Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-30 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Iran war bill sparks US cost clash
IDF razes Hezbollah posts Mount Dov
IDF major indicted over Gaza smuggling

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

In US Military Role, the cost of the Iran war to the United States may be close to 40 to 50 billion dollars when including the costs of rebuilding damaged US military installations and replacing destroyed assets, CNN reported. That figure clashes with a Pentagon official, Jules “Jay” Hurst, who testified before the House Armed Services Committee that the cost figure was about 25 billion, adding that most of that amount has been spent on munitions and that the secretary of defense declined to say whether the figure includes damage to US bases. The Pentagon had said last week that it did not have a final cost for the damage to overseas installations and would decide on rebuilding depending on plans. In the first 48 hours of the war, at least nine US military sites were significantly damaged across Bahrain, Kuwait, Iraq, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Iranian strikes have damaged and destroyed costly equipment across the region, including the radar system for a THAAD missile battery in Jordan and buildings with similar systems at two locations in the UAE. An Iranian strike on a Saudi Arabia air base was also reported.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, FOOTAGE shows the Israeli Defense Forces demolishing several Hezbollah combat positions on the Lebanese side of Mount Dov during a recent raid. The operation was led by the elite Alpinist Unit and the Yahalom Combat Engineering Unit. The military says the forces located and destroyed several Hezbollah combat positions, including rocket-launching posts.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an IDF major was indicted in military court on Wednesday for allegedly using his position near the Gaza border to smuggle a truckload of unauthorized goods into Gaza, bypassing military checks, and bringing an Israeli citizen into Gaza to complete the transfer. The officer, whose identifying details are barred from publication, was charged with aiding the enemy, taking a bribe, aggravated smuggling, attempted aggravated smuggling, fraud, breach of trust, obstruction of justice, and conduct unbecoming. He has been in custody since January 26, according to the indictment, which was filed after a joint investigation by Shin Bet, Israel Police’s Southern District Central Unit, the Military Police, and customs investigators. The officer was a career major and deputy battalion commander; after the battalion commander was wounded in July 2025, the officer filled his place as sector commander near Kerem Shalom. The indictment says a Palestinian resident of Hebron planned in December 2025 to smuggle a truck into Gaza carrying mobile phones and other items to complete the transfer.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, The Australian Hellenic Choir denied that antisemitism influenced the cancellation of the Bondi Beach Massacre victims benefit concert, saying the decision was due to conflicts with other events. The June 28 Concert for Hope and Unity, a collaboration with the Sydney Jewish Choral Society, was canceled, but the choir management committee stressed that antisemitism had no place in the organization and that such a claim was inaccurate.

A resident doctor in the UK's National Health Service, Dr. Rahmeh Aladwan, a 31-year-old British-Palestinian trainee in trauma and orthopedic surgery, appeared at the Old Bailey Criminal Court facing six charges: four counts of supporting Hamas and two counts of inciting racial hatred through demonstrations and written material. Aladwan refused to admit or deny the charges, speaking only to confirm her identity. Her trial timing was not specified in the filing. The charges stem from statements including “I do not condemn Hamas. I do not condemn October 7th,” and “I condemn the existence of Israel,” with additional posts calling for broader political stances.

Peruvian President José María Balcázar drew international condemnation after claiming that Jews were partly responsible for pushing Germany into war, arguing that Jews “controlled all the banks, all the commerce, and practiced usury.” The remarks were made during a ceremony in Lima, and the Israeli and German embassies released a joint statement condemning the claim that Jews controlled German commerce.

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-894732
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53646
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894730
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894740
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894360
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894727