Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-13 at 02:02

HEADLINES
US weighs limited Iran strikes, Hormuz blockade
Senior Hezbollah commander Manu the Armenian dies
Ben-Gvir expands guns to kibbutzim and beyond

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, after talks collapsed, President Trump is weighing limited airstrikes on Iran in addition to a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, a move seen as a means to pressure Tehran while diplomatic efforts continue. Israeli officials say they will act in tandem with the president’s Gulf diplomacy and support his efforts, though they note that operational issues are not publicly debated on television.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah‑affiliated channels report the death of a senior jihadi commander and one of Hezbollah’s founders, Manuel Babichan, known as Manu the Armenian. He is described as having led the sixth unit in the Borg al-Cham area in Beirut, with plans for burial in Hezbollah’s Garden of the Martyrs in Dahyia, though his body may be moved to Armenia, his birthplace. He is reported as the second Armenian Hezbollah member killed in the current rounds of fighting.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, reports indicate secret progress in negotiations that could end the war despite an impasse in Islamabad and gaps over the nuclear issue, with the Trump administration noting a “personal chemistry” and goodwill from Tehran, and optimism that conditions will ripen for an end to the war under US terms. Separately, President Trump told reporters he does not care whether Iran returns to negotiations, asserting that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon and announcing a naval blockade of the Strait of Hormuz starting Monday at 10 a.m. Eastern, while criticizing NATO and urging allied action.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Ben‑Gvir has expanded firearms eligibility to Caesarea, Arad, Rosh Pinna, and several communities in the Upper Galilee and Emek Hefer, including kibbutzim, part of a broader reform that has already granted more than 250,000 civilians personal licenses. He argues that civilian access to firearms strengthens national security and that residents have a right to defend themselves. The IDF, meanwhile, is stepping up operations in the West Bank to contain the terror threat amid tensions between extremist Jewish and Palestinian groups, conducting more than 6,600 operations and arresting over 550 suspects to prevent escalation.

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://t.me/newssil/198905
https://t.me/JewishNews24/52603
https://t.me/abualiexpress/120229
https://t.me/newssil/198904
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892777
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892761
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s132ebcnbg