Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-12 at 22:01

HEADLINES
Iran Regains Access to Most Missile Sites
CBO: Golden Dome Costs $1.2T, 7,800 Satellites
Hezbollah Plans Beirut Occupation Amid Pressure

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 Iranian Retaliation, US officials say Iran has regained access to a majority of its missile sites, according to a New York Times report. The active sites include about 30 along the Strait of Hormuz, posing a threat to US naval ships in the area. The report says Iran can still use missile stockpiles in non-operational sites by launching them with mobile launchers, with roughly 70 percent of its mobile launcher inventory remaining. US military agencies are said to indicate about 90 percent of underground missile facilities are at least partially operational, and the current stockpile sits at around 70 percent of its prewar level. The Wall Street Journal has previously cited US intelligence assessments that Iran still retains thousands of short-range ballistic missiles and can reactivate launchers, while Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has described Iran's arsenal as “depleted and decimated.”

In US Military Role, the nonpartisan Congressional Budget Office estimates that the Golden Dome missile-defense shield could cost about $1.2 trillion to develop, deploy, and operate over 20 years, far exceeding a Pentagon projection of roughly $185 billion. Acquisition costs alone would total just over $1 trillion, with the space-based interceptor layer and a constellation of 7,800 satellites accounting for about 70 percent of the cost. The system would cover the entire United States, including Alaska and Hawaii, and would aim to counter threats from regional adversaries such as North Korea, though the CBO warns it could be overwhelmed by a full-scale attack from Russia or China. The report underscores a yawning gap between the administration’s rhetoric and the price tag that would accompany deployment and operation.

In Regional Impacts, South Korea is weighing a phased role in efforts to ensure safe navigation through the Strait of Hormuz, with Defense Minister Ahn Gyu-back saying Seoul conveyed its position to US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and signaled willingness to participate at a measured level. Possible forms of phased support could include political backing, personnel dispatches, information-sharing, and the provision of military assets, though no detailed talks on expanding involvement have taken place, and any decisions would follow domestic procedures. Separately, Vietnam’s trading arm of its state oil company has urged the US Navy to allow a tanker carrying Iraqi crude to sail through the blockade to supply a Vietnamese refinery. The Maltese-flagged Agio Fanourios I, carrying about 2 million barrels, had sailed through the Strait of Hormuz but was redirected in the Gulf of Oman as part of ongoing blockade enforcement, and it remains unclear whether it will be permitted to proceed to Vietnam. The blockade has expanded to include contraband cargoes.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah planning to occupy Beirut is intensifying as pressure on Naim Qassem builds, according to security officials. Hezbollah is said to have developed a systematic plan to seize Beirut to push out pragmatic elements and widen the conflict, while Israel is seen as pursuing a move to divide Lebanon. Israeli Northern Command commanders have presented progress in destroying terrorist infrastructure across dozens of Lebanese villages in southern Lebanon, and they say pressure on Qassem is increasing as the conflict unfolds. Walla News reported that Hezbollah views these developments through a lens of strategic pressure, signaling heightened concern over potential Israeli moves in the region.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, all options are being kept on the table as Brigadier-General (Reserve) Dedi Simchi announced his entry into the political arena, saying he aims to influence from within and would consider all paths, including the possibility of joining a party, with a focus on unifying blocs rather than adhering to fixed lines. Separately, after two years of ultimatums from ultra-Orthodox parties over the draft law, elections may be moved up only by weeks as coalition tensions approach a conclusion; Shas and key rabbis have largely remained silent while the budget and appointments were secured.

In Uplifting News, Magen David Adom announced a new mental health emergency response unit, created in partnership with Israel’s Health Ministry after a successful pilot. The program will phase in expansion and aims to speed up access to appropriate care for mental health emergencies. Mental health professionals will be embedded directly into emergency response, with calls related to mental health now routed to specially trained dispatchers for evaluation, replacing prior handling by standard medical teams, EMS dispatchers, and police. The initiative reflects a growing focus on the complexities of mental health crises and a commitment to improving outcomes in the field.

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-895973
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895972
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-895974
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/vietnam-state-oil-company-urges-us-navy-allow-tanker-through-blockade-document
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-895968
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895963
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1pnr4zkmg
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/mind-and-spirit/article-895976