Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-04 at 10:01

HEADLINES
Beaufort Ridge: IDF cripples Hezbollah
Damascus launches Tourism Police amid revival plan
First woman completes Sayeret Matkal course

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, IDF Chief of the General Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir told northern leaders that the military stands "shoulder to shoulder" with their communities during a joint assessment of the security situation in northern Israel on Thursday. Zamir emphasized that the IDF's goal is to protect northern Israeli communities and increase the damage done to Hezbollah in Lebanon, thereby creating a new security reality for the North. He said the majority of the IDF’s troops and capabilities are deployed in the northern arena, and that "just this week" troops operated in the Beaufort Ridge area, dismantling significant and critical Hezbollah infrastructure that had been built over many years. Zamir also discussed Operation Roaring Lion, noting that Israeli military action had weakened Iran and its proxies to an unprecedented degree. Damascus has created a new Tourism Police Unit, responsible for the security of visitors in the country, as part of plans to bolster Syria’s reviving hospitality industry. Tourism Minister Mazen Al Salhani said the unit would provide guidance to tourist attractions and assist tourists in traveling safely to designated sites and along established tourism routes. He noted that Syria relies heavily on tourism as a key pillar of its economy, and that domestic tourism had grown in the post-liberation period with many who fled the country under the Assad regime returning for visits. Damascus has invested in attracting new visitors, including a $300 million plan announced in April to construct the Beaumont business center with the aim of attracting regional companies to open their headquarters in the capital, while efforts continue to rehabilitate and refurbish aging and damaged hotels.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran’s Quds Force chief Esmail Qaani issued a statement pressing Israel to withdraw from Lebanon, arguing that supporting the resistance is a duty and that removing Israel from the region is an attainable goal for Muslims. The post circulated on a social media platform in Iran and has not been fully verified, but regional media such as Arab News reported on the message. Qaani warned that he could use Iranian influence, apparently via the Houthis, to threaten shipping in the Red Sea and Bab al-Mandeb straits. Separately, Lebanon's Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem warned that northern Israel will not be safe as long as Lebanese villages are bombed and civilians are killed, dismissing ceasefire negotiations as useless and accusing the United States and Israel of driving Lebanon toward surrender to a "greater Israel" project. He argued that disarming the resistance is a condition for any agreement and described Israeli actions as aggression. Hezbollah chief Naim Qassem also rejected a ceasefire deal, calling it humiliating as sirens sounded across the Galilee, saying Hezbollah will not accept terms requiring it to stop fire and withdraw south of the Litani, while Israel warned that any attack would be met with a harsh response.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Bennett pitched an educational reform ahead of the election, unveiling the "From Tribes to People" plan to create a unified national curriculum that would include Hebrew, English, mathematics, civics, Torah, and Jewish and Zionist traditions, with Muslim students given the option to study the Quran instead of the Torah. He spoke at the Israel Democracy Institute's Eli Hurvitz Conference on Economy and Society, and said the plan would be implemented under a future government led by him. Bennett leads the Together alliance with Yair Lapid, with the next Knesset election currently scheduled by October 27, 2026. Separately, the Knesset passed the first reading of a controversial bill to split the attorney-general's role, framed by supporters as restoring power to elected officials while critics warned it would weaken the state's central legal gatekeeper. The bill, advanced by Religious Zionist Party MK Simcha Rothman through the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee, would divide the current attorney-general's powers between two officials: an attorney-general who advises the government and represents the state, and a prosecutor-general who heads the criminal prosecution system.

In Uplifting News, the IDF announced that the first woman has completed the Sayeret Matkal course, the elite General Staff Reconnaissance Unit, and will join operational service in the future. The groundbreaking achievement comes after a lengthy, 18-month training program that tested the trainee to the limit. The IDF says the woman met all of the unit’s criteria, though her exact placement will be determined as roles within Sayeret Matkal vary. The move occurs amid the military’s push to broaden participation across elite units as it faces staffing shortages after years of losses and injuries. The IDF says the integration of all capable personnel remains a priority as it seeks to bolster its capabilities.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-898406
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-898384
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-898407
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-898404
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1ifix1bzl
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898398
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-898390
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-898394