Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-04 at 18:02

HEADLINES
Iran targets Fujairah as US plans response
Uriel Dreyfus promoted to lieutenant colonel
Police disperse Meron crowds before Lag Ba'omer

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the escalation in the Persian Gulf in recent days threatens to bring about a full resumption of the war, although both Iran and the US have made clear they are not eager for that scenario. The Iranian response to the US operation to move ships through the Strait of Hormuz surprised the West. The Iranians chose not to settle for firing at vessels passing through the strait, and also directly attacked the United Arab Emirates, the country that has absorbed the heaviest Iranian fire throughout the war because of its ties with Israel and its firm policy against Tehran. Iran's focus on the southern port of Fujairah signals a strategic aim to disrupt activity at the port, bypassing the Strait. The Americans and Israel are now holding intensive consultations on the nature of the response and on assistance to their ally. According to three officials familiar with the matter, the most likely options include targeted strikes on launchers and other military targets threatening the strait, or a parallel strike on an Iranian energy facility in response to the attack on Fujairah.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Uriel Dreyfus, a Judea and Samaria military court judge related to the famous French military officer Alfred Dreyfus, was recently promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in a ceremony presided over by Military Court of Appeals president Major General Orly Markman. With this promotion, Uriel has reached the same rank his forefather had achieved in his lifetime, more than a century after he was wrongfully convicted of treason and used as an antisemitic scapegoat. In a speech, the reservist drew a parallel between the promotion ceremony and the 131-year-old Dreyfus affair, recalling the memory of injustice and the persistence of innocence. “When I entered the gates of the IDF as a young soldier, I carried this memory with me,” he said, linking his own path to the enduring lesson of the case.

Police disperse hundreds of civilians who entered Mount Meron on Monday, on the eve of Lag Ba'omer, in an attempt to light bonfires after the government banned the event earlier this week due to the ongoing conflict with Hezbollah in northern Israel. The police confirmed they are working to prevent people from entering the complex, detaining buses and personal vehicles traveling to the site, even in violation of guidelines. "We clarify that, given the security situation and the Home Front Command's instructions, staying in the mountain area without a permit constitutes a danger to the public," the police stated. "We call on the public to be responsible, to celebrate the Rashbi celebration safely at home and within the communities, and not to reach the checkpoints." The Israel Fire and Rescue Services said in a separate statement that it had prepared for possible incidents at the Mount Meron complex, with trucks and firefighters in position to assist in the event of fires, even though such operations are banned under current security guidelines.

In Uplifting News, Maccabi Tel Aviv took the Israeli Classico with a 112-105 overtime victory over Hapoel Jerusalem as Roman Sorkin starred down the stretch to hand the yellow-and-blue the win at the Pais Arena in the capital. The Reds took control of the game from the outset as Justin Smith and Jared Harper filled the basket early while Lonnie Walker and Oshae Brissett countered for Maccabi to snatch a slim 53-52 lead at the half. Brissett kept finding points as did Jimmy Clark in the second half, but Harper kept hitting his shots from the outside to take a lead late in the game. However, Sorkin’s first field goal of the matchup took the game into overtime, where he scored from deep, while Clark also put in points to close out the win. Along with the win came some concerning news: Lonnie Walker dislocated his finger in overtime and will be out for 2-3 weeks. Walker scored 25 points, Brissett added 22 points, and Clark put in 19 points for Maccabi Tel Aviv in the win, while Harper scored 26 points and Smith scored 23 points for Jerusalem in the loss.

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.israelhayom.com/2026/05/05/us-israel-weigh-strikes-on-iranian-missile-launchers-and-energy-sites-after-uae-attack/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-895120
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-895115
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-895119