Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-08 at 14:02

HEADLINES
- Iran Claims U.S. Ship Damaged After Montage
- U.S. Strikes Empty Iranian VLCCs Rubio Defends
- Eight Hamas Tunnels Dismantled in Rafah Network

The time is now 2:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, CENTCOM has posted a video montage showing the three ships involved in yesterday's incident: USS Mason (DDG 87), USS Truxtun (DDG 103), and USS Rafael Peralta (DDG 115), following reports from Iranian state media that a US Navy ship was damaged in the Strait of Hormuz during a complex Iranian attack that involved missiles, drones, and small fast craft. The montage highlights the ships named in the claim and the sequence of events.

In US Military Role, the US conducted airstrikes targeting a number of empty Iranian very large crude carriers that were attempting to return to Iran by running the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, Secretary Rubio defended recent US military action, saying American destroyers moving through international waters came under fire and responded defensively. "Only stupid countries don't shoot back when you're shot at. And we're not a stupid country," Rubio said, adding that US forces "fired back" after Iranian attacks on American vessels.

In Regional Impacts, a suspected oil spill seen on satellite imagery near Kharg Island export hub covers roughly 45 square kilometers of sea to the west of the island; the cause remains unknown. An Iranian official reported one Iranian killed, 10 injured, and 4 missing after an American attack on a civilian fishing boat in Minab, which carried 15 fishermen. The UAE's Ministry of Defense said air defenses monitored three Iranian UAVs and two ballistic missiles in the last several hours, with injuries to at least three people.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, eight underground tunnel routes used by Hamas, spanning more than 2.5 kilometers, were dismantled. One tunnel route was part of the eastern Rafah underground network where Hamas operatives had been active; the operation involved engineering work inside the tunnel by IDF troops.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the secretary of state said Iran should respond today and that the red line is clear: if Iran threatens the United States, they will be bombed; if you launch missiles at us and we identify you, we will strike. He also noted that Iran has established or is trying to establish an agency to control traffic in the Straits, a move he called unacceptable, and said a response from Iran was expected today. Rubio also criticized NATO members for denying access to bases needed to carry out military missions, saying such refusals can impede contingency plans and must be examined.

In Uplifting News, Jerusalem activist Jehad Abu Sneineh describes his journey from the Mount of Olives to grassroots protests for equality and coexistence. The US economy added 115,000 jobs in April, surpassing economists' expectations. California is launching a first-in-the-nation program to provide hundreds of free diapers to newborns before hospital discharge, at about 65 to 75 hospitals in its first year, with expansion planned statewide.

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/20656
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54085
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54080
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-895580
https://t.me/abualiexpress/121968
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54076
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54074
https://t.me/abualiexpress/121967
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54079
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54081
https://www.jpost.com/j-spot/article-895313
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54082
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54084