Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-26 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Lebanon toll hits 14 dead, 37 wounded
Iron Dome deployed to UAE, first intercept
Netanyahu blames military for Lebanon failures

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

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli strikes killed 14 people and wounded 37 in Lebanon on Sunday, Lebanon’s health ministry said, as the Israeli military warned residents to leave seven towns beyond the buffer zone it occupied before a ceasefire that has failed to fully halt hostilities. The toll included two children and two women, the health ministry added. Israel said one of its soldiers was also killed as the fragile ceasefire came under further strain. A spokesperson for the Israeli military said that Hezbollah was violating the ceasefire and that Israel would act against it, urging people to move north and west away from the towns. The towns are north of the Litani River and the zone in southern Lebanon occupied by Israeli troops, which have continued military operations despite the ceasefire. The military said it struck Hezbollah fighters, rocket launchers and a weapons depot. Israel’s leaders stressed that actions were taken to protect the country’s security and its soldiers.

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. Targets included rocket-launching squads allegedly preparing attacks, a ready-to-fire launcher, a weapons depot, buildings used by the terror group, and additional terrorists including one on a motorcycle.

Footage shows airstrikes in southern Lebanon after evacuation notices were issued to seven towns and villages, including Kfar Tebnit, as the week’s fighting continued amid questions over the ceasefire’s durability.

A separate report notes additional documentation from the north as the conflict pressed on and events unfolded on the ground.

Axios, citing a US official, said Israel sent an Iron Dome battery, manned by IDF troops, to the United Arab Emirates to assist air defense efforts against Iran in the early days of the conflict. The move followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s phone conversation with the Emirati President, and the battery subsequently intercepted dozens of Iranian missiles, marking the system’s first use outside Israel and the United States.

Christian villages barred Hezbollah members and Shiite refugees from entering certain areas, underscoring tensions tied to communities at the center of the conflict’s spillover.

Footage shows the moment a Hezbollah explosive-laden drone struck near Israeli forces who were evacuating wounded troops in southern Lebanon today.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, senior IDF officials say Netanyahu shifts blame for Lebanon failures onto the military, even as Netanyahu announced he had instructed the IDF to respond forcefully against Hezbollah in Lebanon. He spoke Saturday night at 8:49 p.m. local time after a series of incidents, but senior IDF officials indicated that, in practice, there has been no change in the rules of engagement.

In Uplifting News, Shabbat showdown down South as Beitar Jerusalem and Hapoel Beersheba delivered a thriller, finishing the match in a 2-2 draw. Beersheba’s Igor Zlatanovic scored twice, with Omer Atzili and Timoti Muzie finding equalizers for Jerusalem to split the points in a top-of-the-table clash at Turner Stadium.

Against the current: Anat Lelior’s fight beyond the waves highlights the trailblazer’s path to surfing’s Championship Tour, the sport’s highest level, after qualifying and making her mark with a standout debut at Bells Beach, Australia.

Those who labeled me model or party boy did so at their own peril profiles Eithan Urbach, Israel’s first Olympic swim finalist, reflecting on a career that drew intense media scrutiny but helped open doors for Israeli athletes while acknowledging the challenges of training and public perception.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/israeli-strikes-kill-14-lebanon-israel-warns-residents-leave-towns-beyond-buffer
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53392
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53394
https://t.me/newssil/200164
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20513
https://t.me/newssil/200161
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75609
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/27/senior-idf-officials-netanyahu-shifts-blame-for-lebanon-failures-onto-military/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-894229
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893805
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/rybt0msabx