Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-09 at 04:03

HEADLINES
Cooper urges Lebanon ceasefire, Hormuz free transit
Israeli strikes eliminate Hezbollah leaders in Lebanon
Artemis II braces for fiery Earth return

The time is now 4:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, British Foreign Secretary Yvette Cooper said Israel's pounding of Lebanon was deeply damaging and that the conflict must end to prevent destabilizing the broader US-Iran ceasefire. She urged that Lebanon be included in a ceasefire and extended to cover the country, warning that the escalation could destabilize the whole region. Cooper also called for free transit of shipping through the Strait of Hormuz to be ensured and backed the International Maritime Organization’s proposals for ships stuck in the Strait. She criticized rhetoric from US President Donald Trump as escalatory and inappropriate. Separately, Iran has released an official map of required shipping routes in the Strait of Hormuz, showing vessels must travel closer to Iran’s coast and confirming for the first time that usual routes are now considered dangerous due to the risk of naval mines.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces expanded ground operations in southern Lebanon over the past week, with Paratroopers Brigade troops moving into additional areas as part of efforts to establish operational control and reinforce Israel’s forward defensive line along the northern border, while eliminating dozens of Hezbollah operatives and uncovering hidden weapons. The military said forces targeted two crossings used by Hezbollah operatives to move between areas north and south of the Litani River and transfer weapons, and that about 10 weapons warehouses, launchers, and headquarters used by Hezbollah in southern Lebanon were attacked. The IDF also said it attacked and eliminated Ali Yosef Harshi, the personal secretary of Hezbollah Secretary-General Naeem Qassem and nephew of Naeem Qassem, describing Harshi as a close associate who played a central role in managing his office and security. In Beirut, Hezbollah senior commander Hassan Mustafa Nasser, known as Hajj Al-Ashqar, was killed in an Israeli strike. Lebanese sources reported that members of Hezbollah’s parliamentary bloc decided to lower their profile in response to the latest strikes.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Pakistani national Muhammad Shahzeb Khan, also known as Shahzeb Jadoon, has pleaded guilty to attempting to commit acts of terrorism and to carrying out a mass shooting at a prominent Jewish center in Brooklyn, New York, inspired by ISIS. The defendant, who was extradited to the United States from Canada, admitted planning to conduct terrorist acts on the first anniversary of Hamas’s October 7 attacks and to transcending national boundaries to enter the US to carry out the attack, including communications with two others who were undercover officers. He had been posting ISIS propaganda and discussing plans to distribute it.

In Uplifting News, Artemis II astronauts brace for a fiery return to Earth. The four astronauts aboard NASA’s Orion capsule, in the return phase of their mission after roaming past the Moon, are set to splash down off the Southern California coast on Friday evening. They became the farthest-flying humans in history, traveling at speeds approaching 23,839 mph (38,365 kph) as Orion’s heat shield endures high-velocity re-entry into Earth’s atmosphere. Mission pilot Victor Glover said he has spent years thinking about entry and reflected on the wealth of experiences and stories from the mission, noting there are still more to come as they complete this historic flight.

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/international/article-892428
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https://t.me/abualiexpress/119969
https://t.me/selena_updates/61383
https://t.me/selena_updates/61381
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-892411
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892417