Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-29 at 04:02

HEADLINES
- IDF shoots at plane near Beit El
- Lebanon drone war escalates IDF 401 says
- Together drops seats as Eisenkot rises

The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the IDF fired on a civilian plane flying over the West Bank town of Beit El on Thursday night after residents reported spotting four drones overhead. Soldiers scanned the area and opened fire on a target, believing it was a drone. It was later found that the landing route into Ben-Gurion Airport had been diverted eastward, meaning planes preparing to land in Tel Aviv passed closer to Beit El than usual at about 1,500 meters. This comes amid a wave of Hezbollah drone activity in the north, including Wednesday’s drone explosions in northern Israel that killed one IDF soldier and wounded others, and a Hezbollah drone that struck the roof of a home in Metula on Monday. The Upper Galilee Regional Council said no one was injured and a fire began at the impact site, and Monday afternoon saw several drone intrusions in the region, with two reported shrapnel falls in Shome.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Inside southern Lebanon: IDF 401 commanders describe drone threat, losses and ongoing offensive. Armored Brigade 401 commanders operating deep in Lebanon say Hezbollah uses drones, guerrilla warfare and propaganda as they advance; they recount their commander being wounded and soldiers killed, but insist they will continue pushing forward, writing history in real time.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Bennett-Lapid's Together drops seats as Eisenkot makes gains, Likud becomes largest party - poll. Ma’ariv’s poll shows the Together Party at 22 seats, down six from its peak, and notes that before the Bennett-Lapid merger the two lists held 31 seats combined, a decline of nine mandates from their previous numbers. Eisenkot’s Yashar! Party is up to 17 seats, a rise of two this week and five since Together formed. The opposition bloc (not counting Arab parties) sits at 58 seats, while Arab parties total about 10; the coalition bloc edges up to 52 seats as Likud slides to 23, remaining the largest party thanks to Together’s weakening. An historical note marks that on May 29, 1996, Netanyahu was elected prime minister for the first time. In Jerusalem, police arrested a 43-year-old Hebron resident on suspicion of staying in Israel without proper entry permits after officers found a loaded Glock pistol with a magazine during a search near the Old City; the suspect was taken into custody for questioning at the Sha’ar Shalem police station.

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-897729
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1wuy28gme
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897733
https://t.me/newssil/202582
https://t.me/newssil/202579