Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-11 at 00:02

HEADLINES
Iran's Missile Arsenal Remains Despite Depletion
Artemis II Crew Returns From Moon Vicinity
US Opposes West Bank Annexation, Rebukes Smotrich

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran still retains thousands of ballistic missiles and has the ability to reactivate their launchers, according to a Saturday report by The Wall Street Journal, citing an assessment by United States intelligence amid recent statements by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran's arsenal has been "depleted and decimated." Despite a massive depletion since the start of Operation Epic Fury, Iran's short and medium-range missile stockpile remains in the thousands, with such missiles possibly able to be dug out of bombed storage sites. While American officials have said that over half of Iran's missile launchers have been rendered inoperable, the report cites US officials as saying that many of these launchers can be reactivated. US officials are concerned that Iran may use the current ceasefire as an opportunity to rebuild a portion of their ballistic missile arsenal, the WSJ reported. In addition, the WSJ reported that Iran still maintains a small number of cruise missiles, though its drone stockpile is heavily depleted due to a combination of use and airstrikes. Citing Israeli officials, the report stated that Iran can not currently manufacture more missiles.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US rebukes Smotrich and says Trump opposes West Bank annexation. The State Department says the president does not support Israeli annexation of the West Bank, sidestepping Smotrich’s broader remarks about expanding borders into Gaza, Lebanon and Syria.

In Uplifting News, Artemis II astronauts safely back on Earth after trip around the moon. The Artemis II capsule and its four-member crew streaked through Earth's atmosphere and safely splashed down in the Pacific Ocean on Friday after nearly 10 days in space, capping the first human voyage to the vicinity of the moon in more than fifty years. NASA's gumdrop-shaped Orion capsule, named Integrity, parachuted gently into calm seas off the Southern California coast shortly after 5:07 p.m. Pacific Time, concluding a mission that traveled about 1,117,515 kilometers in total, including a farthest point some 405,555 kilometers from Earth and two Earth orbits with a lunar flyby. Recovery teams secured the capsule in under two hours, and mission commander Reid Wiseman reported the crew was in good shape as they were brought aboard support vessels.

Beersheba Family Court approves Iris Haim to use sperm of slain hostage son to have child. The Beersheba Family Court on Friday approved Iris Haim to have a child using the sperm of her son, Yotam Haim, who was abducted by Hamas during the October 7 massacre and was killed by IDF gunfire while attempting to escape captivity. Iris argued that Yotam “saw bringing children into the world as the fulfillment of a significant personal dream” and that his desire for parenthood persisted after his death, describing his long-standing wish to provide grandchildren and continuity beyond his lifetime.

From Harbin to Hollywood: The tale of two talented Jewish sisters in China's 'Ice City' explores Harbin's historic Jewish community through music. Harbin, known as China’s “Ice City,” preserves its Jewish heritage in part through the Schoenfeld sisters and the Schoenfeld International String Competition, founded in 2013 in Hong Kong and settled in Harbin the following year, with master classes held at the historic Old Synagogue Hall as part of a broader cultural memory of Jews who settled in the city decades ago.

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-892618
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjfj5qp3wg
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-892621
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892616
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-892511