Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-15 at 20:02

HEADLINES
IRGC taps Chinese satellite for US bases
Drone incursion wounds Israeli fighter borders tense
US expands sanctions on Shamkhani oil network

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Fox News has confirmed reporting from the FT that Iran used a Chinese spy satellite to monitor US bases in the Middle East last month. The IRGC gained access to the satellite shortly after its launch and apparently tasked it with monitoring US military sites.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, sirens sounded in Hanita following a drone incursion. An Israeli fighter was severely wounded in southern Lebanon, and the status of Battalion Commander 52 remains grave. There is a suspected assassination in the village of Kassem: a car was set on fire and a body was found at the scene after about 10 hours. In a separate thread, a tense discussion saw judges pause a ruling and heavy pressure for a settlement. There is a severe shortage of Kalashnikov rifles as Hamas is attempting to rebuild its strength. David Bitan could celebrate: the blow to Shlomo Karhi and Galit Distel.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US Treasury Department said on Wednesday it was tightening pressure on Iran's oil transport infrastructure by imposing sanctions on more than two dozen individuals, companies and vessels within the network of Iranian oil shipping magnate Mohammad Hossein Shamkhani, son of Ali Shamkhani, a key figure who was killed in US-Israeli strikes on Tehran on February 28. Shamkhani’s network had previously been sanctioned in July 2025; the US issued 115 sanctions against the group at that time. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said, "Treasury is moving aggressively with Economic Fury by targeting regime elites like the Shamkhani family that attempt to profit at the expense of the Iranian people." The department also sanctioned Iranian national and Hezbollah financier Seyed Naiemaei Badroddin Moosavi and three companies linked to a money laundering scheme involving the sale of Iranian oil in exchange for Venezuelan gold. The US Senate voted 52 to 47 to block a resolution that would have prevented further attacks in Iran without Congressional approval. The Senate has defeated Sen. Bernie Sanders' first joint resolution of disapproval to block arms sales to Israel, though a record 40 Democratic senators voted in favor—the highest total ever, with Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer and Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand voting against the measure, while all Republicans opposed it. The United States also announced new sanctions against Iran's oil sector, tightening sanctions on oil transport infrastructure by sanctioning more than two dozen people, companies and ships tied to the Shamkhani network. The broadcast also notes Trump’s claim that the path to a deal with Iran is through pressure.

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/JewishNews24/52794
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1310466
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1310460
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-893157
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75046
https://t.me/JewishNews24/52795
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/us-announces-new-sanctions-against-iran-oil-sector
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1310462