HEADLINES
Israel Concedes Limits in Hezbollah War
Navy Stages High-Risk Naqoura Entry
Trump Announces 10-Day Israel Ceasefire

The time is now 1:05 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel has signaled that it cannot eliminate Hezbollah purely through force, with top IDF commanders noting a cap on what military action can achieve. Across the current rounds, Israel destroyed about 70-80% of Hezbollah’s 150,000-rocket arsenal in fall 2024, leaving roughly 20-30% and even the assassination of Hezbollah’s chief Hassan Nasrallah cited in some accounts; in this war, Hezbollah has been reduced to around 10% of its pre-2023 strength. The IDF had controlled much of southern Lebanon in fall 2024, withdrew to five border outposts in February 2025, and has since retaken all of southern Lebanon, evacuating many Shiites and signaling it will not rush to withdraw if Hezbollah persists. Hezbollah has delivered significant blows in the north and across the country during 2023-2024, but the current campaign underscores limits on eradicating Hezbollah by military means alone. On the maritime front, Israel’s Navy has expanded high-risk operations, including joint efforts with Mossad and Shin Bet. Shayetet 13 conducted a sea entry into Naqoura, Lebanon—the first such operation there since 2000—as part of a broader shift in posture following the October 7 attacks. The Navy described other behind-enemy-line missions, including five operators sent thousands of kilometers from Israel with no immediate rescue plan, and additional operations in new theaters. In ongoing tallies, the Navy says it has logged over 1,000 naval combat soldiers at sea and more than 26,000 hours at sea in 47 days of the current Iran-Hezbollah clash, having undertaken or supported 154 attacks. Of those, 95 targeted Iran, with 68 conducted by US forces but grounded in Israeli naval intelligence, while 27 attacks were conducted solely by Israeli naval intelligence with air-force involvement. The Navy has also struck 53 targets in Lebanon and six in Gaza, focusing on senior operatives and other high-value targets. A separate note references a Jerusalem Post roundup about Iran stockpiles and related concerns, reflecting ongoing regional tensions.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump announced a 10-day ceasefire starting at midnight, saying both sides want peace. He said the IDF would maintain its positions in southern Lebanon during the truce, and he invited Lebanese President Aoun and Prime Minister Netanyahu to the White House for direct talks—the first such prospective meeting since 1983. Israeli officials indicated the security cabinet did not vote on the ceasefire in the meeting, and ministers learned of it from media reports after the session; Netanyahu reportedly said Trump requested the ceasefire and that Israel agreed. Lebanon’s prime minister welcomed the agreement. Separately, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth used biblical language at a Pentagon briefing to criticize media coverage of the US-Israel war, likening reporters to Pharisees in a sermon-like comparison and arguing the press has challenged the administration’s approach to the conflict.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, former IDF chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot, head of the Yashar! party, unveiled an aliyah plan aiming to bring two million olim by 2048, Israel’s 100th anniversary, by cutting bureaucracy and expanding incentives. The plan, developed with input from hi-tech and academic experts, seeks to improve conditions for olim and returning residents and includes creating a family “one-stop shop” to coordinate licensing, employment assistance, and community integration in one location. The proposal has boosted Eisenkot’s visibility, with his party rising as a top contender in polls challenging Prime Minister Netanyahu’s Likud ahead of elections due no later than October. The plan emphasizes reducing red tape and facilitating immigration and integration. In Umm al-Khair near Hebron, settlers erected barbed wire across a valley path used by Palestinian children to reach their school, blocking their route to the village center. Khalil Hathaleen, head of the village council, said the barrier forced children to take a dangerous alternative route. B’Tselem says the barbed wire is part of a coordinated settler campaign to intimidate Palestinians and push them off their land. Classes had been suspended at the start of the Iran war, with debris from intercepted missiles periodically landing near the village.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-893296
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-893279
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-893282
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-893278
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-893291
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20335
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/hegseth-invokes-bible-compare-reporters-enemies-jesus
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-893289
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-893285