Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-25 at 08:01

HEADLINES
- Israel vows Beirut strike over explosive drones
- Netanyahu says US talks sideline Israel
- Lando halts UTJ push on draft bill

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 the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir told a Security Cabinet meeting on Monday that Israel should strike Beirut in response to Hezbollah's drone attacks on Israeli troops in southern Lebanon. He arrived at the meeting after visiting the Northern Command on Sunday, where he conducted a situational assessment and approved operational plans for continued fighting against Hezbollah. He later visited the 401st Brigade and was at its headquarters when Sergeant Nehoray Leizer was killed by an explosive drone. "We must put an end to the threat of Hezbollah's explosive drones," Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said in a Monday statement, adding, "For every explosive drone, ten buildings in Beirut should fall." Smotrich pointed to a two billion shekel defense budget he approved to address the drone threat, saying a strategic threat cannot be answered by defense alone but by changing the rules and the equation. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir echoed Smotrich's sentiment in a Monday post on X, saying it is forbidden to normalize the reality of explosive drones and that action by the prime minister is needed.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Netanyahu has told confidants in private conversations that Israel has little ability to influence Donald Trump's decision-making on Iran as Washington negotiates a deal in the nearly three-month-old war, two Israeli officials described to Reuters. Israel has largely been left out of talks to reach an initial deal to halt the war. Both the US and Iran have downplayed hopes for an imminent breakthrough and remain at odds over Iran's nuclear ambitions, Tehran's demands for lifting sanctions, and Israel's war in Lebanon with Hezbollah. Netanyahu is demanding the right to continue operations on all fronts, including Lebanon, a caveat that could derail a deal if Iran insists on a complete halt to Israeli military operations in southern Lebanon. One of the Israeli officials said Netanyahu raised concerns about the memorandum of understanding currently being negotiated. Both sources spoke on condition of anonymity.

In the Israeli Domestic Politics, lawmakers from the haredi party United Torah Judaism were instructed by spiritual leader Rabbi Dov Lando on Sunday evening to stop cooperating with the coalition’s efforts to advance the controversial haredi draft bill, delaying progress on the legislation. The push to move up the election date from October 27 to September to fit the High Holy Days has intertwined with the bill. Lawmakers in the Degel Hatorah faction within UTJ were told not to push for the draft, Lando’s spokesperson told The Jerusalem Post on Monday. Lando's decision comes amid doubts about whether the bill can pass, as several coalition lawmakers have spoken out against it and warned that it would not solve the IDF manpower crisis and could harm Israel’s security. Lawmakers against the legislation have faced pressure from Prime Minister Netanyahu's coalition to support the bill.

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-897231
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-897237
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897241