Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-13 at 03:01

HEADLINES
- IDF strikes Hezbollah vehicle, two killed
- AI-powered SMASH wins US Army contract
- Endowment grants NIS 200k for northern learners

The time is now 3:01 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, early this hour the IDF conducted a strike on a Hezbollah vehicle on the Al-Jiyyeh road in southern Lebanon, about 20 kilometers south of Beirut's airport. Lebanese sources say two people were killed; the vehicle was carrying goods bound for southern Lebanon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Tel Aviv District Court approved a one-time allocation of about NIS 200,000 from the Ida Abush public endowment to purchase laptops and essential equipment for children from low-income families in northern Israel and conflict-line communities. The request, submitted by the endowment's trustee and the Registrar of Endowments, allows urgent emergency assistance while preserving the endowment's public purposes. The funds will be directed to remote learning needs of children affected by the security situation in the North, under a framework that includes safeguards to ensure the endowment can fulfill its purposes in the future.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an Israeli woman who ordered Yoga pants from a company in America received a note reading “Free palestine, Hamas will win, death to the IDF.”

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israeli defense-tech developer Smart Shooter has secured a $10.7 million contract with the US Army to supply its AI-powered SMASH fire control systems, a counter-drone solution. The deal will provide American soldiers with a “one-shot, one-hit” capability to lock onto and neutralize fast-moving aerial targets, using AI and computer vision. SMASH systems are expected to be delivered in the third quarter of 2026. Smart Shooter's CEO, Michal Mor, said that as drone threats evolve, armed forces require proven, field-ready systems that can be rapidly deployed at the tactical edge. The contract builds on a $13.4 million contract signed in May 2025 with the US Army's JIATF-40.

In Uplifting News, ten thousand shekels have been raised to fund posters bearing the faces and details of those identified as responsible for burning a 15-year-old dog that died after a period of immense suffering. Separately, during a basketball game of Maccabi Tel Aviv, a man proposed marriage and the woman said yes.

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/abualiexpress/122222
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/76238
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895992
https://t.me/selena_updates/63672
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-895971
https://t.me/newssil/201516
https://t.me/newssil/201515