Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-28 at 18:06

HEADLINES
Trump unilateral victory possibility sparks Iran response
US Israel to craft ten-year defense partnership
Turkey to broker Hezbollah deal

The time is now 6:05 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In גורמי מודיעין אמריקאים בכירים: ״בהחלט נבחנת אפשרות שטראמפ יכריז על ניצחון חד-צדדי, ובכך נראה איך איראן תגיב להכרזה על כזו.״ המלחמה עם איראן לא צפויה להתחדש, ארה״ב מתקרבת לסיום המלחמה.״ https://t.me/newssilם, senior US intelligence officials say the possibility is being studied that Trump would declare a unilateral victory, and that would reveal how Iran might respond to such a declaration. The conflict with Iran is not expected to restart, and the United States is nearing the end of the war.

Late-night buzz returns to Cairo as war-fuelled energy curbs ease. In Cairo, the city’s famed nocturnal rhythm began returning after Egypt lifted energy-saving measures tied to the Middle East conflict that had forced shops, cafes and restaurants to close early and dimmed the capital’s famous late-night culture. The measures, designed to curb electricity use amid soaring prices linked to the US-Israel conflict with Iran, had previously restricted activity until 9 pm and then 11 pm. The government said cafes and restaurants could stay open until 1 am, shops and malls until 11 pm, with weekend hours extending to midnight. By Tuesday night, evidence of the shift was visible in Heliopolis, where streets and cafes filled after 10 pm, and residents and visitors alike reconnected with the city’s familiar late-evening bustle.

In Turkey offering to broker agreement between US, Lebanon on Hezbollah, sources tell 'Post' Turkey has approached the United States and Lebanon with a proposal to help broker an arrangement involving Hezbollah, signaling Ankara’s interest in serving as a regional mediator and expanding its diplomatic footprint. The United States has not yet given a clear response, and Beirut’s reaction has been described as not very enthusiastic. Turkey has pursued greater involvement across the Middle East, including areas bordering Israel, as it seeks a larger role in regional affairs.

Today (Tuesday), during IDF and security forces’ activity in southern Lebanon, an employee working for an engineering company carrying out projects on behalf of the Ministry of Defense was killed. He is Amer Hujirat, 44, from the northern Israeli Arab town of Shefa-Amr. His 19-year-old son, who worked for the same company employed by the Defense Ministry, was lightly wounded in the incident.

כוחותינו במטרו של חיזבאללה. A post notes “Our forces in Hezbollah’s metro,” reflecting a claim circulated online about movements connected to Hezbollah.

In US-Israel talks to discuss shifting military aid funding to joint defense partnership, the future shape of the two countries’ military relationship is set to be discussed starting in May. The talks are expected to last about four months and would explore gradually winding down US military aid to Israel in favor of a joint defense partnership, with a ten-year timeline often cited for such arrangements. Officials say the discussions could still unfold before Israel’s October elections and the US midterm elections, and that the start may have been delayed by the war with Iran and Hezbollah. If the plan proceeds, it would represent a fundamental shift in the traditional basis of US security aid to Israel.

US presses Israel to maintain Lebanon ceasefire. Washington is urging Israel to sustain the Lebanon ceasefire amid ongoing tension, noting that fighting persists in southern Lebanon and along northern Israel even as overall calm holds. The situation underscores gaps between formal ceasefire declarations and on-the-ground activity, including recent Hezbollah actions and related drone activity.

Treasury Sec. Scott Bessent just CRACKED DOWN on 35 entities and individuals that oversee the Iranian Islamic regime’s SHADOW BANKING systems. Bessent has highlighted that these networks help move billions of dollars to evade sanctions and sustain the Islamic regime’s operations. He said Gulf partners aided efforts to track Iranian funds, and warned that the shadow banking system provides a critical financial lifeline for the armed forces, enabling activities that disrupt global trade and fuel violence across the Middle East. Institutions facilitating or engaging with these networks are being placed on notice of potential severe consequences.

Netanyahu trial: President’s legal team invites prosecution, defense to preliminary plea-deal talks. President Isaac Herzog’s legal team invited Netanyahu’s defense and the prosecution to begin preliminary discussions at the President’s Residence in Jerusalem to explore whether a plea bargain could be reached before the president considers pardoning the prime minister. The invitation, described as preliminary, aims to determine whether talks can proceed in good faith before the pardon process is invoked. Netanyahu returned to the witness stand after a two-month pause as cross-examination resumed, with replies from both sides due by a stated deadline.

Good news from Switzerland. Good news from Switzerland.

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://t.me/newssil/200373
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/late-night-buzz-returns-cairo-war-fuelled-energy-curbs-ease
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894506
https://t.me/selena_updates/62870
https://t.me/newssil/200370
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-894509
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/04/29/us-presses-israel-to-maintain-lebanon-ceasefire/
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75679
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894508
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75675