Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-09 at 20:02

HEADLINES
Secret Iraqi base backs strike on Iran
Hormuz floating prison traps 20,000 sailors
Gaza backs disarmament, seeks civilian leadership

The time is now 8:01 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 military base in a remote part of the Iraqi desert to support an airstrike in the war against Iran, a late Saturday report said. Several people familiar with the matter, including top US officials, told the outlet that the IDF built the outpost shortly before the operation began in February. It housed Air Force special forces and served as a logistics facility. IDF troops were stationed there in case pilots were shot down over enemy territory. The report noted that the IDF nearly launched strikes against Iraqi troops that had almost discovered the base. On March 4, a local shepherd spotted unusual activity, including helicopter flights, and tipped off the Iraqi military. The IDF reportedly drove the Iraqi forces away with airstrikes, and one Iraqi soldier was killed. A US official said American forces were not involved. Baghdad condemned the incident at the time and filed a complaint with the United Nations. Verification of the report could not be confirmed at this time.

In Regional Impacts, Qatar rushes to mediate on Iran deal as Tehran threatens US bases and ships over tanker strikes. Rubio and Witkoff met Qatar's prime minister in Miami as mediators press for a memorandum to end the war; Tehran says any US strike on Iranian tankers would trigger attacks on American bases and enemy ships in the region, as Washington awaits Iran's answer.

Inside Hormuz's floating prison, where 20,000 sailors are trapped for 65 days, waiting for Iran to let them go. Hundreds of ships remain trapped in the Persian Gulf, with food, water and medicine running low and no rescue in sight; crews caught in US-Iran clashes describe drones overhead, a nearby ship burning and fears for their lives.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Gazan public opinion turning against Hamas as support for disarmament grows - report. Public sentiment in the Gaza Strip is shifting, with the majority supporting disarmament of Hamas as a path out of long-term turmoil and violence. The desiring to end the war and reconstruct the Gaza Strip is outweighing support for Hamas’s extremist ideology. On the ground, reports indicate a significant drop in support for terrorist acts and violent resistance as a means of advancing civilians, and the majority are shifting to oppose Hamas remaining in power, seeking alternative civilian leadership. Hamas has continued to refuse to disarm in line with the October 2025 ceasefire deal, hindering progress. Negotiations between Hamas and the Gaza Board are ongoing.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UK man charged for threatening messages to Israeli embassy, Muslim orgs, MP office. Thirty-year-old Nick Daly faces nine counts of offensive messages for allegedly sending eight anti-Muslim messages to a Muslim organization and one antisemitic message to the Israeli embassy, and a count of threatening death or harm for messages he allegedly sent to an MP's office. Police found a weapon and cannabis at his residence; he was charged with one count of possession of an offensive weapon in a private place and possession of a controlled drug.

UK man charged for threatening to cut Jews throats while they were going to synagogue. Wayne Kelly pleaded guilty to charges of racially aggravated common assault, two charges of racially aggravated intentional harassment alarm, and two charges of racially aggravated harassment after an incident in Salford where he shouted antisemitic abuse at Jewish men walking to a synagogue and allegedly threatened to retrieve knives to cut their throats.

'Shame Hitler didn't kill you:' Hackney man charged for threats to kill Jews on London bus. James Agius, 50, was charged with religiously aggravated harassment and using threatening words after allegedly abusing Orthodox Jews on a Stamford Hill bus; the driver stopped the bus and emergency alarms were activated, with no weapon found as authorities treat the incident as an antisemitic hate crime.

Ninth arrest made for Golders Green Hatzalah ambulances arson. A 48-year-old Leytonstone resident was arrested on suspicion of conspiracy to commit arson, the ninth arrest in the investigation into the March 23 attack in which four Jewish emergency service ambulances were set ablaze. The Metropolitan Police said the total arrests in the wave of attacks now stands at 31, with eight charged and one convicted.

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://www.ynetnews.com/article/ry11rhnar11x
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjn4fn6awe
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-895619
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895626
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895625
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895624
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895623