HEADLINES
- Iran uses Chinese AI to refine strikes
- Iran tightens Hormuz as bulk carrier struck
- Israel eyes 2030 future as election looms

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, China’s approach to the Middle East conflict is shaping strategic calculations as observers view the Iran war as a live military laboratory. Beijing remains a distant player, not a direct combatant, but US intelligence officials say Iranian forces are actively exploiting datasets from Chinese artificial-intelligence firms to refine precision strike planning, with references to MizarVision as an example of Chinese geospatial AI work in the conflict. The war’s wider toll is already affecting markets and farming communities: disruptions to fuel and fertilizer supplies across parts of Asia are lifting input costs during key sowing periods, prompting farmers in places like Thailand, the Philippines, Bangladesh, and Australia to delay or scale back planting as fertilizer use becomes less economical. In tandem, Tehran is moving to tighten control of the Strait of Hormuz, with Iranian lawmakers drafting a bill to formalize management of the waterway and bar passage for vessels deemed hostile. At the same time, a bulk carrier off Doha was struck by an unknown projectile, causing a small fire but no casualties or environmental impact, and Qatar’s Al Kharaitiyat has been tracked maneuvering to push through a naval constraint Iran has imposed in the region.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, experts are divided over the country’s path through 2030 as Israel heads toward the October 2026 elections. Dor Moriah’s Visions of Israel’s Future – 2030 presents findings from the first phase of a two-part study, based on interviews with 12 specialists in politics, economics, security, law, media, and civil society. The project’s second phase, conducted with the Geocartography Sociological Center, will gauge how broadly these elite perspectives resonate with the general public. The researchers emphasize that the upcoming vote will largely determine Israel’s direction through the remainder of the decade, and the study frames the question not as abstract speculation but as a choice with real consequences for the country’s trajectory through 2030. What kind of country Israel will be when that term ends is no longer a rhetorical question. Meanwhile, a Hebrew-language item notes that Yair Lapid has responded to remarks by Miki Zohar, highlighting ongoing public discussion about leadership and policy in the current political moment.

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/defense-and-tech/article-895656
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895650
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895640
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895276
https://t.me/newssil/201279
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-895644