Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-13 at 08:02

HEADLINES
Barnea Leads UAE Talks Amid War Coordination
Pro-Iran Hackers Knock Spotify Offline
Hamas Blocks Gaza Contractors for New City

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Mossad chief David Barnea visited the UAE at least twice during Operation Roaring Lion to coordinate regarding the war, the Wall Street Journal reported on Wednesday, citing Arab officials and a source familiar with the matter. Barnea reportedly flew to the UAE in March and April. According to KAN News, Shin Bet chief David Zini also visited the UAE, and the two countries were coordinated on security issues during the war. The report notes that the UAE carried out strikes against Iranian assets, including the attack on Lavan Island's refinery in early April, seen as covert action in response to Iran targeting Emirati civilian and energy infrastructure. Iran later launched another barrage of drones and missiles against the UAE and Kuwait in response to this attack, though attribution remained unconfirmed. Israel and the UAE have grown their partnership in the shadow of the Iran war, with United States Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee confirming that Israel sent Iron Dome batteries to the region.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former prime minister Ehud Barak criticized Netanyahu for presenting what he called an unrealistic vision to US President Donald Trump, arguing that such expectations were far from reality. He cited a meeting in which Netanyahu reportedly suggested that military action against Iran could lead to regime collapse, saying, “We will act, the regime will crack, there is an opportunity to eliminate the leadership, this will topple the regime.” Barak warned that Hezbollah remains formidable in Lebanon, Hamas continues to grow in Gaza, and Iran's nuclear capabilities remain a serious threat. “None of the major goals were achieved,” he said, and he questioned the credibility of Netanyahu's claims that Hezbollah had been “thrown back.”

In Iranian Retaliation, a pro-Iran hacker group claimed responsibility for a DDoS cyberattack against Spotify on Tuesday, according to the McCrary Institute for Cyber and Critical Infrastructure Security. Downdetector reported users had trouble accessing Spotify on Wednesday evening around 8 p.m. Spotify acknowledged issues and said the app, support site, and Web Player were slow or not working properly. The Islamic Cyber Resistance in Iraq – 313 Team claimed responsibility on Telegram, saying they carried out a massive cyberattack targeting Spotify’s main servers, causing a major disruption and completely disabling the application. Also on Monday, Israelis received threatening WhatsApp messages via business accounts that appeared legitimate but were actually sent by hackers.

In Regional Impacts, the UAE is deepening economic ties with Damascus and eyeing major investment in Syria's postwar reconstruction. A two-day forum in Damascus featured a large UAE delegation, led by Foreign Trade Minister Thani al-Zeyoudi, in talks with Syrian officials. Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa received the delegation at the People’s Palace, and the delegation included Omar al-Darei, chairman of the General Authority for Islamic Affairs, Endowments, and Z. The UAE’s cautious approach contrasts with Turkey and Saudi Arabia’s more expansive engagement, reflecting concerns about political Islam and a wait-and-see posture. The talks come after Abu Dhabi’s earlier expectation that the Assad regime would reintegrate after 2020, a view that was tempered by the regime’s weaknesses in late 2024.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas blocked Gazan contractors last week from reaching an area in Rafah designated for a new Palestinian city under the Trump administration’s peace plan. The contractors, who had come from across the Gaza Strip, were prevented from reaching the site by armed Hamas members, despite being sent there in coordination with the Israel Defense Forces and the Civil Military Coordination Center (CMCC).

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a KAN 11 poll published Tuesday night shows a united Bennett-Lapid framework challenging Prime Minister Netanyahu's Likud, with Likud at 26 seats and Bennett’s Together Party, which has merged with Lapid, at 25. The poll also notes former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot as a potential recruit. The figures come as a coalition faces tensions over extending military service and the haredi enlistment bill, a dispute that has unsettled coalition partners. In a separate development, Border Police authorities seized more than 10,000 cannabis plants in 18 greenhouses in southern Israel as part of a broader crackdown on illegal drug production; authorities destroyed the facilities and confiscated the plants and equipment. The Health Ministry recently published guidance that could alter medical cannabis prescribing, with a professional committee led by Dr. Gilad Bodenheimer weighing changes to balance broader access with safeguards. Finally, coalition leaders are preparing a bill to dissolve the Knesset as early as next week, a move aimed at shaping the legislative process and the terms of dissolution.

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
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