Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-08 at 11:03

HEADLINES
Iran Closes Strait of Hormuz, Tankers Blocked
US Claims Decisive Iran Victory, Ceasefire Looms
Kurds Under Fire as Iran Proxies Strike

The time is now 11:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, blocking oil tankers from transiting the waterway in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah, according to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-tied outlet Fars News. Oil tankers attempting to transit the strait received threatening messages from the Iranian Navy, according to several shipping sources. "Any vessel trying to travel into the sea ... will be targeted and destroyed..." the message, which was received by several vessels, said. This is a developing story.

In US Military Role, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth said that America had a "decisive military victory against Iran" in comments to the press. He added that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei was wounded and disfigured. Regarding the ceasefire, Hegseth stated that Iran had "begged" for it, saying the US had used "less than 10%" of its military capabilities in Operation Epic Fury. He noted that the US conducted 800 strikes on Tuesday night prior to the ceasefire, "destroying" Iran's defense industrial base, further describing Iranian factories as having been "razed to the ground." Regarding the Strait of Hormuz, Hegseth said the Strait is "open" and that Iran will allow ships to transit it, further stating that US forces will ensure Iran abides by the ceasefire's terms and that the US military will be "hanging around" Iran. "We hope and believe the ceasefire will hold," said Hegseth. "Iran would be wise to get the word out to their troops to stop firing." Hegseth also touched on Iran's enriched uranium, saying that Iran will either give the uranium to the US, or "we'll take it out."

In Regional Impacts, the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq has been one of the main targets of Iran and its proxies in the month and a half of war since February 28. There have been around 600-700 drone and missile attacks on the region. Kurds have been killed, and the drones and missiles have wreaked havoc in the cities of the region. This includes numerous attacks on the regional capital of Erbil, as well as attacks on Sulimaniyeh and Dohuk. Many attacks also targeted Kurdish Iranian opposition groups. These groups have bases and members in northern Iraq because some Kurds in Iran have lived in exile in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Kurdish people live in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. The Kurdish opposition groups have long had forces in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. They have trained in the mountains, and they have maintained small camps and facilities for their members and families. Over the years, Iran targeted some of these groups, specifically the group PDKI and also the Kurdistan Freedom Party (PAK), as well as a group called Komala. Since the war with Iran began, Tehran told its militias in Iraq to target the Kurdistan Region. They targeted US forces and facilities in the region. Five things to watch amid the ceasefire with Iran notes that a fragile ceasefire took shape on April 8, with Lebanon, Iraq, and other flashpoints remaining hot spots as the ceasefire begins, including concerns over Israel’s campaign in Lebanon, doubts about mediator talks, and the fate of Iran’s 10-point plan, alongside Iraqi dynamics and domestic political fallout.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah fired at targets in northern Israel, and a fragment from an intercepted rocket fell in an open area with no injuries, according to Israeli media. Iran had also launched missiles toward Israel early Wednesday morning, hours after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire involving the US, Israel, and Iran, with alerts continuing in Israel after the truce was announced. On Tuesday, several locations in central Israel were hit by fragments from an Iranian missile following a launch toward the region, according to reports received by Magen David Adom and United Hatzalah. The Rosh Ha’ayin Municipality stated that there was significant damage to both residences and a pedestrian street across the city. Despite the damage, no injuries were reported.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, A pause, not an end: What the two-week ceasefire with Iran really means — opinion writes that from Washington’s perspective reopening the Strait of Hormuz constitutes a major strategic achievement, while for Iran the ceasefire offers temporary breathing room. The piece notes that the ceasefire is a short pause with no guarantee that the broader conflict is over, no withdrawal of forces, and no halt to Israel’s ongoing campaign. Trump says he will work with Iran for "very productive regime change, there will be no enrichment," claiming the United States will partner with Iran to remove deeply buried nuclear assets and imposing tariffs on weapons to Iran as part of deter-and-engage discussions. He also suggested a joint effort to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz during the talks and indicated a path toward coordination on sanctions relief and other terms.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, A defiant Hasan Piker boosts Michigan Senate candidate Abdul el-Sayed in rallies taking on Israel. Outside, hundreds gathered for el-Sayed’s campaign rally as Piker, a prominent progressive streamer, drew attention for remarks linking to Israel’s policies. Leading Democrats have urged the party to distance itself from Piker, while attendees expressed support for el-Sayed’s Medicare for All platform and criticized Israel. The event highlighted ongoing debates within the political left over Israel and the broader Israel-Palestinian issue, including how antisemitism concerns are framed in campaigning.

In Israeli Economy and Business, פקק ימי היסטורי משתק את נתיב הנפט החשוב בעולם describes a bottleneck that remains in the Strait of Hormuz despite a ceasefire. Thousands of seafarers are stuck, with about 800 ships detained, leaving global trade paralyzed. The piece characterizes the situation as a logistics crisis and notes Iranian leverage, including claims of victory and disclosure of conditions reportedly agreed to by the United States. The development underscores how the Hormuz standstill continues to shape economic activity and energy markets.

In Uplifting News, Resilience is in Israel's DNA. Am. Yisrael. Chai. reflects a recurring sentiment of determination and continuity in Israeli society, underscoring a sense of resilience.

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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