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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-26 at 15:02
HEADLINES
Hezbollah drones reignite northern border war
US-Iran talks hinge on frozen assets
IDF may kill Hamas chief Mohammed Ouda
The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a year of precision strikes in 2025 didn’t eliminate Hezbollah, nor did the March 2026 offensive erase the threat, and the question remains: how to stop the enemy this time. I traveled to the Lebanese border in northern Israel on a spring day that gave way to rising heat and a changed mood along a border once restricted to the military. There, border areas around Rosh Hanikra have welcomed visitors again, but days later a Hezbollah FPV fiber-optic drone struck the area just meters from where I stood, and Hezbollah drones have been fired in other nearby spots such as near Arab al-Aramshe. The border zones are once again a war zone. The sense of a cautious opening to peace and quiet is gone. The April ceasefire did not bring a cease in fire, and Hezbollah has increased its use of drones, including those flown on a small cable to avoid jamming. Israel is racing to find new ways to counter the threat.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, negotiations with Iran are set to continue for several more days as officials assess whether a deal can be reached, with the president expressing a clear preference for a deal or, absent one, no deal. The United States and Israel await a response from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following talks in Qatar between Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. An Israeli official said the Iranian decision-making process has been slow because Mojtaba is difficult to reach, reportedly in a secure location and recovering from injuries, so every response takes time. One of the main issues under dispute is the release of frozen Iranian assets; Tehran is reportedly demanding that half of the $24 billion frozen around the world be released immediately after a framework agreement, with the remainder to be released at the end of a 60-day period.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, authorities announced a disruption of a terror cell operating from east Jerusalem with links to a PFLP operative in France. Five PFLP-linked east Jerusalem residents were arrested for questioning after being suspected of recruitment by Salah Hamouri, a senior PFLP figure now in France. Hamouri, a lawyer with a history of involvement in terror plots, had his Israeli residency revoked in 2022 due to such activity and has since been based in France, where he coordinated with terrorist elements to direct and plan operations. Separately, there is a report that the IDF may have succeeded in assassinating Hamas’s newly named military chief Mohammed Ouda, with official statements noting the high stakes of targeting Hamas leadership, though it remains to be seen how this would alter the broader dynamics since the October 2023 conflict. Israel also banned 40 Euro-Med activists from entry over alleged Hamas ties, citing the organization’s work as promoting anti-Israel campaigns in international institutions and platforms; among those barred are the group’s founder Ramy Abdu and other top figures, following coordination with Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry. On the anniversary of the IDF’s founding, the military provided sweeping updates across fronts, noting Hezbollah losses since the April 17 ceasefire and Hamas casualties on the Gaza front, as well as arrests and seizures in the West Bank. A public figure who previously knew Prime Minister Netanyahu voiced harsh criticisms of the Lebanon war and the government’s course, while an opinion piece questioned whether Itamar Ben-Gvir’s flotilla-related actions may crown him as Israel’s anti-Zionist of the year, arguing they damaged Zionism’s standing and eroded public trust.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Belgium’s threat analysis body reported that the Jewish community remained the most common target of extremist or terrorist threats in 2025, even as overall threat reports dipped from 213 in 2024 to 157 in 2025. Islamist extremism continued to be the largest threat category, accounting for 39% of all reports, with 86% of the individuals in the Joint Database on Terrorism, Extremism, and Radicalization Process linked to Muslims or Islamist ideology. About a quarter of reports (24%) involved contexts related to foreign affairs. The report also notes that not all incidents were necessarily reported to police, underscoring that these figures may undercount the true level of threats.
In Israeli Economy and Business, defence-technology companies High Lander Aviation and ThirdEye Systems announced a partnership aimed at countering hostile drones. The collaboration will integrate ThirdEye’s MeduzaX optical-detection system into High Lander’s Vega uncrewed traffic-management platform, transforming Vega into a dual-use tool that supports both civilian aviation authorities and defense operators protecting strategic sites. MeduzaX functions as a passive optical radar, analyzing EO/IR data in real time, and is already deployed with the IDF. The integration comes as part of a broader effort to enhance airspace awareness amid Hezbollah’s continued use of FPV and fiber-optic drones along the northern border and into southern Lebanon.
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/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897383
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897390
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897388
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897389
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-897387
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897385
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897382
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897379
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897381
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897378
Hezbollah drones reignite northern border war
US-Iran talks hinge on frozen assets
IDF may kill Hamas chief Mohammed Ouda
The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a year of precision strikes in 2025 didn’t eliminate Hezbollah, nor did the March 2026 offensive erase the threat, and the question remains: how to stop the enemy this time. I traveled to the Lebanese border in northern Israel on a spring day that gave way to rising heat and a changed mood along a border once restricted to the military. There, border areas around Rosh Hanikra have welcomed visitors again, but days later a Hezbollah FPV fiber-optic drone struck the area just meters from where I stood, and Hezbollah drones have been fired in other nearby spots such as near Arab al-Aramshe. The border zones are once again a war zone. The sense of a cautious opening to peace and quiet is gone. The April ceasefire did not bring a cease in fire, and Hezbollah has increased its use of drones, including those flown on a small cable to avoid jamming. Israel is racing to find new ways to counter the threat.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, negotiations with Iran are set to continue for several more days as officials assess whether a deal can be reached, with the president expressing a clear preference for a deal or, absent one, no deal. The United States and Israel await a response from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following talks in Qatar between Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. An Israeli official said the Iranian decision-making process has been slow because Mojtaba is difficult to reach, reportedly in a secure location and recovering from injuries, so every response takes time. One of the main issues under dispute is the release of frozen Iranian assets; Tehran is reportedly demanding that half of the $24 billion frozen around the world be released immediately after a framework agreement, with the remainder to be released at the end of a 60-day period.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, authorities announced a disruption of a terror cell operating from east Jerusalem with links to a PFLP operative in France. Five PFLP-linked east Jerusalem residents were arrested for questioning after being suspected of recruitment by Salah Hamouri, a senior PFLP figure now in France. Hamouri, a lawyer with a history of involvement in terror plots, had his Israeli residency revoked in 2022 due to such activity and has since been based in France, where he coordinated with terrorist elements to direct and plan operations. Separately, there is a report that the IDF may have succeeded in assassinating Hamas’s newly named military chief Mohammed Ouda, with official statements noting the high stakes of targeting Hamas leadership, though it remains to be seen how this would alter the broader dynamics since the October 2023 conflict. Israel also banned 40 Euro-Med activists from entry over alleged Hamas ties, citing the organization’s work as promoting anti-Israel campaigns in international institutions and platforms; among those barred are the group’s founder Ramy Abdu and other top figures, following coordination with Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry. On the anniversary of the IDF’s founding, the military provided sweeping updates across fronts, noting Hezbollah losses since the April 17 ceasefire and Hamas casualties on the Gaza front, as well as arrests and seizures in the West Bank. A public figure who previously knew Prime Minister Netanyahu voiced harsh criticisms of the Lebanon war and the government’s course, while an opinion piece questioned whether Itamar Ben-Gvir’s flotilla-related actions may crown him as Israel’s anti-Zionist of the year, arguing they damaged Zionism’s standing and eroded public trust.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Belgium’s threat analysis body reported that the Jewish community remained the most common target of extremist or terrorist threats in 2025, even as overall threat reports dipped from 213 in 2024 to 157 in 2025. Islamist extremism continued to be the largest threat category, accounting for 39% of all reports, with 86% of the individuals in the Joint Database on Terrorism, Extremism, and Radicalization Process linked to Muslims or Islamist ideology. About a quarter of reports (24%) involved contexts related to foreign affairs. The report also notes that not all incidents were necessarily reported to police, underscoring that these figures may undercount the true level of threats.
In Israeli Economy and Business, defence-technology companies High Lander Aviation and ThirdEye Systems announced a partnership aimed at countering hostile drones. The collaboration will integrate ThirdEye’s MeduzaX optical-detection system into High Lander’s Vega uncrewed traffic-management platform, transforming Vega into a dual-use tool that supports both civilian aviation authorities and defense operators protecting strategic sites. MeduzaX functions as a passive optical radar, analyzing EO/IR data in real time, and is already deployed with the IDF. The integration comes as part of a broader effort to enhance airspace awareness amid Hezbollah’s continued use of FPV and fiber-optic drones along the northern border and into southern Lebanon.
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/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897383
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897390
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897388
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897389
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-897387
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897385
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897382
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897379
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897381
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897378
View all episodes
By Noa Levi
3
2020 ratings
HEADLINES
Hezbollah drones reignite northern border war
US-Iran talks hinge on frozen assets
IDF may kill Hamas chief Mohammed Ouda
The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a year of precision strikes in 2025 didn’t eliminate Hezbollah, nor did the March 2026 offensive erase the threat, and the question remains: how to stop the enemy this time. I traveled to the Lebanese border in northern Israel on a spring day that gave way to rising heat and a changed mood along a border once restricted to the military. There, border areas around Rosh Hanikra have welcomed visitors again, but days later a Hezbollah FPV fiber-optic drone struck the area just meters from where I stood, and Hezbollah drones have been fired in other nearby spots such as near Arab al-Aramshe. The border zones are once again a war zone. The sense of a cautious opening to peace and quiet is gone. The April ceasefire did not bring a cease in fire, and Hezbollah has increased its use of drones, including those flown on a small cable to avoid jamming. Israel is racing to find new ways to counter the threat.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, negotiations with Iran are set to continue for several more days as officials assess whether a deal can be reached, with the president expressing a clear preference for a deal or, absent one, no deal. The United States and Israel await a response from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following talks in Qatar between Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. An Israeli official said the Iranian decision-making process has been slow because Mojtaba is difficult to reach, reportedly in a secure location and recovering from injuries, so every response takes time. One of the main issues under dispute is the release of frozen Iranian assets; Tehran is reportedly demanding that half of the $24 billion frozen around the world be released immediately after a framework agreement, with the remainder to be released at the end of a 60-day period.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, authorities announced a disruption of a terror cell operating from east Jerusalem with links to a PFLP operative in France. Five PFLP-linked east Jerusalem residents were arrested for questioning after being suspected of recruitment by Salah Hamouri, a senior PFLP figure now in France. Hamouri, a lawyer with a history of involvement in terror plots, had his Israeli residency revoked in 2022 due to such activity and has since been based in France, where he coordinated with terrorist elements to direct and plan operations. Separately, there is a report that the IDF may have succeeded in assassinating Hamas’s newly named military chief Mohammed Ouda, with official statements noting the high stakes of targeting Hamas leadership, though it remains to be seen how this would alter the broader dynamics since the October 2023 conflict. Israel also banned 40 Euro-Med activists from entry over alleged Hamas ties, citing the organization’s work as promoting anti-Israel campaigns in international institutions and platforms; among those barred are the group’s founder Ramy Abdu and other top figures, following coordination with Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry. On the anniversary of the IDF’s founding, the military provided sweeping updates across fronts, noting Hezbollah losses since the April 17 ceasefire and Hamas casualties on the Gaza front, as well as arrests and seizures in the West Bank. A public figure who previously knew Prime Minister Netanyahu voiced harsh criticisms of the Lebanon war and the government’s course, while an opinion piece questioned whether Itamar Ben-Gvir’s flotilla-related actions may crown him as Israel’s anti-Zionist of the year, arguing they damaged Zionism’s standing and eroded public trust.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Belgium’s threat analysis body reported that the Jewish community remained the most common target of extremist or terrorist threats in 2025, even as overall threat reports dipped from 213 in 2024 to 157 in 2025. Islamist extremism continued to be the largest threat category, accounting for 39% of all reports, with 86% of the individuals in the Joint Database on Terrorism, Extremism, and Radicalization Process linked to Muslims or Islamist ideology. About a quarter of reports (24%) involved contexts related to foreign affairs. The report also notes that not all incidents were necessarily reported to police, underscoring that these figures may undercount the true level of threats.
In Israeli Economy and Business, defence-technology companies High Lander Aviation and ThirdEye Systems announced a partnership aimed at countering hostile drones. The collaboration will integrate ThirdEye’s MeduzaX optical-detection system into High Lander’s Vega uncrewed traffic-management platform, transforming Vega into a dual-use tool that supports both civilian aviation authorities and defense operators protecting strategic sites. MeduzaX functions as a passive optical radar, analyzing EO/IR data in real time, and is already deployed with the IDF. The integration comes as part of a broader effort to enhance airspace awareness amid Hezbollah’s continued use of FPV and fiber-optic drones along the northern border and into southern Lebanon.
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/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897383
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897390
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897388
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897389
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-897387
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897385
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897382
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897379
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897381
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897378
Hezbollah drones reignite northern border war
US-Iran talks hinge on frozen assets
IDF may kill Hamas chief Mohammed Ouda
The time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a year of precision strikes in 2025 didn’t eliminate Hezbollah, nor did the March 2026 offensive erase the threat, and the question remains: how to stop the enemy this time. I traveled to the Lebanese border in northern Israel on a spring day that gave way to rising heat and a changed mood along a border once restricted to the military. There, border areas around Rosh Hanikra have welcomed visitors again, but days later a Hezbollah FPV fiber-optic drone struck the area just meters from where I stood, and Hezbollah drones have been fired in other nearby spots such as near Arab al-Aramshe. The border zones are once again a war zone. The sense of a cautious opening to peace and quiet is gone. The April ceasefire did not bring a cease in fire, and Hezbollah has increased its use of drones, including those flown on a small cable to avoid jamming. Israel is racing to find new ways to counter the threat.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, negotiations with Iran are set to continue for several more days as officials assess whether a deal can be reached, with the president expressing a clear preference for a deal or, absent one, no deal. The United States and Israel await a response from Iran’s Supreme Leader, Mojtaba Khamenei, following talks in Qatar between Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi. An Israeli official said the Iranian decision-making process has been slow because Mojtaba is difficult to reach, reportedly in a secure location and recovering from injuries, so every response takes time. One of the main issues under dispute is the release of frozen Iranian assets; Tehran is reportedly demanding that half of the $24 billion frozen around the world be released immediately after a framework agreement, with the remainder to be released at the end of a 60-day period.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, authorities announced a disruption of a terror cell operating from east Jerusalem with links to a PFLP operative in France. Five PFLP-linked east Jerusalem residents were arrested for questioning after being suspected of recruitment by Salah Hamouri, a senior PFLP figure now in France. Hamouri, a lawyer with a history of involvement in terror plots, had his Israeli residency revoked in 2022 due to such activity and has since been based in France, where he coordinated with terrorist elements to direct and plan operations. Separately, there is a report that the IDF may have succeeded in assassinating Hamas’s newly named military chief Mohammed Ouda, with official statements noting the high stakes of targeting Hamas leadership, though it remains to be seen how this would alter the broader dynamics since the October 2023 conflict. Israel also banned 40 Euro-Med activists from entry over alleged Hamas ties, citing the organization’s work as promoting anti-Israel campaigns in international institutions and platforms; among those barred are the group’s founder Ramy Abdu and other top figures, following coordination with Israel’s Diaspora Affairs Ministry. On the anniversary of the IDF’s founding, the military provided sweeping updates across fronts, noting Hezbollah losses since the April 17 ceasefire and Hamas casualties on the Gaza front, as well as arrests and seizures in the West Bank. A public figure who previously knew Prime Minister Netanyahu voiced harsh criticisms of the Lebanon war and the government’s course, while an opinion piece questioned whether Itamar Ben-Gvir’s flotilla-related actions may crown him as Israel’s anti-Zionist of the year, arguing they damaged Zionism’s standing and eroded public trust.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Belgium’s threat analysis body reported that the Jewish community remained the most common target of extremist or terrorist threats in 2025, even as overall threat reports dipped from 213 in 2024 to 157 in 2025. Islamist extremism continued to be the largest threat category, accounting for 39% of all reports, with 86% of the individuals in the Joint Database on Terrorism, Extremism, and Radicalization Process linked to Muslims or Islamist ideology. About a quarter of reports (24%) involved contexts related to foreign affairs. The report also notes that not all incidents were necessarily reported to police, underscoring that these figures may undercount the true level of threats.
In Israeli Economy and Business, defence-technology companies High Lander Aviation and ThirdEye Systems announced a partnership aimed at countering hostile drones. The collaboration will integrate ThirdEye’s MeduzaX optical-detection system into High Lander’s Vega uncrewed traffic-management platform, transforming Vega into a dual-use tool that supports both civilian aviation authorities and defense operators protecting strategic sites. MeduzaX functions as a passive optical radar, analyzing EO/IR data in real time, and is already deployed with the IDF. The integration comes as part of a broader effort to enhance airspace awareness amid Hezbollah’s continued use of FPV and fiber-optic drones along the northern border and into southern Lebanon.
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/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-897383
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897390
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897388
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897389
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-897387
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897385
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-897382
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897379
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897381
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897378
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