Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-26 at 17:01

HEADLINES
Iron Dome deployed to UAE intercepts missiles
IDF strikes southern Lebanon Hezbollah targets
Fauda season 5 premieres with revamped cast

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Israel sent an Iron Dome battery, manned by Israel Defense Force troops, to the United Arab Emirates to assist air defense efforts against Iran in the early days of the conflict. The move followed a phone conversation between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the Emirati President, and the battery subsequently intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles. This marks the first time the system has been used outside Israel and the United States.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF says it carried out a wave of airstrikes and artillery shelling in southern Lebanon, targeting Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure north of the Israeli-held security zone. The targets included rocket-launching squads allegedly preparing attacks, a ready-to-fire launcher, a weapons depot, buildings used by the group, and additional terrorists including one on a motorcycle. Footage shows airstrikes targeting multiple areas in southern Lebanon after evacuation notices were issued to seven towns and villages, including Kfar Tebnit. Additional footage from the northern event has also emerged. Christian villages are reported to have barred entry of Hezbollah members and Shiite refugees. A special report describes a Hezbollah drone exploding near a helicopter evacuating wounded in southern Lebanon, with Golani soldiers firing at the drone and no injuries reported. New footage shows a Hezbollah explosive-laden drone striking near Israeli forces as they were evacuating wounded troops in southern Lebanon today; there were no injuries in that incident.

In Uplifting News, Shabbat showdown down South as Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Beersheba delivered a thriller, ending in a 2-2 draw in a top-of-the-table clash at Turner Stadium, with Beersheba’s Zlatanovic scoring and Jerusalem’s Atzili and Muzie equalizing late to split the points. Against the current: Anat Lelior’s fight beyond the waves highlights her achievement in qualifying for surfing’s Championship Tour, the sport’s highest level, with a debut at Bells Beach described as momentous, followed by a challenging second round. Fauda season 5 to premiere with a revamped plot and new faces: the series returns in Israel on May 18 with the first two episodes, followed by a weekly rollout, and will later be shown internationally on Netflix. The returning cast includes Lior Raz, Itzik Cohen, and Doron Ben-David, with Mélanie Laurent joining the cast; Idan Amedi will not be returning regularly, though may appear in a cameo as the storyline reflects the aftermath of the October 7 massacre.

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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https://t.me/JewishNews24/53394
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https://t.me/abualiexpress/121186
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75609
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-894229
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893805
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-894222