Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-06 at 06:02

HEADLINES
IDF kills Majid Khademi in Tehran
Haifa strike leaves four dead
Pakistan seeks Iran US ceasefire Hormuz opened

The time is now 6:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and the Israel Defense Forces said the Israeli Air Force assassinated Majid Khademi, the head of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Intelligence Organization, in strikes on Tehran. The IRGC corroborated the report, saying Khademi was martyred. Khademi had been one of the IRGC’s top intelligence officials since June 2025, succeeding a predecessor killed in what the military terms Operation Rising Lion. The IDF said Khademi’s death, along with other attacks on Iran’s Unit 840, would hinder Tehran’s ability to project regional and global terror and to suppress Iranian protesters should they return to the streets. Separately, the IDF said it conducted a round of strikes on Iranian regime targets in Tehran, part of a campaign the military says aims to degrade Iran’s external operations.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Haifa also faced the aftermath of a direct missile strike, with the full scale of destruction becoming clear the day after. Rescue teams located four people who had been trapped for hours; they were an elderly couple, their son, and his partner, all found without signs of life. An 82-year-old resident was wounded moderately and evacuated. Lieutenant Colonel (Reserve) Amichai Kedar, who commands the Home Front Command’s Haifa District coastal sector, described the scene as extremely severe, noting that four people were expected to be found and later confirming the grim find.

In Regional Impacts, two fatalities were reported in Gaza after a motorcycle attack in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood in the city’s north. The incident adds to the evolving security picture in the region as violence continues around urban centers.

In Regional Impacts, Pakistan is reportedly working to broker a ceasefire deal between the United States and Iran. The proposed first step would be an immediate cessation of hostilities in return for the full opening of the Strait of Hormuz, with direct talks on all other disputes to begin after about 15-20 days. Iranian officials said they are examining the offer but will not agree to a temporary ceasefire.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF’s Nahal Brigade said it located and killed three Hezbollah terrorists believed responsible for the deaths of four soldiers from the brigade’s Reconnaissance Battalion last week during counterterrorism operations in southern Lebanon. The brigade chief, Colonel Eric Moyal, said the force has been fighting in the north for days, destroying terrorists, infrastructure, and weapons as it protects residents. The IDF also issued an evacuation warning for several southern Lebanon neighborhoods as it launched a wave of strikes against Hezbollah targets.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Kurdish Iranian opposition groups denied receiving arms from the United States after a Fox News report on April 5. The groups, which have been under pressure since the February 28 strikes on Iran and a series of misleading reports about Kurdish offenses, emphasize their caution amid a broader regional confrontation. They have been coordinating more closely in recent months and formed a coalition of five Kurdish groups, while noting they have been targeted by hundreds of Iranian drones and missiles, complicating their activities in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, analysts assess that Iraqi militias could cross into Iran to bolster the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. These Hashd al-Sha’abi forces have been linked to the Iraqi state and have carried out more than 700 attacks across Iraq since the conflict broadened. Some observers fear elements could be deployed into Iran’s Kurdistan regions or otherwise assist Tehran in enforcing order on its periphery, though precise movements remain uncertain.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a major Israeli broadcast brought a sharp critique of government handling during the war with Iran. Karine Matziano, a veteran News 12 journalist, opened her program with a provocative monologue criticizing the government’s approach to the home front, education, and business sectors, and took aim at Economy Minister Nir Barkat, who is pursuing a legal case against News 12 over a prior investigative report. The commentary followed the day after a missile strike in Haifa and amid ongoing updates on the war and its domestic fallout.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Matziano returned with another pointed monologue denouncing what she described as empty slogans in videos featuring Prime Minister Netanyahu. Broadcast 37 days before the latest developments, the segment attacked Netanyahu, Barkat, and other ministers, arguing the leadership offered little tangible relief for the home front, education, and business sectors, and underscoring the urgency of the country’s situation.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Defense Ministry announced that the Israel Air Force navigator Major (ret.) Asaf Dagan has been recognized as a fallen soldier, following a PTSD-related death. Dagan, who died on October 23, 2024, while not on active duty, had battled PTSD linked to his service. A court had previously allowed a military funeral, albeit in a civilian cemetery, and the family have long pursued recognition, arguing that moral injury among pilots constitutes a service injury. The ministry’s decision formally acknowledges his sacrifice and grants the family bereaved status.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an explosion struck the building of Christians for Israel, a non-profit organization in the Dutch town of Nijkerk. There were no casualties. The attack was claimed by Harakat Ashab al-Yamin al-Islamiya. The incident adds to a pattern of threats against Jewish and pro-Israel organizations abroad.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel’s ministerial committee approved a second rapid increase in Arrow interceptor production this year to replenish stock and strengthen air defenses amid the ongoing conflict. The Arrow 2 and Arrow 3 interceptors, produced by Israel Aerospace Industries, are intended to counter ballistic missiles from Iran or the Houthis in Yemen, with the government seeking to sustain a robust defensive capability as the war continues.

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
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892187
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892203
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892185
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