Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-23 at 18:03

HEADLINES
- Israel poised to renew war on Iran
- Lebanon ceasefire extended as Hezbollah strikes
- UK arrests 25 over antisemitic plots

The time is now 6:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran, awaiting the green light from the United States to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty. Defense Minister Israel Katz said at the end of a situational assessment that the IDF is prepared for both defense and attack and that targets are marked. He described Iran’s regime oppression through the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, alleged energy extortion with the threat of higher global oil prices, and said its leaders are hiding in tunnels with communication difficulties while its skies are open and infrastructure is exposed to attacks. Katz drew a comparison between Iran and its proxies Hamas and Hezbollah, saying the regime does not care about the heavy prices paid by its population. He said future IDF operations would be “different and deadly” and that the military would proceed when authorized.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, talks at the White House focused on possibly extending the Lebanon ceasefire and continuing efforts to disarm Hezbollah, even as the IDF maintains operations against the group. President Trump wrote that the ceasefire would be extended by three weeks and that he expects to host the Israeli Prime Minister and the Lebanese President soon. The talks were led by senior US officials and included ambassadors to Israel and Lebanon in the Oval Office. As talks opened, Hezbollah fired a rocket barrage toward the Western Galilee, including Shtula; three of the launches were intercepted and sirens sounded in the area, with the group having breached the ceasefire multiple times in recent days. Trump said the United States would work with Lebanon to help it protect itself from Hezbollah, and he noted plans to host Netanyahu and the President of Lebanon in the near future, with further involvement from officials such as Rubio and Issa. US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the problem is Hezbollah, not Lebanon or Israel. A Hebrew-language report also noted Vice President JD Vance alongside Trump announcing the extension of the ceasefire in Lebanon.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Washington described ongoing efforts to stabilize the region and deter Hezbollah through coordinated diplomacy and security arrangements, with public updates confirming the three-week extension of the Lebanon ceasefire and continued high-level engagement. The discussions included leaders' travel plans and a broad push to end the state of war through security arrangements, with the United States taking a leading role in coordinating with Lebanon and Israel and in coordinating with regional partners to support a durable pause in fighting.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, British authorities reported a sweeping series of arrests related to attacks on UK Jewish, Israeli, and Iranian dissident sites this week. A total of 25 people have been arrested by the Metropolitan Police and Counter Terrorism Policing, eight of them charged, one convicted, with the rest under investigation. Targets include two synagogues, a formerly Jewish-owned business, the Israeli embassy, and Iran International’s offices, and even a Jewish-owned shop door ablaze in Hertfordshire. Police have stressed that many suspects appear to be teenagers from Watford, and they have indicated that the motives may not be ideological, suggesting some suspects could be working for other actors. The authorities emphasize the broader challenge of rising anti-Jewish acts at home, alongside global concerns about Iran's regional posture.

In Uplifting News, an airplane carrying 240 new immigrants from the Indian Bnei Menashe community landed tonight at Ben Gurion Airport and was welcomed by the Minister of Immigration, Ofir Sofer.

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
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