Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-10 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Israel covert Iraqi desert logistics outpost exposed
Israel's AI targeting system shapes lethal operations
Iran warns direct strikes on US bases

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel reportedly operates a covert outpost deep in the Iraqi desert established ahead of the opening phase of the war with Iran. According to The Jerusalem Post's senior military correspondent and intelligence analyst, Yonah Jeremy Bob, the base served as a logistic hub and emergency rescue point for Israeli Air Force special forces pilot operations over enemy territory. The outpost remained off public records until recently, and its location was described as remote. The Wall Street Journal and others have noted Israeli operations in and over Iraq related to the Iran war, but the WSJ report did not specify how the base was built, who supplied it, or whether Iraqi officials knew of its existence. The secrecy nearly slipped in March after a local shepherd reported unusual helicopter activity, and Iraqi forces moved toward the area, prompting Israeli airstrikes that pushed them back; one Iraqi soldier was killed. Iraq condemned the strike publicly and filed a complaint with the United Nations.

Separately, the report details how Israel has fused data from smartphones, security and traffic cameras, Wi‑Fi signals, drones, government databases, and social media into an artificial intelligence-based targeting system described as central to its intelligence warfare. The mechanism has allowed rapid, data-driven targeting that culminated in lethal action, illustrated by the case of Ahmad Turmus, who was called by an Israeli officer and asked, “Ahmad, do you want to die with those around you or alone?” Turmus answered, “Alone.” The system builds a lethal picture from a wide array of data streams and has been highlighted in the context of broader Israeli operations since the Hezbollah-era pager attacks in September 2024, which involved remotely detonated explosives that felled targets across ranks and roles.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s leadership signaled a sharpened posture in the Gulf, with warnings from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps that direct strikes against US regional bases could follow if Iranian oil tankers are intercepted. The scene was set during a high-stakes meeting where Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei reviewed the military’s readiness with Ali Abdollahi, commander of the Khatam al-Anbiya Central Headquarters, and officials described new directives intended to shape how Iranian forces would confront perceived enemies amid the maritime clash. State media characterized these directives as a mandate for firm confrontation, though details remain classified. The development comes as Iran faces a tightening naval blockade and escalating exchanges in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iraqi media were stunned by reports—originating with the Wall Street Journal—about a secret Israeli base operating inside Iraq. The report arrives as Baghdad is assembling a new government under Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and seeks to respond to US pressure to rein in Iran-backed militias. Iraqi authorities have long struggled with sovereignty concerns and regional rivalries, and the WSJ disclosure could provoke controversy in the capital at a sensitive moment. Iraq’s leadership has faced scrutiny over its relationship with the United States and Iran, while militias in the region have carried out attacks on areas including Kurdistan and Western diplomatic sites, underscoring a fraught security dynamic for Baghdad.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a Guardian analysis questions the durability of the Netanyahu–Trump dynamic as the Iran conflict drags on without a clear resolution. The piece cites former Israeli diplomat Alon Pinkas, who described Netanyahu as a “conman” who used Venezuela as an example of what the United States and Israel might do in Iran. The reporting portrays a fraying alliance as American and Israeli officials weigh risks of Iranian retaliation, even as some warning voices argue that the Islamic Republic could pose threats to US bases and regional partners. The article notes that, by late March, US bases had been attacked and the Strait of Hormuz was reported as closed, illustrating the volatile security environment surrounding the debate over strategy and alliance.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice questioned the State Comptroller’s authority to probe the core failures tied to the October 7 massacre and the Iran war. The hearing, before an expanded panel of five justices, considered petitions seeking to halt or limit Comptroller Matanyahu Englman’s audit, arguing that the scale of the disaster requires a broader, independent investigative mechanism and that the comptroller’s work could interfere with a future commission of inquiry or contaminate evidence. Justice Dafna Barak-Erez stressed that the court was not impugning the importance of the Comptroller’s Office, but was examining the scope of its power to probe wartime policy and personal responsibility.

Also in Israeli Domestic Politics, legislation advanced an overhaul of senior civil-service appointments, with a bill backed by Justice Minister Yariv Levin and promoted by Likud MK Shalom Danino. The proposal would replace the current professional screening system with a model granting ministers and the government broader control over senior appointments, including posts such as the IDF chief of staff, police commissioner, Shin Bet chief, Mossad chief, and other top posts. Under the new framework, a minister would select a candidate and submit the name to a government-appointed qualifications committee, which would have seven days to determine only whether the candidate meets the basic qualifications, leaving further evaluation to the minister. The bills would apply to positions requiring government approval and would replace tender-based hiring for many senior roles with a streamlined, politically influenced process.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a GB News appearance in central London featured Deputy Leader of Reform UK Richard Tice at a rally against antisemitism. Tice urged action to ban hate marches and called for the proscription and ban of groups such as the IRGC and the Muslim Brotherhood, signaling a political voice pushing for heightened restrictions in the public sphere.

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/podcast/jpost-podcast/article-895699
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-895697
https://worldisraelnews.com/escalation-in-the-gulf-khamenei-issues-new-instructions-to-high-command/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-895709
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895702
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895705
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895698
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54139