Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-13 at 21:01

HEADLINES
US weighs Sledgehammer op after ceasefire breaks
Kyiv under massive Russian assault
China-linked firms plot Iran arms via intermediaries

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the Pentagon is weighing a new operation name, potentially Operation Sledgehammer, to be used if the ceasefire with Iran breaks down and the president orders renewed strikes. White House officials told NBC that any renewed combat operations would carry a different designation from Operation Epic Fury, and that the current US military footprint in the region is larger now, with more firepower and capability. CENTCOM continues to enforce a blockade of the Strait of Hormuz as part of the campaign. Renaming could allow the administration to argue that a Sledgehammer operation is distinct from Epic Fury and may influence how quickly Congress would be asked to authorize continued action after 60 days. In Morocco, the remains of Specialist Mariyah Collington, 19, an air and missile defense crewmember, were recovered in the Cap Draa area after disappearing during the African Lion exercises; the US Africa Command confirmed the identification. The remains of 1st Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr. were recovered from the Atlantic Ocean last week. Search-and-rescue operations involved US, Moroccan and partner forces, following reports the soldiers fell from a cliff during a recreational hike. Separately, CENTCOM says one month into the Iran blockade, more than 15,000 troops, 200 aircraft and 20 warships are deployed in the region, with 67 commercial vessels redirected, 15 humanitarian ships allowed through, and four disabled to enforce compliance.

In Regional Impacts, Kyiv came under a massive Russian attack early Thursday, with explosions heard across the city. Debris from falling drones struck the roof of an apartment building and scattered in a street, as the mayor and regional officials described ongoing strikes. Ukraine’s air force said missiles were targeting the capital, and the broader assault described as a large-scale ballistic missile, cruise missile, and drone attack is underway against Kyiv and other oblasts.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Chinese companies have been plotting clandestine arms sales to Iran, transporting weapons through intermediaries to conceal origins, according to a New York Times report citing US officials. The officials said Iran and Chinese companies have been in discussions about arms deals, though it is unclear if any weapons have shipped or been approved, and there is disagreement among officials on specifics. The report notes Iran has not used Chinese weapons against Israel or US forces since Operation Roaring Lion and Operation Epic Fury began; officials cautioned they do not believe Beijing has formally approved supplying finished weapons, but insiders say they are aware of the communications.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, a federal judge in Washington temporarily blocked US sanctions on Francesca Albanese, the UN expert on the Palestinian territories, saying the Trump administration likely violated her First Amendment rights by sanctioning her. The sanctions barred her entry to the United States and banking access. Albanese has urged ICC war-crimes probes into Israeli and American nationals. The judge stressed that residency outside the United States does not remove her constitutional protections.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an IDF soldier was sentenced to 30 days in military prison after Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir caught him wearing a "Messiah" patch on his uniform. The soldier received the 30-day sentence; the platoon commander was given a suspended 14-day detention, the company commander was reprimanded, and the battalion commander received a formal mark. Some lawmakers criticized the punishment, arguing it was a grave and scandalous move given past statements by Zamir about patches.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Irish writer Graham Linehan condemned RTÉ’s decision not to air this year’s Eurovision Song Contest due to Israel’s participation, calling it disgraceful antisemitism and accusing the broadcaster of using Father Ted as a prop for antisemitic messaging. He launched a petition demanding the resignation of RTÉ’s director general. Separately, a Carteret, New Jersey, man pled guilty in federal court to intentionally damaging the Chabad-Lubavitch headquarters at 770 Eastern Parkway in Crown Heights by repeatedly ramming his car into the building during a memorial event earlier this year; prosecutors pursued a civil rights property-damage charge rather than a hate-crime count, with sentencing estimated at zero to six months.

In Uplifting News, Israeli violinist Maya Maron won a multimillion-pound settlement after a faulty Pilates machine shattered her elbow and derailed her career, and she is now developing a robotic walking aid. Five hours after a Florida plane crash, 11 survivors floated on a life raft with limited means to call for help; they were later rescued by US military search-and-rescue crews overhead. A writer reported that his new book, The Next War, reached the New York Times best-sellers list, marking a notable milestone.

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
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