Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-24 at 09:02

HEADLINES
- Iran downs Israeli drone in Hormozgan
- Gulf strikes strain Iran oil economy
- Iran vows Hezbollah support until last moment

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

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian forces reportedly downed an Israeli spying and surveillance drone in Hormozgan province, according to Mehr news agency. The wreckage of an Orbiter drone, described as Israeli-made, was recovered in cooperation with Iranian naval forces. The incident comes as expectations rise that a memorandum of understanding regarding a peace deal between Iran and the United States could be imminent. This is a developing story.

In Regional Impacts, as attacks spread across Gulf energy infrastructure, Iran risks seeing its oil economy strained by prolonged attrition. The piece describes a calibrated, low-intensity campaign of missiles, drones, and strikes on energy facilities, ports, and military and civilian targets aimed at raising costs and pressuring for de-escalation, all while Iran remains dependent on continued oil sales. Beijing now accounts for the largest share of Iranian seaborne crude exports, averaging between 1.3 million and 1.4 million barrels per day.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem that Tehran will not abandon support for its network of proxies, naming Hezbollah explicitly and promising support "until the very last moment." He linked a Lebanon ceasefire to broader talks with Washington, and observers note that abandoning proxies would be politically costly for Iran; the regime has faced increasing constraints on weapons smuggling through Syria and may rely on crypto-payments for some support.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a new post by Trump was published.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court will hear a petition on Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s management of the Judicial Selection Committee as dozens of posts remain vacant and elections threaten to freeze the process; Levin says he has advanced nearly 200 appointments and is moving urgently, efficiently and decisively to fill trial-court vacancies, while petitioners argue the approach is unlawful and requires broader consensus. Separately, the High Court will hear petitions against the government’s plan to shutter Army Radio; the attorney-general argues the move affects freedom of the press and that the court should require a full explanation of why the December decision to shutter Galatz should not be canceled; the government was ordered to respond, and the hearing will test the legal basis of the closure.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a California hotel staffer identified as Ryan Smith on a GoFundMe fundraiser says he was fired after harassing Israeli guests and posting footage of the incident, though the hotel says he resigned. A video shows him asking an Israeli guest "Are you a baby killer?" after the guest identified as a Zionist; the couple expressed concern about staying at the Oceanpoint Ranch in Cambria.

In Uplifting News, Dr. Nadia Khir, Israel’s first female Druze physician, recalled leaving her traditional Druze village Julis in 1985 to study medicine, an act she describes as revolutionary. She was recognized with special acknowledgment for advancing Druze women by philanthropist Miriam Adelson; she faced community resistance and had to overcome pressure to stay in the village. Her daughters are now pursuing medicine and engineering.

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-897122
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897092
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897129
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76755
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897117
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897123
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897118
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897130