HEADLINES
IRGC missiles strike Kuwait amid US strikes
Hezbollah losses reach 2,500 since March
No rapid nationwide safe rooms planned

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, the IDF Home Front Command says Iran studies each war and will pose an even greater threat to Israel’s home front in future conflicts, with the ballistic missile threat identified as the greatest challenge as negotiations on a new Iran deal proceed. The force notes there is no date set for a future war and that the current deal’s handling of ballistic missiles has left the Home Front in uncertainty about readiness and whether to release more emergency staff. Separately, the IRGC has released footage of a missile attack on Kuwait in response to US strikes on the outskirts of Bandar Abbas airport in southern Iran.

In Regional Impacts, the IDF Home Front Command reported 6,473 Israeli residences damaged to the point of residents losing their homes during the Iran war, with 683 Israelis wounded and 24 killed as of the ceasefire. Wounds included 22 seriously, 46 moderately, and 615 lightly. More than 28,000 property damage claims had been filed. The home front pressed the conflict with around 45 battalions called up, totaling about 25,000 soldiers, roughly 84% of its maximum call-up capacity, as the ceasefire took hold.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF says Hezbollah has lost about one-third of its forces since 2023, with around 2,500 fighters killed since March, and a total of 7,000–8,000 terrorists killed since October 8, 2023, even as other figures place Hezbollah’s fighter total higher. The chief spokesman noted that Hezbollah had about 30,000 fighters in 2023, leaving the casualty figures sensitive and contested, and that about 10,000 Hezbollah fighters were wounded in the current war, with thousands more wounded in the 2023–2024 conflict. In the past two weeks, seven leading Hezbollah commanders were eliminated, including the Commander of the Al-Khiam sector, the Assistant to the Deputy Commander of the Badr Unit, the Intelligence Officer of the Shaqif sector, the Head of Engineering in the Yohmor sector, the Deputy Head of Engineering in the Yohmor sector, the Commander of the Jibchit sector, and the Head of Engineering in the Jouaiyya sector; the IDF also says approximately 2,500 Hezbollah terrorists have been eliminated since the start of Operation Roaring Lion in March 2026, with about 800 killed since the start of ceasefire understandings.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the White House is pressuring Gulf states to join the Abraham Accords, with President Trump telling a May 27 cabinet meeting that deals should include Saudi Arabia, Qatar, and others, arguing they “owe” the United States. Analysts caution that forcing such countries to join the Accords could backfire and complicate long-term peace prospects. Separately, Trump’s remarks about the Strait of Hormuz included a warning to Oman, prompting questions about regional diplomacy as the State Department emphasized that Oman remains a longtime ally and that aggressive rhetoric risks unsettling regional partners as tensions persist.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF Home Front Command says there is no plan, even under consideration, to achieve nationwide safe rooms within two to five years or anything close to that pace. About 67% of the population currently has safe rooms, and the plan projects a growth of roughly 1% per year, with a more ambitious scenario of 3% annually that would still leave large portions of the country exposed to Iranian missiles and other threats for at least 11 years. The message is that large-scale emergency rebuilding to add safe rooms would require displacement and demolition on a scale that is not currently planned or pursued.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the British Museum has postponed a Jewish Culture Month talk on Ancient Israel and Judah after learning that registered attendees included individuals intending to deliberately disrupt the event. Security concerns and the museum’s duty to protect speakers, staff, and visitors led to the postponement, with organizers and security partners agreeing the event would not proceed as scheduled and will be rescheduled to safeguard participation and safety.

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/defense-news/article-897678
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54933
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897675
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897682
https://t.me/selena_updates/64533
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897684
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897680
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897663
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897464
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897681