Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-07 at 09:03

HEADLINES
Tehran Synagogue Hit in Iran Israel Clash
US Strikes Target Iran Kharg Island
Kurdish Couple Killed in Erbil Drone Attack

The time is now 9:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a Tehran central synagogue was damaged in a missile strike attributed by Iranian media to the ongoing US-Israeli campaign, with one of Iran’s Jewish representatives condemning the attack and saying Torah scrolls remained buried under the rubble. Footage and reports circulated by Iranian outlets identified the site as the Rafi Niya Synagogue near Palestine Square in central Tehran, an area that has seen repeated strikes in recent days. Independent sources told The Jerusalem Post that a member of the Tehran Beit Din, Rabbi David Sasani, was seen at the site evaluating the damage. Video released by state-linked media appeared to show siddurim, debris, and damage inside the building after the strike. IRNA English, Iran’s official state news agency, quoted that the synagogue near Palestine Street was targeted by Israeli fighter jets and had been significantly damaged.

Separately, Iranian outlets reported an attack on the railway line between Tehran and Karaj, located west of Tehran.

Also in the north, air raid sirens were sounded amid concerns of a drone intrusion.

In US Military Role, the US military conducted strikes against military targets on Iran's Kharg Island, described by a US official as restrikes on targets hit previously, carried out in the early morning hours. Explosions were heard after airstrikes hit Kharg Island, with local media reporting the strikes included the island’s air defenses. Kharg Island is a key node for Iran's oil exports, with about 90% of exports processed and shipped from the island. The Wall Street Journal reported that roughly 50 sites were targeted, and noted there were no attacks on the island's oil infrastructure. A previous attack was reported earlier in the war, with President Trump saying it “totally obliterated every military target in Iran’s crown jewel.” The report also notes that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Trump could be charged with war crimes over the Iran operation, and that Trump had threatened Iran that they would be living in Hell if the Strait of Hormuz wasn’t opened by Tuesday.

In Regional Impacts, the heat, costs, and shortages of energy are shaping US options in the Iran crisis, according to a JP Morgan energy paper. The analysis notes rising costs for US crude oil, wholesale gasoline, naphtha, shipping fuel, and certain petrochemicals, with jet fuel increases running about two-thirds of international gains. It suggests Iran’s strategy in Hormuz has implications for global energy markets, including a proposed toll of 100-130 vessels per day at $2 million per vessel, which could generate about $70-90 billion per year if applied to roughly 2,000-3,000 commercial vessels currently stranded. The report underscores that the financial dynamics of a Hormuz closure would shape broader strategic options.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian-linked drone attacks killed a Kurdish couple in the Kurdistan Region of northern Iraq, marking the latest strike attributed to Iran and Iranian-backed militias using drones and missiles in the area. Kurdish authorities have called the attack a terrorist act and are pressing Baghdad to stop allowing such groups to operate from Iraq; the couple, Musa Anwar Rasool and Mujda Asaad Hassan, were killed in Erbil, with funeral photos published by observers. Iranian-backed militias have launched more than 500 attacks since February 28, as tensions spill into Iraq and beyond. Separately, a rocket fired from Lebanon fell in Kiryat Shmona with no reported casualties, and a related report said a house in Kiryat Shmona was damaged but no injuries were reported.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a wave of antisemitic incidents hit Rio de Janeiro during Passover, including a bar in the Lapa district displaying a sign reading “US & Israel Citizens are not welcome.” Rio de Janeiro City Hall and PROCON fined the establishment R$9,520 for severe consumer discrimination, and officials warned of possible license revocation. Some local businesses publicly supported Partisan Bar, which described the incident as political expression rather than a discriminatory act and said it should not be read as restricting access. In Istanbul, three gunmen opened fire near the Israeli consulate in Besiktas in what Turkish authorities described as ISIS-linked violence. The consulate was not staffed at the time; one gunman was killed and two police officers were injured. Turkish officials identified the attackers as Onur C., Enes C., and Yunus E.S, with Yunus said to have ties to a group that exploits religion; ISIS was cited by Turkish authorities as the group behind the attack.

In Uplifting News, amid the broader war environment, 53 of Israel's future scientists showcased projects in Jerusalem at the Young Scientists and Developers in Israel competition, now in its 29th year as part of National Science Week. The event brought 53 students from across the country presenting 46 projects spanning history and social sciences, life and environmental sciences, technology and computer sciences, mathematics, and natural sciences. The program is organized by the Bloomfield Science Museum in partnership with the Education Ministry’s Technological Education Administration and the Israel Academy of Sciences and Humanities, with support from the Jerusalem Municipality, Israel Aerospace Industries, the Jerusalem Foundation, and the Mandel Foundation. Prof. Hanoch Gutfreund, a world-renowned physicist and former president of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, led the judges’ panel.

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
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