Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-09 at 23:01

HEADLINES
Israel covert Iraqi base triggers strikes
Hezbollah drone attack wounds Israeli reservists
Iran warns heavy strike on US bases

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel reportedly established a covert military outpost in the Iraqi desert ahead of the war with Iran to support air operations, special forces missions, and search-and-rescue teams. The report says Israeli forces launched airstrikes against Iraqi troops in early March after the secret installation was nearly discovered following reports of unusual helicopter activity in the area.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's Revolutionary Guard navy warned that any attack on Iranian oil tankers or commercial vessels would be met with a heavy assault on one of the US bases in the region and enemy ships, even as a tenuous ceasefire appeared to be holding.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, several explosive drones launched by Hezbollah crossed into Israeli territory near the Lebanon border today, severely wounding one reservist and moderately injuring a reserve officer and another reservist. The military says all three were evacuated to hospitals and their families notified. The IDF called the attacks another violation of the ceasefire understandings by Hezbollah. Separately, the Israeli Air Force intercepted several projectiles aimed at troops operating in southern Lebanon, while additional Hezbollah drones targeted Israeli forces in the area, including one strike that damaged an unmanned engineering vehicle without injuries. A Hezbollah fiber optic-guided FPV drone was located in Metula near the Lebanon border. Israeli forces have warned that these fiber optic-guided drones are more difficult to jam electronically because they rely on physical cable connections rather than radio signals.

In Israeli Economy and Business, S&P Global has left Israel's credit rating unchanged, saying its outlook is based largely on a more positive economic scenario in the second half of the year. S&P said that assuming there is no large-scale military re-escalation, the macroeconomic fallout will be contained. Analysts at the agency expect growth to be supported by the return of reservists to the labor market, easing supply shortages, and improving consumer and business confidence. Hungarian low-cost carrier Wizz Air has again extended its suspension of all flights to and from Israel, now through at least May 26, 2026.

In Uplifting News, as fears of renewed conflict loom, conservationists in Iran are shoring up battered heritage sites and taking stock of the damage caused by the war with the United States and Israel, though experts warn some repairs could take years. At Golestan Palace, a defining cultural landmark in central Tehran, shattered mirrors, broken doors and debris from ornate ceilings lie across parts of the site after shockwaves from strikes on the capital following the outbreak of war on February 28. The former royal residence, listed as a UNESCO World Heritage site since 2013, remains closed to the public as teams focus on stabilizing damaged structures and preventing further collapse before broader repair work can begin.

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/JewishNews24/54111
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54120
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54108
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54109
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54112
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54113
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/fearing-return-war-iran-conservationists-shore-damaged-heritage-sites