Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-20 at 22:01

HEADLINES
Trump In Situation Room Amid Epic Fury
Israeli Officers Wounded In Lebanon Drone Attacks
Iran Sets Controlled Zone In Hormuz Strait

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 US Military Role, the White House released a photograph showing Trump inside the Situation Room during Operation “Epic Fury,” published under the headline Justice Will Be Served.

In Regional Impacts, Iran’s newly announced Persian Gulf Strait Authority says it has established a controlled maritime zone in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, ten Israeli officers and soldiers were wounded in FPV drone attacks in southern Lebanon, including 401st Brigade commander Colonel Meir Biderman, as the IDF struggles to counter Hezbollah UAVs and northern alerts were sounded in Kiryat Shmona.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States has removed Francesca Albanese, the UN special rapporteur on human rights in the Palestinian territories, from its sanctions list after a federal judge temporarily blocked the penalties, finding they likely violated her free-speech rights following her criticism of Israel’s war in Gaza; the sanctions would have barred entry to the United States and banking. Albanese had urged the ICC to pursue war-crimes prosecutions; her husband and daughter sued the Trump administration, and she thanked her family in a post on X. Earlier this month, Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez presented her with the Commander’s Cross of the Order of Civil Merit. Separately, a report notes a wave of posts on X portraying the United States as having already won the confrontation over Iran, with ongoing messaging from the White House.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, West Bank and Gaza antiquities bill advances as the government approves a NIS 250 million heritage plan for preservation and development of sites in the West Bank, including new heritage centers and tourism infrastructure, along with funding to combat looting and vandalism. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the move as a decision of national and historical importance, noting it comes as Israel marks sixty years since the period named Judea, Samaria and Jerusalem in official terms.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UK charity regulator allowing Islamist, Iran-backed hate to spread, victims say - report. Survivors of Islamist terror attacks warn the Charity Commission is slow to act against organizations alleged to platform extremists and Iranian-linked propaganda, and argue stronger powers are needed. The Telegraph reported on ongoing investigations into charities tied to extremist or Iranian-linked content, and the government’s March plan to strengthen the watchdog’s powers has not yet been implemented.

In Uplifting News, Japan’s massive flood defense system: Japan has built the world’s largest underground flood tunnel system, a roughly $2 billion megaproject designed to shield the greater Tokyo region from severe flooding. Bloomberg notes the chambers are large enough to fit a space shuttle, and officials say the system has reduced local flood damage by about 90% since it became operational.

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://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76576
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76575
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkwphqokml
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896912
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76574
https://www.timesofisrael.com/west-bank-and-gaza-antiquities-bill-advances-as-govt-okays-nis-250m-heritage-plan/
https://www.jpost.com/international/islamic-terrorism/article-896672
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54653