HEADLINES
AI targeting triggers deadly strike after call
Secret Israeli base in Iraq exposed
High Court weighs comptroller probe into massacre

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 Operation Lion's Roar, the story centers on how Israel uses an AI-powered targeting system that blends data from smartphones, security and traffic cameras, Wi-Fi signals, drones, government databases, and social media to direct strikes. Ahmad Turmus was driving to visit family when a phone call from an Israeli military officer led to a stark question about dying with others or alone; he chose “Alone,” and two missiles struck his car less than 30 seconds after the exchange. The reporting notes that the drone overhead and the targeting system are part of a broader intelligence effort intensified after Hezbollah’s pager attacks in September 2024, illustrating how data from civilian signals and official records are fused to guide lethal decisions.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iraqi media have reacted to a Wall Street Journal report about a secret Israeli base in Iraq, a revelation arriving as Baghdad is forming a new government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and faces pressure from the United States to rein in Iran-backed militias. The coverage suggests sovereignty questions and political controversy for the new leadership, with observers noting Iraq’s delicate balancing act amid regional tensions and US involvement. In a separate account, The Jerusalem Post cited an IDF covert outpost operating deep in the Iraqi desert during the opening phase of the war with Iran. The base served as a logistical hub and an emergency rescue point for pilots behind enemy lines, remained off public records until recently, and was linked to incidents near March that prompted Iraqi force movements and Israeli airstrikes in which at least one Iraqi soldier was killed. Iraq condemned the strike and filed a United Nations complaint, with reporting noting US involvement in the broader context.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a Guardian analysis depicts a fraying bond between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Trump administration over Iran policy. The piece cites former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas calling Netanyahu a “conman” who used Venezuela as a blueprint for what Washington and Jerusalem could attempt in Iran. It notes that US intelligence and military officials warned of risks from Iranian attacks on Gulf partners and the potential closure of the Strait of Hormuz, even as Netanyahu and some in the Trump circle argued that the regime could be toppled quickly. The report also recounts that, by late March, the situation in the region had grown more perilous, with military actions and the strategic corridor near Hormuz central to ongoing calculations.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice questioned whether State Comptroller Matanyahu Englman has the legal authority to probe the core failures surrounding the October 7 massacre and the Iran war. The petitions argue that the scale of the disaster demands a broader, independent inquiry and contend the comptroller’s audit could interfere with a future commission, contaminate evidence, and infringe on the procedural rights of those who may be criticized. The hearing, before an expanded panel, concluded without a decision, and Justice Dafna Barak-Erez stressed that while the Court does not doubt the Office’s importance, the scope of its inquiry is under review. Separately, the Ministerial Committee for Legislation advanced bills to overhaul senior civil-service appointments, replacing much of the current professional screening with a minister-controlled process that would apply to posts including IDF chief of staff, police commissioner, Shin Bet and Mossad heads, civil service and attorney-general posts, ministry directors-general, and any position requiring government approval. The new process would place a government-appointed qualifications committee in a seven-day window to determine whether candidates meet basic qualifications, shifting power toward ministers. An opinion piece argues that information overload is reshaping politics, contributing to a structural crisis as institutions weaken and leaders who thrive in disorder gain prominence, using the Ben-Gvir controversy and Gurri’s theories to illustrate a broader trend. Finally, the state asked the High Court for a 30-day extension to respond to a petition seeking the return of the bodies of six Arab citizens of Israel held by the state, arguing that the rationale for withholding them based on hostage or missing-person deals no longer applies after recent releases; families opposed the extension, and a ruling is pending.

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/article-895709
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895702
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895705
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-podcast/article-895699
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895698
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-895697
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895489
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895695