HEADLINES
- US weighs direct strike on Iran leadership
- Panama Canal gains 300 extra crossings
- Israel clears Hezbollah tunnels launches drone project

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, officials in Washington are weighing the option of a direct attack on Iran's leadership, with the move described as being on the table and drawing wide attention.

In Regional Impacts, the Panama Canal Authority says the US-Iran war in the Middle East should push more shipments to travel through the canal, a trend the agency expects to continue until the situation is resolved. Victor Vial, the canal’s finance chief, noted that since October the canal has registered about 300 additional vessel crossings compared with the same period last fiscal year.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli military says it dismantled two Hezbollah underground tunnels in the Qantara area of southern Lebanon, noting the tunnels total about 2 kilometers, contained more than 30 rooms and 30 operating shafts, and were destroyed with over 450 tons of explosives; one tunnel was reportedly used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Force for terror attack planning. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced Israel is launching a "special project" to eliminate drone threats from Lebanon, saying the effort will take time but that the threat will be dismantled.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece argues for renewed pride in Zionism, recounting a personal journey from the early 2000s when the author, then a tenured professor at McGill University, spoke out on Israel’s Independence Day and the line between Zionism and anti-Zionist labels. The essay, titled Why I Am a Zionist, reflects on the era of Palestinian attacks and urges Jews to reclaim the Zionist identity.

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/beholdisraelchannel/75685
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/panama-canal-sees-spike-vessel-traffic-due-war-middle-east
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53528
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53525
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-894511