Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-19 at 05:01

HEADLINES
- Renewed Israel Iran Clashes Raise Alarm
- Taiwan Drills Heighten Regional Instability
- J Street Draws Fire Over Israeli Aid

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, if hostilities renew, Iran may fire tens or hundreds of missiles per day to confront the enemy and also change the calculation on the other side, according to Hamidreza Azizi, an Iranian security expert at the German Institute for International and Security Affairs, cited by the New York Times. The report comes as President Trump said there is a very good chance the United States could reach an agreement with Iran to prevent Tehran from obtaining a nuclear weapon, and he noted in a Truth Social post that Gulf state leaders had urged him to hold off on striking Iran. Azizi warned that a future conflict would look different from the recent war, which began at the end of February 2026; Iran was preparing for a long-lasting conflict then and rationed its missile use to hold out for weeks, but a renewed war could be short and high-intensity.

In Iranian Retaliation, opposition sources report air defense systems have been activated over the skies of several Iranian cities—Yazd, Dezful, Bushehr, Ahvaz, and Andimeshk—in what they describe as a response to recent reporting.

In Regional Impacts, Taiwan’s Premier Cho Jung-tai says China’s military drills are the region’s greatest source of instability, noting that Beijing’s armed forces operate almost daily around Taiwan. The Chinese navy has announced a carrier task group led by the Liaoning is in the Western Pacific for training as Beijing pressures the island, which it views as part of its territory. Cho warned that the ongoing drills span the Taiwan Strait region, the Indo-Pacific, the South China Sea, and even areas around Japan, affecting navigational safety. China’s Taiwan Affairs Office did not respond to requests for comment. The Chinese armed forces have been increasingly active around Taiwan, with activities described as testing and enhancing combat capabilities.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israeli Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter criticized J Street for its stance on security aid to Israel, calling the group duplicitous for being pro-Israel and pro-democracy while advocating an arms embargo on a state fighting a seven-front war against Iranian proxies. J Street recently changed its position on American security assistance to Israel and urged phasing out direct US military aid, including funding connected to systems such as Iron Dome. Leiter said an organization cannot present itself as pro-Israel and pro-democracy while opposing weapons transfers to Israel.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, border police around Jerusalem detained a suspect who allegedly threw explosive devices at the Tomb of Rachel complex about a week ago. The suspect, a resident of the Bethlehem area, was brought to Shin Bet for interrogation.

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-896646
https://t.me/abualiexpress/122631
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896631
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-896648
https://t.me/newssil/201925