Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-05 at 16:01

HEADLINES
Iran ultimatum looms as targets finalized
IDF doubts Iran missiles amid escalation fears
US Pararescue recovers downed airman in Iran

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel and the United States have finalized a comprehensive list of strategic targets to be struck in Iran should the Islamic Republic fail to meet the requirements of US President Donald Trump’s looming ultimatum. Agreement on the target list follows a series of intensive high-level discussions aimed at synchronizing the American and Israeli responses to Tehran’s continued defiance. In addition to the finalized list of objectives, operational coordination between the US military and the IDF has been completed. The final touches on the joint operational plan were made during a meeting last Thursday between the IDF Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir and the leadership of US Central Command; officials discussed and finalized the specific division of roles and mission objectives should the US president determine that the ultimatum has expired. In a stark warning to the regime in Tehran, Trump stated in an interview with ABC News: “Without a deal – it’s over for the state of Iran.” Against the backdrop of these developments, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened the Security Cabinet on Sunday evening to brief ministers.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the IDF remains uncertain about Iran’s missile stock. While the majority of the IDF believes Iran has only several hundred ballistic missiles left, IDF sources told The Jerusalem Post that no one can be certain. Channel 12 had reported that Iran still has more than 1,000 missiles left, contradicting the prior estimate; the IDF backed the earlier estimate but added that no one knows for sure. Part of the uncertainty is how many missiles, many covered in rubble, can be salvaged and remain accessible to Iran. There is a subcategory between milder rubble cave-ins and larger cave-ins. In some cases, Iran has bulldozer teams and techniques to uncover caved-in missile sites within less than a day, potentially keeping missiles in play. Separately, Israel braces for major escalation as Trump’s Iran deadline nears, with officials preparing for possible strikes on Iranian energy and infrastructure targets as mediators race to secure a last-minute deal and avert a wider regional war.

In US Military Role, the US Air Force Pararescue unit led the mission to recover a downed airman after an F-15 was shot down over Iran. The PJs trace their roots to the end of World War II and are widely regarded as among the most demanding special operators, trained to go where others cannot and to operate under fire with the motto “So That Others May Live.” As one former intelligence official noted, this is among the nation’s elite forces in the Joint Special Operations Command. The rescue operation also drew on Israeli intelligence and tactical support, with IDF and US forces carrying out diversionary strikes to mislead Iranian forces and facilitate the extraction. The mission unfolded over roughly 48 hours, with Israeli and American leaders maintaining direct contact, and the effort described by US officials as among the boldest rescue efforts in history.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Jewish settlers burned a chicken coop and trucks belonging to Palestinian residents in the West Bank village of Qusra near Nablus, and attacked and seriously injured a Palestinian villager. Hebrew media reported the fires as retaliation for a previous incident in which a settler was attacked with stones by Palestinians from Qusra. WAFA described the arson at the village, where two structures and two poultry farming sites were set ablaze, and provincial forces rushed to the area in response. The incident underscores ongoing, volatile tensions in the West Bank as security forces monitor and respond to flashpoint confrontations between settlers and Palestinian communities.

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-892173
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892171
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s19v5ve3be
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892172
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892170
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892156
https://t.me/selena_updates/60951