Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-20 at 20:01

HEADLINES
Iran warns Trump new battlefield cards surface
A-10 extended to 2030 preserves support
Herzog awards Milei Israel Presidential Medal

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, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Qalibaf says Trump, by imposing a siege and violating the ceasefire, seeks to turn this negotiating table in his own imagination into a table of surrender or to justify renewed warmongering, and that negotiations under threats will not be accepted, with Iran stating it has prepared to reveal new cards on the battlefield in the past two weeks.

In US Military Role, the US Air Force will extend the A-10 Warthog to 2030, preserving combat power as the Defense Industrial Base works to increase aircraft production. Air Force Secretary Troy Meink announced the move on social media, saying the step keeps close air support capabilities available while modernization priorities are weighed. The A-10, which first flew in 1976, has long been the subject of debate over age, speed, and maintenance costs, with some arguing retirement would free funds for newer systems such as hypersonic weapons. The aircraft has been used in the current conflict with Iran, according to US Central Command, underscoring its continued role on the battlefield.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog presented Argentina’s President Javier Milei with Israel’s Presidential Medal of Honor in a brief ceremony at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem, hours before Remembrance Day observances began for fallen soldiers and victims of terror. The event featured a side platform bearing portraits of 10 former Residence employees or relatives of those killed or murdered, each with a memorial candle and a wreath. Milei’s delegation was greeted by a crowded reception as Herzog told him in Hebrew and English, “We love you and welcome you.”

In Uplifting News, Ben Gurion International Airport near Tel Aviv lit its control tower with the flag, a candle, and the word Yizkor to honor memory. In Washington, the Museum of the Bible is hosting "America Reads the Bible," a weeklong national reading event running April 18–25 with nearly 500 participants reading Scripture from Genesis to Revelation. The effort, organized by Christians Engaged, brings together ministers, figures from politics, media, and entertainment; more than 100 ministries and leaders are taking part, with US President Donald Trump expected to contribute a recorded reading from 2 Chronicles 7:11–22.

In The blade’s edge, four Israeli teens fencing through politics and tradition to conquer Rio, Israel’s junior fencing team won a silver medal in the Junior World Championships in men’s epee in Rio de Janeiro. The quartet—Alon Sarid, Fedor Khaperskiy, Mordechai Lachman, and Eitan Charmatski—delivered a historic result for the country. The epee discipline allows direct scoring with no right-of-way rules, highlighting the technical achievement these young competitors embraced on the world stage.

In Every day is Memorial Day, a mother's daily battle with grief and the choice to live, Shirit Yerushalmi writes about the impact of her daughter's abduction and murder in Gaza. Yerushalmi, mother of Eden Yerushalmi, describes Memorial Day taking on new meaning since October 7, and how the rituals that once defined the day now bring fresh pain even as she speaks of choosing to live, traveling, and continuing forward despite the loss.

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/beholdisraelchannel/75303
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/us-air-force-says-key-iran-warplane-10-warthog-will-live-2030
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893652
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75304
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-893654
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-893653
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893651