Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-09 at 17:02

HEADLINES
Iran claims Hormuz control enters new phase
US summons Iraqi envoy after Iran-backed strike
Israel north braces amid Lebanon war fears

The time is now 5:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran will move the management of the strategic Strait of Hormuz into a new phase, a written statement attributed to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Mojtaba Khamenei and read on state TV said on Thursday. The statement notes that Iran is not seeking war but will not forfeit its rights and considers all resistance fronts as a unified entity. The message, released on the 40th day since the assassination of former supreme leader Ali Khamenei, praises the former leader, saying, “For forty days, the exalted soul of our martyred leader has been in divine proximity, joined among the righteous.” Turning to the war itself, the statement quotes Khamenei as saying Iran had emerged victorious “despite the enemy’s aggression and losses suffered,” adding, “with certainty that the Iranian nation has achieved victory.” It frames the rise of the Islamic Republic as a major power and the decline of global arrogance as visible to all, and notes that “for forty days, the devoted followers of the revolution have stood with courage in the fields, streets, and battlefronts,” with the Iranian people, though grieving, turning their sorrow into resistance.

In Regional Impacts, container and tanker traffic through the Strait of Hormuz has continued to deviate from the main channel around the north side of Larak Island for inspection by Iran, according to vessel-tracking data cited in the report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the United States summoned the Iraqi ambassador after a drone struck a major US diplomatic facility in Baghdad, with the State Department saying the attack was carried out by an Iraqi militia group aligned with Iran that had conducted multiple drone attacks near the Baghdad Diplomatic Support Center and Baghdad International Airport. The State Department said the Iraqi security forces’ response was acknowledged, but it stressed the Iraqi government’s failure to prevent the attacks. Separately, as talks with Lebanon are anticipated, northern Israelis living under constant fire warned that talks with Lebanon could risk a fifth Lebanon war; residents demand normal life, not stopgap fixes, and the advocacy group Lobby 1701 cautions that a fifth war could be on the horizon, with locals insisting that full security is not up for negotiation.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a Hebrew-language post portrays President Trump delivering an unprecedented broadside at Tucker Carlson, Megan Kelly, Candace Owens and Alex Jones—prominent right-wing media figures with large audiences who regularly attack Israel and are described as adopting antisemitic stances. The post, presented as a full quotation, argues that these figures attack Israel and propagate harmful views, while also asserting that Iran, described as the world’s leading sponsor of terrorism, would possess nuclear weapons. The piece closes with sharp personal criticisms of the targeted figures, reflecting a highly polarized exchange about Israel, Iran, and media influence.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-892542
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20171
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/us-summons-iraqi-ambassador-over-drone-strike-diplomatic-facility-baghdad
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjbeqfb2zx
https://t.me/abualiexpress/120017