Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-18 at 20:01

HEADLINES
Trump Delays Iranian Strike After Gulf Appeals
Hezbollah Drone Threat Expands Israel Braces
Nobitex Moves 2.3B Linked to Trump Ventures

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump says he delayed an Iranian strike planned for Tuesday after Gulf leaders urged restraint, while warning the US military remains ready for a large-scale assault if negotiations fail. He cited calls from the leaders of Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Saudi Arabia—emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman—urging him not to strike and saying serious negotiations are underway toward a deal that would include no nuclear weapons for Iran. He said he has instructed Secretary of War Pete Hegseth, the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff General Daniel Caine, and the United States military that the scheduled attack will not go forward tomorrow, but that they should be prepared to act on short notice if no acceptable agreement is reached.

In Regional Impacts, a security official speaking after a meeting in the United Arab Emirates told Netanyahu that the damage to Israel from the current tensions is significant. The report notes the drone threat is expanding, with Hezbollah publicly signaling damage to Israeli armored vehicles, and it references broader discussions about Hamas leadership changes and a US posture toward Tehran, including an unusual proposal that could allow public transportation on Shabbat.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the IDF released an Arabic-language evacuation warning to residents of the Tyre area in southern Lebanon, telling them to evacuate immediately and move at least 300 meters away from a red-marked building near Hezbollah, noting that the ceasefire has been breached and that the IDF does not intend to harm civilians. A security official after the UAE meeting reiterated that the damage to Israel remains significant, while the broader situation includes an expanding drone threat from Hezbollah and mentions regarding Hamas, US messaging toward Tehran, and discussions of a proposal that could permit public transit on Shabbat.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Iranian financial activity connected to Trump-family ventures has drawn scrutiny as Nobitex processed at least $2.3 billion since 2023 on Tron and BNB Chain blockchains, networks created by Justin Sun and Changpeng Zhao. The report notes these networks are linked to World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm co-founded by Trump and his family, and says there is no suggestion the Trump family knew Nobitex’s use of those networks. Sun and Zhao are described as backers of World Liberty Financial. In a separate note, Elon Musk told a Tel Aviv conference that he is a huge admirer of the innovation coming out of Israel, calling the country “number one in the world” for innovation per capita.

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.ynetnews.com/article/bkiixkfymx
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-896614
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1323028
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1323029
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-896607
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54525