Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-24 at 10:02

HEADLINES
- Iran Downs Israeli Drone; Peace Deal Looms
- Iran Funds Proxies; Hezbollah Crypto Payments Revealed
- Israel High Court Examines Army Radio Closure

The time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Iranian army downed an Israeli spying and surveillance drone in Hormozgan province, Mehr News Agency reported. The wreckage of a shattered Orbiter drone, an Israeli product, was discovered in cooperation with Iranian naval forces, the agency claimed. This development comes as expectations rise that a memorandum of understanding regarding a peace deal between Iran and the United States could be imminent.

In Regional Impacts, analysts weigh Iran's Gulf strategy as attacks on energy infrastructure spread. An opinion piece argues that Iran has adopted a sustained low-intensity campaign—ballistic missiles, drones, and strikes on energy facilities, ports, and both military and civilian targets—to wear down adversaries while avoiding all-out war. It notes Iran remains heavily dependent on oil revenue, with China as a major customer, accounting for a large portion of its seaborne crude exports at about 1.3 to 1.4 million barrels per day. Separately, the Saudi Defense Ministry released footage documenting air-defense activity near Mecca during the holiday period.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi told Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem that Tehran will continue funding and supporting its network of proxies, with Lebanon emerging as a sticking point in US ceasefire talks. Naming Hezbollah explicitly, Araghchi said the regime “will not abandon support for movements seeking rights and freedom until the very last moment.” An analyst noted that abandoning proxies would be political suicide and that Iran’s level of support has changed and will shift based on its own capabilities; the regime is increasingly unable to smuggle weapons through Syria and must now rely on crypto-payments to fund Hezbollah as a means of financial support. The war against Hezbollah is described as being fought by Israel, not the US.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice will convene at 4 p.m. Sunday for a follow-up hearing on Justice Minister Yariv Levin’s handling of the Judicial Selection Committee, as dozens of judicial posts remain empty and elections threaten to freeze the process. The petition, filed by the Movement for Quality Government in July 2025, asks the court to compel Levin to convene the committee and to fill vacancies across the judiciary; Levin says he has advanced nearly 200 appointments and is moving urgently and decisively, arguing he has not neglected the issue. Petitioners contend Levin has unlawfully tied further appointments to broad consensus among committee members, even where not required by law. In a separate matter, the High Court will also hear petitions against the government’s decision to close Army Radio, with the attorney-general warning the move cannot be viewed as a narrow decision about one station but part of a wider effort affecting Israel’s free press. The court had ordered the government to explain why the December decision to shutter the 75-year-old station should not be canceled; the decision was frozen pending review. Baharav-Miara said her January position should be treated as the main arguments, arguing the Galatz closure suffers from fundamental legal defects.

In Uplifting News, Dr. Nadia Khir tells The Jerusalem Post she was Israel’s first female Druze physician, a path she pursued starting in 1985 after leaving her traditional Druze village. She described her decision as revolutionary and said she received recognition for advancing Druze women from philanthropist Miriam Adelson. Khir faced resistance from her community and had to persuade her family to allow her to study medicine. Her daughters have followed in her footsteps, with one nearing completion of medical school and two pursuing engineering degrees.

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://t.me/abualiexpress/122944
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-897129
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/israel-news/article-897130