Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-09 at 16:01

HEADLINES
Secret Iraqi base fuels Israeli Iran strikes
UAE attacked; Hormuz traffic stalls world trade
IDF hits Bekaa underground weapons facility

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel built a secret base in a remote part of the Iraqi desert to support an airstrike in the war against Iran, according to a Wall Street Journal report on Saturday evening. The base housed Air Force special forces and served as a forward logistics hub, with troops stationed there in case Israeli pilots were shot down over enemy territory. The Jerusalem Post could not verify the report at this time. The WSJ account notes the base was set up shortly before Operation Roaring Lion began in February, and that shepherds reported unusual activity on March 4, prompting Iraqi forces to investigate and, according to the report, Israeli airstrikes drove them away, leaving one Iraqi soldier dead. A US source told the WSJ that American forces were not involved in the matter.

In US Military Role, Israel and the US focused strikes on weaponization efforts rather than enrichment sites during the Iran war, according to an ISIS satellite imagery analysis. The analysis says damage was limited to facilities and infrastructure tied to the weaponization of enriched uranium, with development sites among those targeted. One site highlighted was Min Zadai, suspected to be central to Iran’s attempts to recover nuclear capabilities after the June 2025 strikes, and Taleghan 2, described as a highly significant facility. The report notes that on March 3, the IDF announced strikes on the complex, calling it a partially underground “nuclear headquarters” where scientists were working on components for nuclear weapons systems. Le Monde had suggested the Min Zadai complex played a role in the metallurgy of nuclear cores. Separately, officials indicated that, should Iran talks fail, the United States could shift to targeting missiles, ports and IRGC infrastructure in a renewed campaign, as discussions remain fragile. A senior US official confirmed that American forces struck Iran’s Qeshm port and Bandar Abbas near the Strait of Hormuz, while stressing that the operation did not signify a broader escalation.

In Regional Impacts, the UAE confirmed a serious escalation after Iranian forces launched a multi-pronged aerial attack targeting the country, with air defense systems intercepting two ballistic missiles and three drones; ground casualties were reported, underscoring heightened regional risk. For more than a day, there have been zero commercial vessel transits through the Strait of Hormuz, a stark contrast to the pre-crisis average of about 130 vessels daily, illustrating the disruption to global trade flows at one of the world’s key chokepoints.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah drone attacks continued against Israeli troops in southern Lebanon, resulting in one reserve soldier being seriously wounded and another reserve soldier and an officer sustaining moderate injuries; the IDF said it struck more than 85 Hezbollah targets across Lebanon in the past 24 hours, including an underground weapons production facility in the Bekaa Valley, and also targeted Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon. In Gaza, the IDF and Shin Bet said they struck a weapons production site used by Islamic Jihad and Hamas, after which Hamas confirmed that Azzam al-Hayya, the son of Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya, died of wounds from an Israeli airstrike. The military said civilians were evacuated and that aerial surveillance supported the operation as troops remained deployed in accordance with the ceasefire framework.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States imposed sanctions on 10 companies and individuals believed to have aided Iran’s military buildup.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Benny Gantz’s political decline is seen as nearing a final stage, with the anti-Netanyahu bloc solidifying ahead of the 2026 elections and polls showing Blue and White struggling to cross the electoral threshold as several party members depart, including Chili Tropper, signaling a significant shift in the political landscape surrounding Netanyahu’s rivals.

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/israel-news/article-895621
https://worldisraelnews.com/revealed-covert-israeli-base-backed-iran-air-campaign/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1ku5xaabl
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895615
https://worldisraelnews.com/if-iran-talks-fail-us-could-target-missiles-ports-and-irgc-infrastructure/
https://t.me/selena_updates/63515
https://worldisraelnews.com/uae-intercepts-ballistic-missiles-in-massive-iranian-attack/
https://t.me/selena_updates/63516
https://worldisraelnews.com/3-soldiers-wounded-by-hezbollah-drone-idf-hits-85-terror-targets-in-lebanon/
https://worldisraelnews.com/idf-attacks-islamic-jihad-arms-production-factory-in-gaza/
https://t.me/newssil/201249
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895435