Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-26 at 06:01

HEADLINES
Iran US clash drone shotdown F-35 retreat
Khamenei no US bases threat to Israel
Hezbollah drones threaten Tel Aviv; Liberman warns

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it shot down an MQ-9 Reaper drone after identifying a hostile aircraft entering Iran's airspace in the Gulf region on Tuesday. It also said it fired at an F-35 fighter jet, forcing it to leave Iranian airspace, and fired on an RQ-4 intelligence drone. The IRGC added that it reserved the "legitimate and definite" right to retaliate against any ceasefire violations by the US, state media reported. United States Central Command said its forces conducted self-defense strikes in southern Iran overnight to protect troops from threats posed by Iranian forces, targeting boats laying mines and missile launch sites; CENTCOM spokesman Captain Tim Hawkins said the United States continues to defend its forces while exercising restraint during the ceasefire. This remains a developing story.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's supreme leader Mojtaba Khamenei posted that regional countries will no longer host US bases, saying America will have no safe haven for mischief and for military bases in the region. CENTCOM, though based in Florida, maintains a permanent presence at bases across the region. Khamenei also threatened Israel, calling it the "shaky Zionist regime and cancerous tumor," and said Israel was nearing demise. He cited a prescient remark attributed to his father predicting Israel would no longer exist in 25 years, i.e., within 15 years from now. He also praised Hezbollah terrorists in Lebanon.

In Regional Impacts, Avigdor Liberman warned that explosive drones could reach Israeli cities and urged the government to act decisively, calling for real decisions rather than an unclear North approach. He warned that drones could reach Tel Aviv and Jerusalem and pressed for a decisive shift in policy to address the Hezbollah drone threat and broader regional dynamics.

In The Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Roman Gofman, while commander of the IDF's Division 210, met with the head of the Mossad department responsible for influence operations to discuss the possibility of cooperation for influence operations in Syria. The meeting underscored the importance Gofman attached to influence operations, and a former Mossad official who spoke after retirement said Gofman displayed creativity and a strategic mindset, though the discussion did not raise the use of Israeli Telegram channels. Separately, Hezbollah's drone activities continue to raise alarms about potential reach toward Jerusalem and Tel Aviv if the government does not act, with Liberman urging a decisive response. Analysts note Hezbollah has built a decentralized drone manufacturing network across dozens of villages, making airstrikes harder to interdict; FPV drones cost about $300 to $500 per unit and can be assembled at home. In Mashghara, in Lebanon's Beqaa region, 14 people were killed in overnight Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Dr. Tzvika Mor, father of released hostage Eitan Mor, is reported to be joining Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party with a high position on the list, though Smotrich has not confirmed the move and a press conference is expected later. The "Midnight Meeting" affair continues as PMO chief of staff Tzachi Braverman is summoned for a pre-indictment hearing on suspicion of fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice in connection with a probe into leaks of highly classified intelligence to Bild; Braverman’s lawyers say the decision is improper and rely on testimony they characterize as inconsistent. Separately, former Netanyahu aide Braverman faces charges related to a secret Kirya parking lot meeting. Also, Ben-Gvir visited a Bedouin village at night and was met with protests, with residents challenging him over his army service.

In Uplifting News, Ethiopian Jewish activist Dr. Shmuel Legesse described his life's mission as uniting Jews, defending Israel's legitimacy, and giving voice to the Ethiopian Jewish experience. In an interview on The Jerusalem Post podcast, Legesse spoke about growing up in Ethiopia, moving to the United States, and returning to Israel with his family, noting that the Hamas attacks sharpened his belief in stronger internal unity and a more confident Jewish presence abroad. He reflected on challenges as a Black Ethiopian Jew and the need for greater understanding between diaspora communities and Israeli society, praising leaders who helped him find his path.

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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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897309
https://worldisraelnews.com/hezbollah-is-using-the-ceasefire-to-produce-more-drones-for-war-against-israel/
https://t.me/selena_updates/64402
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