Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-18 at 13:02

HEADLINES
UK court hears Iran-linked Wimbledon journalist attack
Iran launches Strait Authority over Hormuz
IDF kills PIJ commander in Lebanon

The time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, prosecutors told a British court that a team of Romanian men acted as proxies for the Iranian government to carry out a knife attack on Pouria Zaratifoukolaei, known as Pouria Zeraati, a British journalist for Iran International, near his Wimbledon home in March 2024. The prosecutor said the attack was deliberate, planned violence preceded by reconnaissance, and ordered by a third party acting on behalf of the Iranian state. Iran denies involvement. The trial concerns two of the three men charged, Nandito Badea, 21, and George Stana, 25, who deny the charges.

In US Military Role, General Jack Keane says the United States is on the cusp of resuming military operations against Iran after weeks of negotiations, and that a potential deal with the Iranian regime does not seem possible at this point.

In Regional Impacts, the Islamic regime has launched the Persian Gulf Strait Authority to assert authority over the Strait of Hormuz. Ships seeking to transit must disclose ownership, insurance, crew manifests, and cargo to receive a permit, and the authority bans vessels linked to Israel and imposes restrictions on United States ships; Iran’s First Vice President said the move reflects a claim of sovereignty and that the authority will provide specialized services for a fee. JPMorgan Chase forecasts eleven-figure annual toll revenue from the new toll system. In Iraq, Anbar province and the capital Baghdad were colored orange after a sandstorm arrived from Jordan. Saudi-based AlKhathath network, citing sources, reported that the Pakistani interior minister left Tehran following talks with Iranian officials. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs said no humanitarian aid has been found on the provocation flotilla, while flotilla activists were seen hugging after being transferred to Israeli vessels. The Israeli military intercepted boats off the coast of Cyprus as part of a new wave of flotilla activists seeking to break Israel’s naval blockade of Gaza.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli Defense Forces killed Palestinian Islamic Jihad commander Wael Mahmoud Abd al-Halim in a targeted strike in Lebanon’s Baalbek area in the Bekaa region. Halim led the integration of Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists into Hezbollah’s combat operations, according to the military. Steps were taken to mitigate the risk of harm to civilians, and the operation was described as a significant operational achievement by the army chief of staff. The forces will continue to pursue enemies, strike them, and hold accountable everyone who participated.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Rashida Tlaib reintroduced into the House a resolution to recognize the ongoing Nakba, calling for an official commemoration of the Nakba and for lawmakers to denounce an ongoing Nakba. The resolution would resume aid to the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East and end United States complicity by prohibiting Israel from using American-made weapons against Palestinians, among other measures. Axios reports that the White House views the revised Iranian proposal as not meaningfully improved and not sufficient for a deal. CNBC quotes an American source saying a report in Iranian media that the United States agreed to lift sanctions on Iranian oil is false. The Trump administration has rejected Iran’s latest truce proposal as insufficient, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is convening his cabinet to consider options amid mounting regional tensions.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, opposition leader Yair Lapid warned that any Likud members who back the haredi draft bill under pressure from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu will not go unseen, signaling a public campaign with billboards bearing lawmakers’ faces accusing them of draft evasion during wartime.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Elon Musk expressed admiration for Israeli innovation, saying Israel punches above its weight for its population and that innovation per capita may place Israel at the top worldwide.

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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