Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-18 at 00:01

HEADLINES
USS Ford Extends Record Longest Carrier Deployment
Xi Happy Hormuz Open Trump Optimistic Meeting
Iran Leverages Lebanon Ceasefire to Block Deal

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, The USS Gerald R. Ford (CVN-78) and her Carrier Strike Group have logged 296 days at sea, surpassing the record for the longest deployed carrier since the end of the Cold War, and have since transited the Suez Canal from the Eastern Mediterranean and are once again conducting operations in the Red Sea in support of US Central Command. The Ford, which initially left the Red Sea in March after a severe ventilation fire started in the ship’s laundry and damaged hundreds of berthings and other compartments, was expected to return to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia after lingering in the Eastern Mediterranean with stops in Crete and Croatia, but the carrier and its crew appear to have been ordered to remain on station near Iran until the arrival of the USS George H. W. Bush (CVN-77), which is taking the long way to the region around the Cape of Good Hope in Southern Africa.

In Regional Impacts, President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping was very happy about the Strait of Hormuz being open and/or rapidly opening, and that he looked forward to their meeting in China, calling the encounter potentially historic and saying much will be accomplished.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, ex-al Qaida member and former British Secret Intelligence Service agent Aiman Dean claimed that the US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon is being used as leverage against Iran, with Tehran delaying serious engagement, nuclear talks, and any opening of the Strait of Hormuz until there is a Lebanon ceasefire. He argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to halt the fight against Hezbollah not out of goodwill but to call the Iranian regime’s bluff and buy time for more military assets and supplies to reach the region, adding that if a Lebanon ceasefire is the real obstacle to Iran reaching a deal with the United States, Iran has no cover left to avoid an agreement.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich has appointed Israel Malachi as the new Director General of the Finance Ministry, succeeding Ilan Rom. Malachi, who has served as the ministry’s Deputy Director General for the past three and a half years, brings extensive familiarity with the Ministry and its departments and experience interfacing between different levels of government and third parties, along with deep knowledge of regulatory fields. He also previously served as the treasurer of the Mateh Binyamin Regional Council and as a board member of KKL-JNF, among other roles.

In the Uplifting News, KAN is celebrating its 90th anniversary with a lineup of top Israeli dramas and comedies available to watch now on kan.org.il, including Tehran (with English subtitles on Apple TV+), Ambivalence, All Moms Lie, Checkout, Dismissed, and The Stronghold, which chronicles the Yom Kippur War, with additional notes on recent drama offerings and prestige productions. Separately, Modi Rosenberg, described as the Jackie Mason of his generation, is bringing Moshiach energy to New York City’s Radio City Music Hall for two dates, April 23 and April 30, in what he calls a mission to spread laughter and healing to audiences from adolescents to seniors, with tickets moving briskly for what is his biggest venue in three decades of stand-up.

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/DefenderDome/20360
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/trump-says-chinas-xi-very-happy-about-strait-hormuz-reopening
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-893389
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893391
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-893312
https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-893261