HEADLINES
Syria Holds Hassakeh Kobani Parliamentary Votes
Hizballah Threats Will Fail Rubio Declares
Trump Urges Arab States Normalize Israel

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Syria holds follow-up parliamentary elections in the Kurdish-majority northeastern province of Hassakeh and the town of Kobani, areas that were reintegrated under government control after fighting in January. Other parts of Syria voted for the People’s Assembly last October, almost a year after longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad was ousted in a rebel offensive. However, at that point, large swaths of the country’s northeastern region were still under the control of the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces, notably Hassakeh and Kobani. The country is still reeling from the devastating impact of its civil war from 2011 until 2024, as skepticism remains among large segments of its minorities now living under Islamist rule, while millions of Syrians live in poverty. In January, a government offensive against Kurdish fighters reintegrated that part of the country with Damascus, under interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Islamist-led authorities. The vote Sunday is for the remaining 11 seats in Syria’s first parliament after the ouster of Assad. Nine of the seats represent Hassakeh and the other two Kobani.

In US Military Role, breathtaking footage of the Air Force Global Strike Command’s Arsenal of Freedom Flyover earlier today during the final day of the Hyundai Air & Sea Show in Miami Beach, Florida, featuring a B-52H Strategic Bomber and B-1B Lancer Heavy Bomber escorted by an F-22 Raptor, F-35A Lightning II, F/A-18C Hornet, A-10C Warthog, and a pair of F-16C Fighting Falcons.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Secretary Rubio says Hizballah's threats of violence and overthrow will not be allowed to succeed. The era in which a terrorist group held an entire nation hostage is coming to an end.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump reportedly told the leaders of several Arab and Muslim countries in a Saturday phone call that he expects them to normalize relations with Israel if he reaches a deal to end the war with Iran. The request reportedly drew silence from the leaders. Israeli officials have warned that the emerging deal does not serve Israel’s interests and could give Iran time to recover, and would not address Tehran’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs or its support for regional proxies. The report notes the agreement would begin with a 60-day extension of the ceasefire.

In Uplifting News, the week’s reversal of Biden-era refrigerant rules, which had increased the price of transporting and storing refrigerated goods, is said to lead to about $2.4 billion in savings for Americans. Also, Slovenia’s Jewish community approaches a new government with cautious hope; Robert Waltl, director of the Jewish Cultural Center in Ljubljana, said the community has more than 700 years of continuous presence and expressed hope that the new government will recognize that the Jewish community is an indigenous historical presence rather than a foreign political actor, noting a rise in radical anti-Israel rhetoric and antisemitism since October 7, while hoping for improved support. “I approach every new government with cautious hope and democratic respect,” he told The Jerusalem Post.

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.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-may-25-2026/
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20928
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54758
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-reportedly-asked-muslim-arab-leaders-to-normalize-ties-with-israel-if-iran-deal-reached/
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54759
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897182