HEADLINES
Iran mines Hormuz, U.S. tightens blockade
Lebanon drags Israel deeper into conflict
IDF neutralizes six Hezbollah near Bint Jbeil

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Iran continuing to lay mines in Strait of Hormuz, US official says. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has placed additional mines in the Strait of Hormuz this week, according to Axios citing a US official and another knowledgeable source. Experts estimate the total number is fewer than 100, but a US official declined to provide a precise figure. President Donald Trump has said the Navy should “shoot and kill any boat, small boats though they may be, that is putting mines in the waters of the Strait of Hormuz,” and he noted that mine sweepers are clearing the channel and that activity should be intensified. The operation, described by the administration as Economic Fury, has involved intercepting and seizing ships tied to efforts to break the blockade or support the IRGC. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced the operation at a Pentagon briefing earlier in May, and General Dan Caine said the United States is enforcing a blockade of the Strait.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Inside the vortex: Why Israel keeps getting dragged into the Lebanese mud. Lebanon has long been a pivotal and persistent factor for Israel’s security, with the region shaping events for decades and memories of past conflicts lingering in service memories and national discourse. The piece reflects on how Lebanon has repeatedly drawn Israel into military and political entanglements, a dynamic that remains part of the security calculus as regional tensions persist. The commentary also notes how memory and leadership history influence current perspectives on regional risk and threat assessment.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF: New footage from the encounter of the IDF soldiers with six armed Hezbollah terrorists in Bint Jbeil Earlier today, IDF soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade, under the 98th Division, identified and eliminated six armed Hezbollah terrorists who operated from a military structure in the area of Bint Jbeil. The firefight led to the neutralization of the terrorists, with no IDF injuries reported. Additional details described an exchange of fire and a subsequent strike on the structure used by the militants.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, בינת ג'בייל: שישה מחבלים חוסלו ע"י כוחות צה"ל. Six Hezbollah operatives were killed in the Bint Jbeil area of southern Lebanon as Israeli forces targeted a militant structure following identification and engagement operations. The incident aligns with ongoing exchanges along the border region as tensions with Hezbollah remain high. Reports also note Iran’s messaging to the region amid these dynamics, with broader regional implications for security and deterrence.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Earlier today, IDF soldiers of the Paratroopers Brigade under the command of the 98th Division identified and eliminated six armed Hezbollah terrorists who operated in Bint Jbeil, south of the Forward Defense Line in southern Lebanon. Following the identification, an exchange of fire began, during which two terrorists were killed. The soldiers then struck the structure from which the terrorists operated, and four additional terrorists were eliminated in the strike. No IDF injuries were reported. This sequence reinforces the persistently active threat along the border and the Israeli response to Hezbollah’s operations.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, A reminder: In the previous ceasefire with Hezbollah - approved on November 26, 2024, and taking effect on November 27 - the Biden administration demanded an Israeli withdrawal to just five points in southern Lebanon. The current ceasefire, announced on April 17, 2026, under the Trump administration, allows Israel to remain wherever it is and to begin direct talks with Lebanon on a peace deal. Peace through strength.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Following an evacuation warning issued earlier today, the Israeli Army struck terrorist infrastructure - Hezbollah military buildings - in the village of Deir Aames, located north of the Front Defense Line in southern Lebanon, from which rockets were fired last night toward Israel. The IDF also struck other terrorist targets across southern Lebanon in Taybe, Bint Jbeil, Yater and additional locations.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump is sending Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner to Pakistan for talks with Iran’s foreign minister this weekend. JD Vance won’t attend for now since Iran’s parliament speaker isn’t going, but he’s on standby if talks advance.

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
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