Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-04 at 10:02

HEADLINES
First US backed Hormuz transit breaks blockade
IRGC Maps Hormuz UAE Missile Alerts
IDF Strikes Hezbollah After Lebanon Clash

The time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the United States says it broke Iran blockade after merchant vessels crossed the Strait of Hormuz, marking the first US-backed transit through the strategic waterway since Tehran imposed a sweeping blockade that disrupted global energy flows and heightened tensions in the region. American warships are reportedly operating in the Strait of Hormuz and have already aided two commercial vessels in safely exiting the waterway, while the United Arab Emirates says one of its commercial vessels was targeted and its citizens are being warned to prepare for possible Iranian missile attacks.

In Regional Impacts, a South Korean ship sailing near the Strait of Hormuz was attacked on Monday, and South Korea’s government said there were initially no casualties among its nationals as of the first check. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps navy issued a new map of the Strait of Hormuz under its claimed area of control, with unclear changes, as shipping remained at standstill and US President Trump said Washington would begin efforts to restore freedom of navigation; CENTCOM said it would begin helping to restore freedom of navigation, but traffic remained light with only a sanctioned LPG carrier and a few cargo ships and a cable-laying vessel entering the Gulf of Oman. Separately, a South Korean vessel was targeted by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz off the coast of the United Arab Emirates, triggering missile alerts in Dubai, with three interceptor missiles launched from the UAE in response. The UAE also condemned an incident in which one of its oil tankers in the Strait of Hormuz was targeted by two Iranian drones yesterday, with no injuries reported. Project Freedom is underway in the Strait of Hormuz, and Iran's response will determine whether the region returns to open war.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an opinion piece argues that Lebanon's survival may depend on a deal with Israel, noting that President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam are pursuing negotiations not by preference but because the alternative could be the end of Lebanon as a unified state, with leadership acknowledging Lebanon’s decision-making power and the structural realities shaping its future. Two IDF soldiers were wounded in a clash with Hezbollah terrorists in southern Lebanon; following the incident, the Air Force struck several Hezbollah military buildings and an anti-tank post in the area, and a raid on a Hezbollah launch site yielded dozens of rockets and additional weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, RPGs, and combat equipment.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US policy voice emphasizes three points: the Iranians are viewed as believing their propaganda and their leadership is described as being in bunkers, with officials noting uncertainty about what is happening on the ground. Washington also asserts its aim to open the Strait of Hormuz and calls on China to join in supporting the international operation. A separate American source says there is no intention to be dragged into war and that there is determination to renew the movement of ships through Hormuz.

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.

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