Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-12 at 23:01

HEADLINES
Iran warplanes hidden in Pakistan amid conflict
Iran regains majority missile sites along Hormuz
South Korea weighs phased Hormuz mission role

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

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, images from Karachi airport reveal for the first time that Iran flew some planes to Pakistan in order to avoid destruction by Israel during the 12-day war back in June. Some of Iran's Air Force assets are still being kept safe inside Pakistan, including a KC-707 ELINT aircraft and two Boeing 747 transport aircraft.

In Iranian Retaliation, the United States believes Iran has regained access to a majority of its missile launch sites, according to a New York Times report. The NYT cites senior US officials who warn that Iran's active missile sites include 30 along the Strait of Hormuz, posing a threat to US naval ships in the area. The report says Iran can still use the missile stockpiles in non-operational sites by launching them with mobile launchers, with the country maintaining roughly 70% of its mobile launcher inventory. It also notes that about 90% of Iranian underground missile facilities are at least partially operational. The NYT report adds that Iran's current missile stockpile stands at around 70% of its prewar level. The Wall Street Journal, in a separate report, said Iran still retains thousands of short- and medium-range missiles and retains the ability to reactivate their launchers, citing a US intelligence assessment. The report followed remarks by US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth that Iran's arsenal has been “depleted and decimated.”

In US Military Role, a US Air Force T-38C "Talon II" jet trainer aircraft crashed in rural Lamar County, Alabama, while on a training flight out of Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi earlier today. Both crew members safely ejected from the aircraft, and the incident is under investigation.

In Regional Impacts, South Korea is weighing a phased role in a Hormuz mission after talks with the United States, with defense minister Ahn Gyu-back signaling support steps short of full military participation. He told reporters in Washington that Seoul would participate as a responsible member of the international community and would review ways to contribute in a phased manner, potentially including political support, personnel, information-sharing, and the provision of military assets, while stressing that no detailed discussions had taken place on expanding troop involvement. Any decisions would follow domestic legal procedures, and the minister said there was no deep discussion on expanding military participation. The meeting between South Korea’s defense chief and US defense secretary occurred a day after Seoul emphasized its position to the US.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Ambassador Danon welcomed the Dominican Republic’s decision to designate Hezbollah and the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps as terrorist organizations.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Brigadier-General (Reserve) Dedi Simchi announced this week that he has decided to enter the political arena to influence from within. In a conversation with Ben Caspit and Yinon Magal on 103FM, he said, “All options are relevant,” as he explained he is examining possibilities and may form a party, stressing that it’s no longer possible to sit on the sidelines. He described himself as a unifying bloc and said he is talking to everyone, though he noted there has not been a final decision on joining any particular party.

In Uplifting News, Magen David Adom announced the establishment of a new dedicated mental health emergency response unit in partnership with Israel’s Health Ministry, launched after a successful pilot. The system will transfer mental health-related calls to specially trained mental health dispatchers for evaluation, rather than standard medical teams, and a phased rollout is planned to accelerate in the coming years. MDA’s Dr. Raphael Strugo said mental health emergencies are among the most complex and emotionally charged situations responders face, and embedding mental health professionals into emergency response aims to deliver higher quality care. Also in uplifting news, Albrecht Weinberg, who survived several Nazi concentration and death camps and lost most of his family in the Holocaust before returning to Germany in his 80s, died at 101 in Leer, in northwestern Germany, weeks after his birthday and the premiere of a film about his life attended by hundreds. In Eurovision news, ten countries, including Finland and Israel, advanced to the final after the first day of competition, despite protests heard during Israel’s performance by Noam Bettan of the rock ballad “Michelle.” In science and space, NASA’s Perseverance rover released a self-portrait after capturing a sequence of 61 images of Mars’ western frontier. And in the United States, New York Governor Hochul announced a reduction in the round-trip bus fare to World Cup matches from $80 to $20.

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.

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