Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-18 at 17:02

HEADLINES
US refuelers stay at Ben-Gurion until 2027
Jerusalem Old City evictions threaten Arab homes
Gulf urged Trump to delay Iran strike

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Dozens of US military refueling aircraft are set to remain stationed at Ben-Gurion Airport through at least the end of 2027, with the aircraft and the personnel needed to operate them based in and around the airport. The arrangement is already creating significant logistical challenges for the facility. The airport’s Civil Aviation Authority chief, Shmuel Zakay, has said Ben-Gurion is “operating like a military base, not as a civilian airport.” The continued presence of the aircraft could influence flight prices by potentially deterring foreign airlines from resuming regular Tel Aviv routes. The development follows the start of operations Roaring Lion and Epic Fury as Israeli and American air forces conducted strikes tied to Iran. An airport employee was fired after posting images of the US planes online, highlighting the heightened sensitivity around the deployments.

In Regional Impacts, Following an evacuation warning, Israel carried out targeted airstrikes on an area near the Rahma camp, next to the al-Nimnim restaurant in al-Faluja, Jabalia camp, in northern Gaza. In Esfahan, Iran, air defense systems were activated in the Esfahan region, where one of the country’s largest nuclear facilities is located. The Middle East remains on edge as Iran escalates pressure, attacks continue across the region, and Israel watches to see what comes next. A live Q&A is being presented to discuss Iran, Gaza, Lebanon, Israel’s future, and related questions.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said Gulf leaders urged him to hold off on striking Iran, delaying a planned attack. He stated that negotiations are underway and that a deal likely to be acceptable to the United States and its allies would be reached with no nuclear weapons for Iran. He added that if no acceptable deal is reached, he has instructed officials to be prepared to proceed with a full, large-scale assault at a moment’s notice.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, The Home Front Command has ordered the public to reinstall the alert app or update its version. The government has moved to form an inter-ministry team to examine the seizure of Arab-owned homes and public buildings in Jerusalem’s Old City, focusing on Chain Gate Street near the Temple Mount. Dozens of Arab-owned homes are said to be at risk of evacuation, with expropriation notices tied to the 1943 British Mandate Land Ordinance. The effort also encompasses key sites and buildings linked to Jerusalem’s Arab and Muslim communities, including Waqf institutions, highlighting tensions on the border between the Jewish and Muslim quarters.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, A Jewish man in his 20s was assaulted in Golders Green, London, in what police are treating as an antisemitic hate crime. He required hospital treatment for injuries to his face and back. Police arrived within six minutes, and no arrests had been made by Monday night. The Jewish Chronicle identified the victim as 22-year-old Israeli Shalev Ben Yakar, who said he was attacked by a group of five or six men after speaking Hebrew, with the assailants reportedly shouting in Arabic and dragging him across the road, leaving wounds on his forehead, nose, and cheeks.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Iranian transactions flowed through Tron and BNB Chain ledgers, with Nobitex processing at least $2.3 billion since 2023 on those networks established by crypto figures Justin Sun and Changpeng Zhao. The use of Tron and BNB Chain has allowed large transfers as Iran’s funds moved amid the broader war environment. Sun and Binance are noted as prominent backers of World Liberty Financial, a crypto firm co-founded by Trump and his family, though there is no assertion that the Trump family knew about Nobitex’s use. The report underscores potential conflicts of interest arising from the Trump family’s business connections in a context of heightened geopolitical tension.

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/defense-news/article-896603
https://t.me/selena_updates/64023
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1323015
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76493
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-896614
https://t.me/newssil/201910
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-896596
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-896610
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-896607