Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-04 at 21:01

HEADLINES
US destroys six Iranian boats, Hormuz reopens
Sudan blames UAE, Ethiopia for Khartoum attack
Queens synagogues vandalized with Nazi graffiti

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the United States says it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted cruise missiles and drones as Tehran pressed a bid to block a renewed US naval effort to reopen shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump announced Operation Project Freedom to regain control of the strait, which had effectively closed when the conflict began on February 28. CENTCOM commander Admiral Brad Cooper said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps fired missiles, drones and small boats at ships protected by the US, but those threats were defeated with defensive munitions, and he urged Iranian forces to stay well clear of American assets as the operation unfolds. Separately, about 27 American refueling aircraft were currently in the air over the Middle East to support ongoing operations in the region.

In Regional Impacts, Sudan blames UAE, Ethiopia for drone attack in capital's airport. Sudan's armed forces alleged on Monday that a drone attack targeted Khartoum International Airport, the latest in a string of assaults as the country fights a civil war. They blamed the United Arab Emirates and Ethiopia; Reuters could not independently verify the claims. Sudan has long accused the UAE of backing RSF forces and had previously tied Ethiopia to involvement in the conflict. Witnesses said Monday's drone strikes hit Khartoum airport, which the city’s authorities say had begun to see international flights resume last week. Army spokesman Brigadier General Asim Awad Abdelwahab said the government had evidence of the attack. Also, as Gulf tensions rise over US escorts in the Strait of Hormuz, President Trump described a “little detour” in Iran as working out very nicely, warning Tehran not to obtain a nuclear weapon and insisting most missiles and drones were intercepted, adding that one way or the other, we win. In related updates, the UAE’s defense ministry said its air defenses engaged 12 ballistic missiles, 3 cruise missiles and 4 drones launched from Iran today, resulting in 3 moderate injuries, while Iran has launched a total of 549 ballistic missiles, 29 cruise missiles and 2,260 drones at the UAE.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, graffiti targeting Jewish sites in New York drew swift responses. At least two Queens synagogues and several homes were defaced with antisemitic graffiti, including Nazi swastikas and the phrase Heil Hitler, with the NYPD hate crimes task force investigating. One center, the Rego Park Jewish Center, and another synagogue on 108th Street were vandalized, and a Kristallnacht plaque was defaced as officials visited sites and described the incident as a disturbing act. NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin said she visited the 108th Street congregation and condemned the vandalism, while the Jewish Community Relations Council of New York noted the ongoing investigation. NYC Mayor Eric Adams said he was horrified and angered by the swastikas painted on homes and a synagogue in Forest Hills, calling it deliberate antisemitic hatred intended to instill fear. In Toronto, police said they arrested Michaelo Markicevic, 67, in last week’s fatal shooting of a 47-year-old Jewish man, Daniel Stopnicki, in a North York park; Markicevic was charged with second-degree murder, and investigators have not said whether the men knew each other.

In Uplifting News, updates from personal journeys and international leaders offer lighter notes. A traveler available to share that a 24-hour journey home is about to begin, with the next 12 hours likely to be without Wi‑Fi, and updates promised after landing during a layover. In remarks from Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his wife Sara expressed prayers for Rudy Giuliani’s complete and speedy recovery, praising him as a great mayor and a friend of Israel and the Jewish people.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-895129
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75907
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895130
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1qmx38rbg
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53869
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895126
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53867
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53868
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75908
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53870