Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-09-04 at 14:01

HEADLINES
IDF ready for Lebanon strikes amid drones
Houthis push toward Bab al-Mandeb 120 dead
Erdan pulls out of 2026 election

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF to conduct strikes on Lebanon in coming hours, Upper Galilee Regional Council announces. The Upper Galilee security department said the Israeli military will carry out a series of strikes on Lebanon in the coming hours, with explosions expected in Western Galilee, the Hula Valley, the Ramim Ridge and possibly in northern Golan Heights. No new public security instructions were issued; officials said the IDF and the council would remain in continuous contact and would issue updates if circumstances change. Separately, Hezbollah-linked Al Mayadeen reported a drone strike in the southern Lebanese village of Rumman, with two people killed while the attack targeted a motorcycle, according to Ynet citing Lebanese media. The IDF had struck Rumman earlier this week after terrorists launched two explosive drones toward soldiers and prompted sirens in parts of northern Israel, according to Hezbollah-run Al Manar TV. More than 120 killed in Yemen's worst clashes in years: sources. The major Houthi offensive to seize control of the gateway to the Red Sea has left more than 120 people dead, the country’s deadliest clashes in years, according to AFP. Fighting erupted on Thursday as the Iran-backed Houthis launched a ground assault along with rocket and drone attacks near coastal areas, as they vie for control of the Bab al-Mandab strait at the Red Sea’s southern entrance. Yemen, engulfed in civil conflict and now drawn into wider regional hostilities, has seen the Houthis impose a maritime blockade of Saudi Arabia and repeatedly attack ships in the Red Sea, a key route for oil exports after Iran’s actions disrupted Gulf shipments by blocking the Strait of Hormuz. The rebels are pressing to tighten their hold over the Red Sea shipping lane, aiming to cut off government-held Mokha and to push toward border areas.

In the Israeli Domestic Politics, New blood wanted: Israeli politics needs an infusion of unpolluted leaders - opinion. The author argues that at a moment of heightened strategic risk, Israel should elect or reelect leaders with substantial security and diplomatic experience while also bringing in a younger generation of bright, honest, and potentially green politicians. The piece envisions a synthesis between experience and innovation, and urges ruling out candidates defined by violent or divisive rhetoric. It notes elections could come in 2028 or 2030 and references figures from Benjamin Netanyahu to Yair Lapid and Moshe Gafni as examples of the current cohort, while weighing the tradeoffs between experience, resilience and virtue as the country seeks stable leadership. Unity Party leader Gilad Erdan withdraws from election after failed merger talks. Unity Party chairman and former UN ambassador Gilad Erdan said he is pulling the party out of Israel’s 2026 election, citing weak polling and unsuccessful merger efforts with other parties. He said crossing the electoral threshold is unlikely and that attempts to form a unity bloc have not materialized, adding that voters appear more focused on who will serve as prime minister than on his party’s platform, implying a broad unity government is not a priority for the public at this time.

In the Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israeli athletes removed from Northern Irish triathlon amid BDS pressure, fears for safety. Four Israeli athletes were removed from the City of Derry Triathlon in Derry, Northern Ireland, after a request from the Israeli National Federation to exclude all Israeli entrants. Local organizers said they could not support Israeli participation for safety reasons, with the event set to begin on Saturday and the final start list explicitly not including any athletes representing Israel. Organizers emphasized that the decision reflects concerns about representation of the State of Israel in international sport and the aspiration to present normalcy while Palestinians continue to suffer, rather than bias against individuals on religious or ethnic grounds.

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-907606
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/more-120-killed-yemens-worst-clashes-years-sources
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-907478
https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-907605
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907600