Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-04 at 22:01

HEADLINES
US Destroys Iranian Boats Intercepts Missiles
IAEA Drone Activity Damages Zaporizhzhia Plant
Two Queens Synagogues Defaced with Nazi Graffiti

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the US military said on Monday it destroyed six Iranian small boats and intercepted Iranian cruise missiles and drones as Tehran sought to thwart a new US naval effort to open shipping through the Strait of Hormuz. President Donald Trump launched Operation Project Freedom on Monday to wrest control of the strait, a critical waterway that effectively closed when the conflict began on February 28. US Central Command head Admiral Brad Cooper declined to comment on whether the ceasefire begun on April 8 remained in effect, but he said the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had fired cruise missiles, drones and small boats at ships protected by the US, and those threats had been defeated through defensive munitions. He urged Iranian forces to stay well clear of US assets as Washington pursues the operation.

In Regional Impacts, the IMF chief warned of a much worse outcome if the Middle East war drags on into 2027, with oil hovering around $125 a barrel and inflation pressures rising. Kristalina Georgieva said the IMF’s three-scenario framework — a reference forecast, an adverse path, and a severe path — shows the reference scenario is no longer plausible as conflict persists, and we could face higher inflation and tighter financial conditions if the war lasts into 2027 with oil at elevated levels. Separately, the International Atomic Energy Agency said drone activity damaged meteorological monitoring equipment at Zaporizhzhia, Europe’s largest nuclear power plant, located in southeastern Ukraine and held by Russia. The IAEA noted damage to the lab’s meteorological equipment and urged maximum military restraint near all nuclear facilities to avoid safety risks. The plant now produces no electricity and has been hit by drones several times since the start of the conflict, drawing renewed safety concerns from the UN watchdog.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump described a “little detour” in Iran as “working out very nicely,” while noting Gulf tensions over US escorts in the Strait of Hormuz. He warned that Iran must not obtain a nuclear weapon and said most missiles and drones were intercepted, adding that “one way or the other, we win.”

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, New York City faced a spate of vandalism targeting Jewish sites over Sunday night. At least two Queens synagogues and several homes were defaced with antisemitic graffiti, including Rego Park’s Jewish Center, which was found bearing Nazi swastikas and the phrase Heil Hitler, with a pentagram marked nearby alongside references tied to Baal. A second synagogue on 108th Street was vandalized in a similar fashion. NYC Mayor Zohran Mamdani confirmed the NYPD hate crimes task force was investigating the incidents, and NYC Council Speaker Julie Menin said she visited Congregation Machane Chodosh and shared photographs of the graffiti as investigators pursued leads.

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-895129
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895128
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/iaea-says-drone-damaged-equipment-zaporizhzhia-nuclear-plant-ukraine
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1qmx38rbg
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895126