Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-23 at 18:01

HEADLINES
US AWACS jet took off from Saudi
Hormuz remains Iranian, Tehran asserts
Iranian rockets hit Kurdish groups near Tarmiyah

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, a Boeing E-3, a command and control aircraft of the United States armed forces, has just taken off from Saudi Arabia.

In Regional Impacts, The Fars News Agency, affiliated with the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, said that contrary to Trump's statements, even if an agreement is reached, the Strait of Hormuz will remain under Iran's control.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian rockets struck Iranian-Kurdish opposition groups near Tarmiyah, north of Baghdad. Around the same time, an Iranian rocket and drone attack was carried out near Erbil in northern Iraq.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump said a peace agreement is largely negotiated among the United States, Iran, and several Middle Eastern countries, naming Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, Pakistan, Turkey, Egypt, Jordan, and Bahrain, and he said his call with Prime Minister Netanyahu went very well. He added that one element of the deal would be the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz, while Iran's state media later described that Hormuz would remain under Iranian control, dismissing the plan as incomplete. The Financial Times reported the United States and Iran were close to a 60-day extension of the current ceasefire, with terms including a gradual reopening of the Strait. Separately, an Arab source said that uranium enrichment is the central obstacle to a Washington-Tehran agreement, and Iranian sources claimed the deal could unlock about 25 billion dollars of frozen assets.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Jerusalem Day’s violence should not erase the memory of a divided city, as one opinion piece argues that media framing of the day often emphasizes division and calls for unity. A separate perspective notes that violence around Jerusalem Day exposes a dangerous culture of impunity in Israel, citing an assault on the head of Peace Now by a far-right settler in the West Bank during the day.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an opinion piece argues that Qatari media fueled global antisemitism after October 7, attributing a key role to outlets like Al Jazeera and related platforms. Another item notes that Iranian channels are posting content on the topic at the moment.

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/newssil/202125
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76702
https://t.me/selena_updates/64242
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-897063
https://t.me/newssil/202126
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76706
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896833
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896675
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896974
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76705