Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-18 at 06:01

HEADLINES
US Blockade Keeps Iran Tankers In Check
Iran Closes Hormuz Again Amid Ship Passages
Egypt Pakistan Forge US Iran Peace Framework

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, five empty Iranian tankers were sighted in Iranian ports loading millions of barrels of oil amid the US blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Three of the tankers were spotted at Kharg Island, the processing and shipping heart of Iran’s oil industry, while two were seen at Bandar Mahshahr, the northern port on the Persian Gulf. Earlier this week, another five tankers loaded with about nine million barrels were observed in the Gulf of Oman and are no longer visible in current imagery. US officials say no Iranian vessels have broken the blockade since it was imposed on Monday, with CENTCOM reporting that 21 ships have complied and returned to Iran after warnings. The naval presence remains visible, with guided-missile destroyer USS Michael Murphy patrolling the Arabian Sea as part of the blockade enforcement.

Egypt is working with Pakistan on a framework aimed at securing a lasting peace between the United States and Iran, with Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty saying Egypt, Turkey, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are coordinating a broader regional effort to prevent renewed escalation and lay the groundwork for a post-war security arrangement. The effort emphasizes protecting Gulf states and stabilising energy markets, supply chains and food security.

Iran’s Hormuz Strait status remains in flux. Tehran’s military declared the strait closed again on Saturday, hours after reopening as more than a dozen commercial ships were seen passing through. The back‑and‑forth over the strait followed toiling signals from Washington and comments about a potential peace deal, framing a volatile backdrop for global energy markets.

Iran slams Hormuz shut again after tankers slip through, saying it has tightened controls over the waterway in response to the US blockade, even as some vessels made rare transit and as President Trump mixed claims of progress with threats of renewed bombing.

A spokesman for Iran’s Khattam al-Anbiyaa headquarters said the passage through Hormuz had returned to its previous state of strict military control, citing repeated US violations and piracy under siege.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel marked Holocaust Remembrance Day, and the piece argues the Holocaust is a unique historic event and a foundational element in Israel’s formation, deserving memory through student delegations, ceremonies, museums and educational programs. The author stresses that memory is a means, not an end, and asks what lessons have been learned. Among the cautions, it suggests dangerous ideas that Jews have no ally but themselves and that the world will not intervene on their behalf. The piece notes Israel cannot afford isolation, given its size, economy built on exports and innovation, and regional threats, and emphasizes that memory should translate into prudent policy and resilient alliances while maintaining security and stability.

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/international/article-893400
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/egypt-working-pakistan-lasting-us-iran-peace-plan-minister-says
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/iran-closes-hormuz-strait-again-over-us-blockade-ships-mid-transit
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjbnute6bl
https://t.me/abualiexpress/120602
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893313