Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-21 at 23:01

HEADLINES
US missile stocks near depletion, replenishment years
Global talks to reopen Strait of Hormuz
Female reservists recount harassment at Sde Teiman

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, The United States faces a near-term risk of depleting key ammunition after extensive engagement in the Iran conflict. A Center for Strategic and International Studies analysis, cited by CNN, indicates it could take three to five years to replenish stockpiles to pre-war levels, even as the Pentagon signs contracts to expand production. Since the war began, the United States has expended at least half of its THAAD missiles, nearly half of Patriot air defense missiles, and at least 45 percent of its Precision Strike Missiles, with roughly 30 percent of Tomahawk missiles and a large share of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles used, along with about 20 percent of SM-3 and SM-6 missiles. Pentagon stockpile assessments reportedly align with these figures. Separately, CBS reports that US forces are positioned for a potential return to combat at levels higher than at the start of the Iran war, with multiple aircraft carriers, thousands of Marines, and additional airpower deployed across the region near the Strait of Hormuz.

In Regional Impacts, military planners from more than 30 countries will meet in London for a two‑day talks to advance a mission to reopen the Strait of Hormuz and to draft detailed plans. More than a dozen countries have expressed willingness to join an international effort led by Britain and France to protect shipping in the Strait when conditions permit. Britain’s defense minister John Healey said the goal is to translate diplomatic consensus into a joint plan to safeguard freedom of navigation and to support a lasting ceasefire, with discussions building on progress from last week’s talks.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Ali Al-Amin, editor of the Lebanese newspaper Al-Janoubia, criticized Hezbollah and Iran, saying their narrative of victory does not reflect the ground reality. He cited casualties, displacement, and destruction as part of what he called an “revenge war,” questioning whether the outcome constitutes victory as officials claim. Al-Amin argued that Hezbollah and Iran’s policies in Lebanon have opened paths to Israel and noted the group’s involvement beyond Lebanon in Syria, Yemen, and Iraq, including past attempts to target international objectives and referencing Mustafa Badreddine in connection with an assassination attempt on the Emir of Kuwait.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump said the United States would indefinitely extend the ceasefire with Iran to allow for further peace talks, though it remained unclear whether Iran or Israel would agree. He stated that Pakistan’s mediators had requested delaying action against Iran until a unified proposal could be developed or discussions concluded. Despite the ceasefire extension, Trump said the US would continue the naval blockade of Iran’s trade by sea, an act Iran views as war. Tehran offered no immediate formal response to the announcement, though initial reactions suggested skepticism.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, female IDF reservists recalled being ordered to guard violent Nukhba terrorists at the Sde Teiman base and detention center in the days after October 7, 2023, despite repeated sexual harassment. One reservist described degrading behavior, including harassment during meals, long shifts, and attempts to undress, saying, “I didn’t enlist in the IDF for this.” Several soldiers said they would serve elsewhere and did not want to return to that post, weighing the possibility of AWOL against continuing in a role that placed them in intimate proximity to their captives without adequate protection.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a 23-year-old Syrian national was charged in Germany with planning to stab Jews and other non-Muslims in Berlin and to carry out a suicide bombing, facing terrorism offenses, financing, and four counts of disseminating terrorist propaganda materials. Prosecutors said the suspect sought to conduct the attack under Islamic State doctrine, aiming first at Jews and then others deemed “infidels,” and had begun acquiring and testing materials before being stopped. A Kosovar teenager, identified as Erjon S, was also charged in Germany with three counts of attempted murder and related offenses after allegedly planning jihad against “perceived infidels,” targeting a teacher, a janitor, and then attempting to attack near a synagogue. In the United Kingdom, at least eight individuals linked to arson attacks on Jewish, Israeli, or Iranian-dissident sites were released on bail, with others arrested and a number remaining in custody as authorities pursue further charges. Separately, a transcript excerpt shows a reporter questioning whether the Southern Poverty Law Center was paying leaders of KKK and other groups, to which the Acting Attorney General stated that she was not making such allegations, noting that a grand jury indictment mentions that claim.

In Uplifting News, five influencers are using social media to counter fake news and antisemitism through diverse approaches, including food, law, satire, journalism, and personal storytelling, harnessing the platforms’ reach to challenge misinformation about Israel and confront antisemitism in public.

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/international/article-893788
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53121
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-893784
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75365
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-893785
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/us-will-indefinitely-extend-ceasefire-unclear-if-iran-agrees
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-893780
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893789
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893786
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893787
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53122
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/bycknuxtzx