Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-09 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Israel expands buffer zones signaling perpetual war
IDF 98th closes on Bint Jbeil
Pew shows US Democrats sour on Israel

The time is now 11:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Israel is expanding buffer zones in Gaza, Syria, and now Lebanon as it braces for a drawn-out regional conflict after the October 7, 2023 attacks. Officials describe the move as signaling a semi-permanent state of war that acknowledges Iran’s clerical leadership, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza cannot be eliminated, with Israel aiming to deter and disperse adversaries. Meanwhile, the United States and Iran agreed to a pause in fighting while negotiating a broader end to the war, and Israel said it would halt attacks on Iran but will continue its campaign against Iranian-backed Hezbollah. Hezbollah joined the war on March 2 by firing rockets into Israel. In the Strait of Hormuz, traffic remains well below normal as Iran warns ships to travel through its territorial waters; Mitsui O.S.K. Lines and other major shippers are reassessing routes during the two-week ceasefire, with Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps directing vessels to sail through Iranian waters near Larak Island to avoid mines, entering north of Larak and exiting south of it for now. In Beirut, thousands are fleeing the Dahieh district following evacuation orders, and cars are leaving Beirut after a warning from an Israel Defense Forces spokesperson.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israel Defense Forces’ 98th Division is on the verge of gaining operational control over the Hezbollah-ridden town of Bint Jbeil in southern Lebanon, according to Israeli media. Officials say there are at least several dozen Hezbollah militants in the town, including Radwan Force operatives. The 98th Division has also been active in Gaza, east of the Yellow Line, in recent days, and earlier in the week twenty people who violated the ceasefire were killed, including the commander of a group that invaded Israeli territory on October 7. Hezbollah has fired about fifty rockets toward Israel, roughly forty of which crossed into Israeli territory and were intercepted. Spain condemned Israeli strikes in Lebanon and the broader war on Iran, deepening Madrid’s friction with Washington, while figures within Donald Trump’s MAGA movement have urged the United States to punish Madrid. Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares described the conflict as an assault on civilization, accusing Israel of violating international law and the ceasefire after a wave of airstrikes in Lebanon.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a Pew Research Center survey finds the majority of American adults view Israel unfavorably. Sixty percent regard Israel negatively, up seven percentage points from last year and almost twenty points since 2022, with 28% identifying as very unfavorable. Among Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents, eighty percent hold an unfavorable view, and Democrats under 50 are more likely than older Democrats to express a very unfavorable view. By contrast, most Republicans and Republican-leaning individuals view Israel favorably (58% favorable versus 41% unfavorable). Views also vary by religious group, with Jewish Americans and White evangelical Protestants continuing to express mostly positive views of Israel, at 64% and 65% respectively.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a new poll finds that nearly half of Israelis doubt a definitive victory in the Iran war. Forty-six percent say Israel and the United States did not win, while 22% say victory was achieved, and 63% express dissatisfaction with the war’s outcome (32% express satisfaction). Among coalition voters, 61% are satisfied with the outcome, compared with 17% of opposition voters. Public opinion also shows strong confidence in military leadership: Air Force Commander Tomer Bar earns 77% approval, and the Chief of Staff, Eyal Zamir, 71%; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is satisfied by 47% of respondents.

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-892499
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892494
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892488
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74797
https://t.me/ILtoday/18558
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892493
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892485
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-892475
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892495