and unprecedented operation with the United States aimed at inflicting substantial damage on Iran’s leadership and neutralizing existential threats.

Intelligence assessments in recent months indicated that Iran possesses more than 2,000 ballistic missiles and continues to produce them in significant numbers. Israeli security officials also identified renewed efforts to conceal and fortify elements of Iran’s nuclear program, particularly through underground facilities. In parallel with the air campaign, the IDF plans to mobilize an additional 50,000 reservists, a number that could increase by tens of thousands more depending on developments on the ground.

(INN/VFI News)

“Dear Lord, we lift up the reservists who have left their families to defend the nation of Israel. Give them strength, courage, and wisdom in every assignment. Protect them on every front and bring them home safely to their loved ones. We pray for the military leadership to make wise decisions and for this operation to achieve its goals swiftly and with minimal loss of life. In Yeshua’s Name we pray.”

President Isaac Herzog visited the scene of an Iranian missile impact in Tel Aviv on Sunday, March 1, delivering remarks to the people of Israel and the broader Middle East. Speaking to international media at the site, Herzog urged the nation to stay strong, calling Operation Roaring Lion a historic effort to change the trajectory in the Middle East toward a future of peace.

Herzog sharply criticized Iran’s late Supreme Leader, accusing him of investing his nation’s resources in terror rather than the welfare of his citizens. Israel has been confronted by an empire of evil for a generation, Herzog said, adding that Ali Khamenei spent decades directing his people’s resources toward terror, bloodshed, pain, and horror. He emphasized that Israel is not acting alone, noting the support of the United States and other allies in confronting Iranian aggression.

Despite the ongoing hostilities, Herzog stressed that peace between the peoples of Israel and Iran remains possible. The people of Israel and the people of Iran can live in peace, he said, but terror instigated by the evil Iranian regime has continually undermined that goal. He concluded with a message of confidence, declaring that the people and armies of Israel, America, and their allies shall overcome and bring a new era to the Middle East and Iran.

(INN/VFI News)

“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11

Hundreds of Israelis and Iranian expatriates took to the streets of Golders Green in north London on Saturday night, February 28, to celebrate the elimination of Iran’s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei in a joint US-Israeli airstrike. Videos from the massive street party showed local Jews and Iranians dancing together, chanting Iranian protest songs and “Am Yisrael Chai,” and waving Israeli, American, and pre-revolution Iranian flags bearing the lion-and-sun emblem.

The celebration erupted shortly after reports emerged that Khamenei had been killed, even before Iranian state media confirmed the death. Cars draped in flags drove through the neighborhood blaring music and honking their horns, while pedestrians sang and cheered. The Iranian protesters also chose to play the Israeli national anthem, “Hatikva,” in a display of solidarity that locals described as deeply moving and “really incredible.”

In recent years, especially since the 2022 protests in Iran following the death of Mahsa Amini, Iranian dissidents and Jewish Brits have frequently stood side by side at rallies in London, calling out extremism and supporting human rights. After the October 7 attacks, many Iranian protesters publicly expressed sympathy with Israeli victims and opposition to the regime’s backing of Hamas. Similar celebrations were reported outside the Iranian Embassy in central London, in Times Square in New York, and in cities across the United States.

(NYP/VFI News)

“Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!” – Psalm 133:1

With the outbreak of Operation Roaring Lion coinciding with the Jewish holiday of Purim — a festival commemorating deliverance from an ancient Persian plot to destroy the Jewish people — Israelis across the country moved their celebrations underground rather than cancel them. Communities organized Megillah readings, mishloach manot distributions, and festive meals inside bomb shelters and reinforced spaces, carrying out the holiday’s commandments even while the country was under fire.

In Tel Aviv, a planned mass mishloach manot packaging event was canceled due to Home Front Command instructions banning public gatherings. Instead, hundreds of people sent donations, and thousands of items were purchased for distribution. Rabbi Joe Wolfson of North Central Synagogue expressed pride in those who braved sirens and stress to assemble hundreds of Purim gift packages. A separate initiative called “Miklat Open Fest” helped Tel Avivians find or host Purim celebrations inside neighborhood shelters throughout the city.

Israel’s Chief Rabbinate provided guidelines for observing Purim during wartime, stating that joy and caution are not contradictory and that adherence to security measures is inseparable from the sacred work of these days. If sirens sounded during Megillah readings, congregations were instructed to proceed quietly to safe rooms and continue reading there. The parallels between Purim’s ancient story of deliverance from Persia and the current conflict with Iran were not lost on the nation.

(JPost/VFI News)

“Our Heavenly Father, we thank You for the spirit of resilience and faith that fills Your people Israel during these difficult days. Just as You delivered us from the hand of Haman in ancient Persia, we trust You to deliver us from the threats of modern-day enemies. Bless the families celebrating Purim in shelters and turn their mourning into joy. May this season of Purim remind the world that You are faithful and Your promises endure forever. In Yeshua’s Name we pray.”

The suggestions, opinions, and scripture references made by VFI News writers and editors are based on the best information received.

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