HEADLINES
Iranian Drone Attack Targets Kurdish Surdash Camp
Trump Pauses Project Freedom Amid Iran Talks
Poll Says Likud May Fall Without Netanyahu

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, the IRGC targeted the Surdash camp, an Iranian Kurdish area of the Biban region where families of Iranian Kurdish opponents live, with two drones, the Kurdistan Regional Government Security Directorate said on Tuesday. No casualties were reported. Additionally, residents in Bandar Abbas, Qeshm, and Sirik reported hearing explosions around 4 a.m. local time, several hours after the Biban region incidents. Provincial authorities later said the sounds were caused by air defenses intercepting small drones and reconnaissance drones, adding that there was no impact, damage, or explosion. The United Arab Emirates said its air defenses were engaged against Iranian missiles and drones for the second day in a row, according to the UAE Defense Ministry. Iran’s Foreign Ministry denied launching missiles and drones at the UAE, calling the actions defense measures aimed at US assets and accusing the UAE of collaboration with hostile parties by hosting US bases.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah’s concealment of its losses is part of a broader narrative strategy in the Israel-Hezbollah confrontation. The article argues that fatalities are not merely a measure of bereavement but a strategic asset used to control the narrative. While Israel issues evacuation warnings before strikes in civilian areas to minimize civilian casualties, Hezbollah is adopting a policy of systematic ambiguity about the scope of its losses as a survival mechanism designed to bridge the gap between its promises and the bloody reality on the ground. The core of Hezbollah’s narrative rests on the muqawama ethos, an undefeated resistance operating under religious patronage; revealing the true scale of losses could undermine the image of “divine victory” it has marketed. Hezbollah has also concealed losses in the past, including during the 2006 Lebanon War, and today the organization is more sensitive to criticism than ever, even as it faces what some describe as dragging Lebanon into renewed conflict.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said Project Freedom, the operation to escort ships through the Strait of Hormuz, would be suspended for a brief period as he cited progress toward a full and final deal with Iran. He emphasized that the US blockade would remain fully in force and that the pause was to determine whether an agreement could be finalized and signed. The announcement appeared in a Truth Social post, in which he noted that the pause was requested by Pakistan and other countries as part of the broader negotiations.

The United States is also pressing for concrete actions by Iraq’s next prime minister to distance the state from pro-Iran armed groups before resuming financial shipments and security aid. Ali al-Zaidi is the candidate backed by Iraq’s ruling coalition, and he quickly received a congratulatory call from President Trump. A senior US official said Zaidi must address the blurry line between pro-Iran armed groups and the Iraqi state. Washington has suspended cash payments for oil revenue and security assistance; resuming full support, the official said, would begin with expelling militia elements from state institutions, cutting off their budget, and denying salary payments to militia fighters.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Maariv readers’ poll suggests that without Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, Likud would likely fall below 20 seats in the Knesset. Among opposition voters, 42.4% said Likud would win 10–20 seats, 37.7% said it would fall below 10 seats, and 8.3% said it could reach 30 or more seats. Among coalition voters, views were more mixed, with sizable shares predicting under 10, 10–20, 20–30, or at least 30 seats, reflecting ongoing uncertainty about the party’s future without Netanyahu.

Haredim leaders have threatened a general boycott of Israir if the airline continues operating on Shabbat. Israir’s CEO Uri Sirkis has been summoned to meet with haredi leaders in Jerusalem to discuss the issue. Among Israeli carriers, El Al does not fly on Shabbat, while Israir, Arkia, and Air Haifa operate on Shabbat, a significant market segment for secular Israelis and tourists. A boycott could ripple beyond aviation, given that Israir’s owner, Rami Levy, also runs a large supermarket chain prominent in the haredi community. N12 also reported that a Ramat Gan cafe was set on fire over the weekend, underscoring tensions surrounding the issue.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-895247
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/06/the-logic-behind-hezbollahs-concealment-of-its-losses/
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/06/trump-suspends-project-freedom-says-iran-nuclear-deal-within-reach/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/us-wants-concrete-actions-iran-next-iraqi-pm
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895261
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895251