HEADLINES
Kid Rock flies Apache with Pentagon chief
Russia Iran talks cement alliance in Kyrgyzstan
Prototype Joby electric air taxi dazzles JFK

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, musician and close ally of President Trump, Robert Ritchie, known more commonly as Kid Rock, flew to Fort Belvoir in Virginia this morning on his private jet from his home in Nashville, Tennessee. There, Rock met with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth for a “joy ride” on a pair of AH-64E Apache Guardians with the US Army’s 82nd Combat Aviation Brigade, which are normally stationed at Fort Bragg in North Carolina, multiple Army sources told Drop Site News. Just last month, AH-64 Apaches with the 101st Airborne Division were filmed hovering outside Rock’s multi-million dollar home in Nashville during a training exercise, leading to the announced suspension of the pilots and an investigation by the US Army, an investigation which was quickly closed and the pilots reinstated by Defense Secretary Hegseth. A spokesperson for Fort Belvoir referred all questions about today’s event to the Office of the Secretary of Defense.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Russian Defence Minister Andrei Belousov held talks in Kyrgyzstan on Monday with Iran's Deputy Defence Minister Reza Talaei-Nik, state-run TASS news agency reported. Belousov reiterated Moscow's longstanding position that the Iran war should be resolved exclusively through diplomatic means and said he was confident Moscow and Tehran would continue to support one another. Talaei-Nik also traveled to Belarus, where Belarus' Defence Ministry said he discussed the Middle East situation with Defence Minister Viktor Khrenin. The ministry, quoted by BelTA news agency, said both officials agreed that the sole way to resolve the conflict was “a return to the sphere of a political-diplomatic settlement and the intensification of the process of negotiations,” and that the meeting confirmed Minsk and Tehran’s mutual interest in deepening their joint interaction. In Moscow, Russian President Vladimir Putin met Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi and praised the Iranian people for battling to stay independent in the face of US and Israeli pressure and said Moscow would do all it can to support them.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a pair of daylight incidents outside Jewish sites in the Toronto area over the weekend added to a series of attacks that have left the city’s Jewish community unnerved. During Shabbat services on Saturday, a man tried to force his way into the Sephardic Kehilah Centre, in the suburb of Vaughan, but was turned away by security, and then reportedly encountered a father and son on their way to the synagogue and punched the father, who sustained no serious injuries. The following day, photos circulated after a rock was hurled and broke the window of Aleph Bet Judaica, a shop on Bathurst Street near Regina Avenue; police did not confirm which business was hit, but confirmed that a rock was thrown near Bathurst and Regina and that the Hate Crime Unit was consulted. No suspects have been identified in either incident. The UJA Federation of Greater Toronto issued a statement condemning the attacks and noting they come amid a string of antisemitic incidents in the city; authorities say both daylight incidents occurred around 9:30 a.m.

In Uplifting News, Pizza Hut said it will continue to pay Yemanu Binyamin Zalka’s salary to his family every month for as long as the company exists and will establish a dedicated aid fund for the Zalka family. Zalka, 21, a released IDF soldier, was killed after his shift at the Petah Tikva location when he asked a group of teenagers to stop spraying foam inside the restaurant. He began at the branch as a bicycle delivery driver, then as a motorcycle delivery driver, and most recently became a shift supervisor. Hundreds gathered outside the pizzeria demanding police action after seven teenagers were arrested on Saturday; two additional suspects were arrested later, with two released to house arrest for 12 days as they await court proceedings. Petah Tikva Mayor Rami Greenberg said there are “no words” to describe the shock and pain of losing young lives. In New York, a prototype electric air taxi completed a demonstration flight at John F. Kennedy International Airport, as officials and industry leaders explore new options for urban mobility. Developed by Joby Aviation, the aircraft is designed to take off and land vertically, operate far more quietly than helicopters, and carry a small number of passengers with a pilot and limited baggage.

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://t.me/DefenderDome/20541
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/iranian-defence-official-holds-talks-russian-belarusian-ministers
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894365
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-894366
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53464