Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-11 at 00:02

HEADLINES
Hezbollah drone kills reservist near Lebanon border
Dead Sea summit with Druze Circassian leaders
Sa-Nur back home as settlements expand

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 the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a reservist identified as Alexander Glovanyov, 47, from Petah Tikva, was killed near the Lebanon border in a Hezbollah drone attack. Glovanyov was a lead vehicle driver in the 6924th Transport Battalion, and his family has been notified. The IDF said several Hezbollah drones crossed into Israeli territory and exploded near the Lebanon border; the drones were not detected by its warning systems, leaving him with no advance warning. He is described as the fourth IDF service member killed during the ongoing ceasefire with Hezbollah as a result of explosive drones. This is a developing story. The attack occurred two days after another drone strike wounded three Israeli soldiers in a separate incident.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, editors note that accountability is at the center of the national conversation as Israelis head toward the next elections. The editorial asserts that voters will not reward politicians who offer sophisticated excuses for October 7, but will favor those who demonstrate that lessons have been learned. In remarks that drew attention, Culture and Sports Minister Miki Zohar suggested the attack on October 7 reflected weaknesses of the government then in power, arguing that Yahya Sinwar interpreted that coalition as weak and planned the assault during the Bennett-Lapid government. The piece warns that if a future government relies on Arab factions, the next October 7 could be repeated. The public’s judgment, the editorial argues, rests on whether the government in power can recognize threats and avert catastrophe, not merely on immediate responses.

For Israeli settlers, return to Sa-Nur is a dream realised. At a prefabricated home, Meir Goldmintz described returning to Sa-Nur as a fulfilled long-held dream, a settlement dismantled in 2005 during Israel’s withdrawal from parts of the northern West Bank. Its reestablishment is part of broader settlement expansions pursued by the current government, a move critics say marks a step back for prospects of a Palestinian state. Goldmintz and neighbors—including Yossi Dagan, head of the northern West Bank Settlements Council—attended a reopening described by some as a historic correction, while others warn the development reinforces settlement expansion. The ceremony followed decades of displacement, and supporters frame it as restoring a historical community.

Netanyahu meets with leaders of Druze, Circassian communities at Dead Sea summit. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told local authorities heads that the most important mission is to ensure life, and he pledged to use all state power to that end. He noted his discussion with President Trump and voiced commitment to the cause, saying he sees heroic soldiers and bereaved families in need of lasting security. The meeting included the Local Government Center chairman Haim Bibas, Druze spiritual leader Sheik Mowafaq Tarif, and Yasser Gdeban, head of the Forum of Druze and Circassian Local Authority Heads. Netanyahu said he is pursuing this critical mission with the support of the broader government and was candid about ongoing security concerns.

In Uplifting News, Jewish couples get married in Kyiv for first time since war started thanks to weekend ceasefire. The Jewish Community Center Beit Menachem in Kyiv held a mass wedding over the weekend during a three-day ceasefire between Russia and Ukraine, marking the first such ceremony in more than four years since the invasion began. The ceremony included couples of all ages, including a pair aged 92, and many had lived together for years before formalizing their unions. Rabbi Yonatan Markovitch, Kyiv’s Chief Rabbi, called the event deeply moving, noting that it represented a renewal of generations amid the ongoing challenges of war and disruption. The ceasefire made it possible for these unions to be formally celebrated despite ongoing conflict.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-895745
https://t.me/JewishNews24/54176
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/by11hw60r11x
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-895718
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/israeli-settlers-return-sa-nur-dream-realised
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-895741
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-895742