Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-11 at 19:02

HEADLINES
Iraq elects Iran-backed president amid drone strikes
Iran US talks extended, no breakthrough yet
Jerusalem Holy Fire draws 10,000 worshipers

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Iraq chose a new president on Saturday, selecting Nizar Amedi, a Kurdish figure backed by the PUK, a party seen as more friendly to Iran. The largely ceremonial post had taken months to fill after the November 2025 elections. The Kurdistan Democratic Party, the bigger Kurdish bloc aligned with the United States and the West, opposed the vote, and its loss is viewed as a gain for Iran-aligned factions. The wider regional context remains tense, as Iran attacked Kurds during the recent conflict, directing its proxy militias in Iraq to launch around 700 drones and missiles at the Kurdistan Region; some strikes targeted PUK voting areas, but most hit Erbil, the KDP stronghold. Observers say the outcome underscores Tehran's influence in Iraqi affairs, and there have been no clear repercussions for Iran in this cycle.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, reports from Iran's Tasnim news agency say talks with the United States, mediated in Pakistan, were extended by one day. An Iranian government account on X posted that the discussions concluded after 14 hours, with technical teams exchanging expert texts and that negotiations would continue despite remaining differences. A separate report notes the third round of discussions in Pakistan has ended, with Iranian sources saying gaps remain and the ball is in the United States’ court as to the next move by President Donald Trump. Taken together, the updates depict a cautious, ongoing diplomacy with no breakthrough announced.

In Uplifting News, the Holy Fire ceremony lit Jerusalem's Old City on Saturday as about 10,000 Christian worshipers from around the world gathered for the annual rite. The event, part of Holy Week, begins at the Church of the Holy Sepulchre and proceeds to Nazareth, Bethlehem, and other Israeli cities before the flame travels to communities worldwide. Jerusalem Mayor Moshe Lion blessed the Jerusalem Christian community as the city, with support from the Tourism and Interior Ministries, installed screens throughout the Old City to broadcast the ceremony for those unable to enter. Lion said Jerusalem will remain a beacon of tolerance for Christians, Jews, and Muslims. Separately, Simon Betuel, 46, works as a cosmetics producer by day and pursues painting by night; raised in a traditional Jewish home in Ukraine, his family made aliyah in 1991, and he recalls antisemitic harassment in childhood before turning to art, drawing on the palettes of Rubens, Klimt, Vrubel, and El Greco.

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/article-892639
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1308680
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1308679
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1308677
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/christianity-news/article-892646
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-892544