Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-07 at 00:01

HEADLINES
Saudi Pressure Seals US Air Over Hormuz
Asia Stocks Jump on Iran Peace Hopes
IDF Soldier Severely Injured by Explosive Drone

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, Saudi Arabia pressed the United States to pause Project Freedom and would not allow US aircraft to fly from Prince Sultan Airbase or through Saudi airspace to escort stranded vessels through the Strait of Hormuz. The pause followed pressure from Saudi leaders, with US allies reportedly surprised by the announcement. President Trump tried to resolve the issue with a call to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, but the effort remained blocked, forcing the halt to regain access to the strategically critical airspace. The report notes that during Operation Epic Fury against Iran and before the ongoing temporary US-Iran ceasefire, Saudi Arabia allowed US aircraft to operate from Prince Sultan Airbase, where the US maintains fighters and air defenses. A US official emphasized the importance of Saudi cooperation on operations in the region. Separately, CENTCOM says the aircraft carrier USS George H.W. Bush is part of a large force enforcing the US naval blockade against Iran, with 52 commercial vessels directed to turn around or return to port to comply.

In Regional Impacts, Tokyo led Asia’s stock surge as investors grew hopeful that the Iran conflict may be nearing an end, fueling demand for AI-related tech and pushing oil prices toward the week’s losses on relief that Washington and Tehran could soon resolve the crisis and reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The Strait has been effectively closed since early March, constraining global crude flows. President Trump suggested that an agreement was near, while Axios cited two US officials saying both sides were close to a one-page memorandum of understanding to end the war, reopen the strait, and outline a framework for broader nuclear talks; Iran has yet to finalize a deal. If a settlement falls through, officials warned, the conflict could resume at higher intensity.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, one IDF soldier was severely injured and three others lightly injured by an explosive drone in southern Lebanon; the soldiers were evacuated to a hospital for treatment and their families were notified. The incident is being treated as developing.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a column argues that Jewish resilience in New York persists in the face of antisemitic intimidation, noting protests targeting Jewish spaces in the city tied to Israel and the Gaza war; the piece emphasizes that the Park East Synagogue is not the Israeli embassy and that a Jewish family’s home in Queens is not an IDF command center, urging a clear distinction between legitimate protest and targeting Jewish spaces. Rutgers University canceled a commencement speaker invitation over inflammatory social media posts accusing Israel of genocide and describing abusive claims about Israelis, including a tweet alleging “dogs to sexually assault prisoners.” The university cited the posts as the reason for the decision. New York Governor Kathy Hochul said she will continue doing everything in her power to protect Jewish New Yorkers, including advancing a buffer zone proposal and enhancing security at synagogues, schools, and community institutions.

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/middle-east/article-895397
https://t.me/JewishNews24/53995
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/tokyo-leads-asia-stock-surge-growing-mideast-peace-hopes
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895400
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895364
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-895396
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54000