Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-26 at 08:03

HEADLINES
Iran vows end to US bases regionwide
Hezbollah strongest drone attack on Israel
Mossad chief pick cleared amid court scrutiny

The time is now 8:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei posted a statement timed to the annual Hajj pilgrimage, saying that nations and lands in the region will no longer host US bases and that America will have no safe haven for mischief or military bases in the region. He wrote that the nations and lands of the region will no longer serve as shields for American bases. He also labeled Israel the "shaky Zionist regime and cancerous tumor," claiming Israel is nearing its demise and citing a prescient statement attributed to his father. The message notes that US Central Command maintains a regional presence at bases across Qatar, Bahrain, Kuwait, the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan. He also praised Hezbollah operations in Lebanon as part of a broader regional stance.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah launched what security officials describe as the most powerful drone attack ever against Israel, with drones penetrating into northern Israel, causing fires and injuring soldiers and civilians, while others hovered over towns and strategic sites and deepening fear in border communities. The attack comes as daily life for residents remains strained by sirens, displacement, and economic hardship, with businesses disrupted and families carrying rising costs as food aid organizations continue delivering meals, packages, and essential medications. A separate analysis from The Jerusalem Dispatch questions whether the Iran war is truly over and whether Israel has won, arguing the emerging US–Iran framework resembles a tougher rerun of the 2015 JCPOA, potentially leaving Iran’s missiles and proxies intact and possibly folding a Hezbollah ceasefire into any settlement. The discussion also touches on Israeli politics, including election timing, the ultra-Orthodox enlistment bill, and rumors of political realignments as security considerations intersect with domestic policy.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the committee vetting IDF Major-General Roman Gofman’s appointment as Mossad chief again cleared him to take the post, presenting a supplementary opinion to Prime Minister Netanyahu after the High Court ordered a second look; the committee majority found the materials did not raise concerns and strengthened support for the appointment, while former Supreme Court president Asher Grunis dissented. Netanyahu rejected the minority view, urging the High Court not to delay the transition when outgoing Mossad chief David Barnea’s term ends in June, noting the petitions center on the Ori Elmakayes affair and questions about an alleged IDF-linked influence operation during Gofman’s time commanding the 210th Division. Separately, Dr. Tzvika Mor, father of released hostage Eitan Mor, is joining Bezalel Smotrich’s Religious Zionist Party, with Smotrich praising Mor as a principled public figure as the party seeks to shape its slate ahead of elections. In another development, PMO chief of staff Tzachi Braverman faces a pre-indictment hearing on suspicions of fraud, breach of trust, and obstruction of justice related to a covert investigation into a leak of classified intelligence to a German newspaper, with prosecutors weighing charges pending the hearing and Braverman’s team contesting the process.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the London School of Economics Students’ Union has closed disciplinary proceedings against the university’s Israel Society after external legal advice confirmed the conduct in question was protected by freedom of speech, though an internal investigation suggested the activities may have impacted campus relations and created hostility, with no sanctions imposed. In Montreal, anti-Israel protesters paraded effigies including what appeared to be an image of Itamar Ben-Gvir wearing a white kippah, drawing outrage from Canadian politicians and Jewish groups and prompting police review discussions. In Rome, organizers of the Rome Pride parade informed Jewish LGBT groups Keshet Italia and Keshet Europe that they could not participate with a float unless they condemn what organizers call Israeli genocide in Gaza, a decision that has sparked debate within Italy’s LGBT community about antisemitism, Israel, Gaza, and the political tests applied to Jewish participants, while the parade emphasized openness to all who share its values.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-897323
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-897342
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-897335
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-897331
https://t.me/newssil/202329
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897338
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897332
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897326
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-897346
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897337
https://worldisraelnews.com/rome-gay-pride-parade-bans-jewish-groups/