Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-02 at 12:01

HEADLINES
Iran Cuts Oil Output Amid Hormuz Blockade
Sixteen U.S. Bases Damaged Amid Regional War
Emergency Arms Deals, $8.6B to Middle East

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, a senior Iranian official told Bloomberg News Agency that Iran has begun to reduce oil production due to the blockade of Hormuz and the filling of its storage reservoirs. Officials report growing difficulties in obtaining basic products and supplies, and the official said the American blockade is breaking Iran's backbone, a process that is already underway.

In Regional Impacts, CNN's investigation shows massive destruction at 16 US military bases in the Middle East, with some rendered virtually inoperable. Yemen’s coast guard said the M/T EUREKA oil tanker was hijacked off the coast of Shabwa province by unidentified armed men and steered toward Somali waters; the location has been identified and authorities are tracking the vessel to recover it and ensure the crew’s safety. Israel said two Gaza flotilla activists were brought in for questioning after the flotilla of more than 50 vessels was intercepted in international waters off Greece; the activists, Saif Abu Keshek from Spain and Thiago Avila from Brazil, were taken to Israel for questioning, drawing denunciations from Spain over the detention.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the State Department approved more than $8.6 billion in military sales to Middle East allies, with Secretary of State Marco Rubio invoking emergency authority to bypass congressional review for packages including Qatar’s Patriot air defense ($4.01B) and APKWS ($992.4M), Kuwait’s Integrated Battle Command System ($2.5B), Israel’s APKWS ($992.4M), and UAE APKWS ($147.6M); Saudi Arabia is not included in this package. weekend reporting notes that Donald Trump said he was not pleased with the Iranian regime’s ceasefire counter-offer and told Congress the war with Iran has terminated after the 60-day limit, while the administration bypassed Congress to push the emergency arms deal to Israel and Gulf states; Israeli forces have since struck Hezbollah targets in Southern Lebanon, and 14 IRGC members were killed while clearing unexploded ordinance; the Iranian regime has signaled it plans to keep the internet shut down to hinder opposition organizing. Trump later sent letters to both the House and Senate declaring he does not need congressional authorization for war in Iran, citing the extended ceasefire and lack of hostilities since February 28, 2026, while maintaining the threat remains and noting he will continue directing forces; the letters come as questions mount about formal war authorization votes and a 30-day extension for troop withdrawal was not requested. The Pentagon is planning to withdraw roughly 5,000 US troops from Germany as retaliation against European allies who did not join or aid in the Iran War, with Ramstein Air Base and other facilities serving as a hub for ongoing operations and NATO discussions ongoing.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli AI startup Dynamic Infrastructure describes a platform that uses artificial intelligence to help civil engineers prioritize infrastructure maintenance; the CEO, Saar Dickman, says AI is not yet ready for fully autonomous decisions and the current approach includes human checkpoints to handle liability as part of infrastructure management.

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/beholdisraelchannel/75791
https://t.me/selena_updates/63056
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-894877
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/israel-says-two-gaza-flotilla-activists-brought-questioning
https://t.me/selena_updates/63055
https://t.me/ILtoday/18937
https://t.me/selena_updates/63054
https://t.me/selena_updates/63053
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-894819