Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-09 at 01:02

HEADLINES
- Trump keeps forces around Iran threatens war
- Khamenei dead ceasefire reshapes Iran region
- Tel Aviv protests as ceasefire nears

The time is now 1:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, US President Donald J. Trump has posted on TruthSocial that all US ships, aircraft, and military personnel, with additional Ammunition, Weaponry, and anything else that is appropriate and necessary for the lethal prosecution and destruction of an already substantially degraded Enemy, will remain in place in, and around, Iran, until such time as the REAL AGREEMENT reached is fully complied with. If for any reason it is not, which is highly unlikely, then the ‘Shootin' Starts,’ bigger, and better, and stronger than anyone has ever seen before. Reuters reported that Trump said all US ships, aircraft, and military personnel would stay in place in and around Iran until it fully complied with a deal, reiterating the same language in a Truth Social post on Wednesday.

In Regional Impacts, Former supreme leader Ali Khamenei is dead. Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure has been set back to a degree Israeli defense planners would have called fantasy in 2024. But the regime survived. A two-week ceasefire between the United States, Israel, and Iran took effect this week, ending 39 days of war. The Islamabad Accords, brokered by Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Army Chief General Asim Munir, are already fraying. Missile attacks hit the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Kuwait within hours. The Strait of Hormuz is reopening under terms that let Iran and Oman collect transit fees. Negotiations begin Friday. Nothing is settled. Former supreme leader Ali Khamenei is dead. The man who directed Iran’s regional aggression for 35 years was killed on February 28 in a precision Israeli airstrike, along with dozens of Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps senior commanders. Iran’s ballistic missile infrastructure has been set back to a degree Israeli defense planners would have called fantasy in 2024. Its air defenses failed to prevent sustained strikes over five weeks. Its navy in the Gulf of Oman is wrecked. In the last 24 hours, since the start of the two-week long ceasefire between Iran and the United States, not a single oil or natural gas tanker has transited the Strait of Hormuz, with a total of four bulk cargo vessels transiting the strait on Wednesday, the lowest number of daily crossings so far in April. This is despite several claims by the White House that there had been an “increase in traffic” today through the Hormuz Strait, while Iranian state-run media channels once again threaten to “fully close” the strait due to continued and intensified strikes by Israel against the Hezbollah terrorist group and civil infrastructure in Lebanon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Protesters gathered outside the United States embassy in Tel Aviv ahead of an Iran ceasefire announcement, with the Peace Partnership coalition calling for an end to the war and chanting that war will not bring freedom to anyone in the region. They urged solidarity and warned that the conflict will only expand bloodshed. Meanwhile a Hebrew-language report discusses internal political dynamics, including a debate over the powers of the attorney general and the ability to remove Ben-Gvir, with commentary suggesting the political mood is shifting from power struggles to concrete plans. The piece also notes that education is resuming in several cities after wartime pauses, and that evacuees from October 7 have found shelter in the center and north, with statements from officials about moving from debates over authority to action, as quoted by Haim Bibas.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, protesters gathered outside the US embassy in Tel Aviv ahead of an Iran ceasefire announcement, organized by the Peace Partnership coalition, demanding an end to the war and chanting, “War will not bring freedom to anyone in the region,” and “Don’t believe lying officials, freedom doesn’t come from missiles.” A Hebrew-language report highlights disputes over authority and leadership, noting that discussions around the attorney general’s ability to remove Ben-Gvir are evolving as political plans advance, with remarks from Haim Bibas indicating a shift from old power struggles to concrete policy steps. The piece also references life returning to the daily routine in several cities, with schools resuming after wartime pauses and evacuees from October 7 finding shelter as the country adjusts to ongoing security concerns.

In Uplifting News, Israel’s ice hockey community is finding resilience in Sofia, where the national team fights to revive a program pushed to the brink. Israel beat New Zealand 7-6 in overtime in the opening game of the 2026 IIHF World Championship Division II, Group B, and faces Bulgaria later, followed by matches against China. Newly released NASA photos from Artemis II reveal hundreds of craters and basins on the far side of Earth’s Moon, some seen for the first time since the Apollo era, offering remarkable detail. Meanwhile, Israel’s sports scene is returning with fans still limited by security restrictions; the Israel Soccer League resumed with venues hosting about 150 spectators each, artificial crowd noise piped into broadcasts, and one match briefly halted by incoming missile fire before play resumed, underscoring a quiet but persistent sense of continuity.

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://t.me/DefenderDome/20159
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/trump-says-us-military-stay-around-iran-until-tehran-complies-deal
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-892393
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20160
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892407
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306675
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-892408
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20156
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-892405