Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-15 at 19:01

HEADLINES
Israel Lebanon extend 45-day ceasefire, two-track talks
US arrests Al-Saadi, senior Kataib Hezbollah
Trump urges Shabbat observance for US 250th

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Israel, Lebanon agree on 45-day ceasefire extension, negotiation to continue on two tracks, Israel and Lebanon have agreed to a 45-day extension to the ceasefire following two days of negotiation facilitated by the US State Department, the department announced on Friday. According to the statement, both Israel and Lebanon have agreed on a framework for negotiations, including full recognition of each other’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, and establishing genuine security along their shared border. Negotiations will proceed on two tracks: security and political. Political negotiations are set to reconvene on June 2 and June 3, while military delegations from both countries will meet at the US Pentagon on May 29. The United States affirmed its recognition of Hezbollah as a threat, noting that they operate without the consent or approval of the government of Lebanon, and stated that all parties are working to find a long-term solution. Israel’s ambassador to the US and leader of the delegation to the negotiations, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, described the talks as frank and constructive and said they hold potential for great success. The Lebanese delegation reaffirmed its commitment to the process.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, On May 15, the US Justice Department announced the arrest of Mohammad Baqer Saad Dawood Al-Saadi, an Iraqi national and senior member of Kataib Hezbollah, on charges of providing material support for Iranian-backed terrorist organizations and directing attacks targeting US citizens and interests. He is accused of directing and urging others to attack US and Israeli interests, including by killing Americans and Jews, to advance the goals of Kataib Hezbollah and the IRGC. The case is part of ongoing US efforts to curb Iranian-backed militias in Iraq. The Justice Department released a photo of Al-Saadi with the late IRGC Quds Force commander Qasem Soleimani. The filing notes the US has issued multiple rewards of $10 million for information on various Iraqi militia leaders, underscoring the focus on these groups in the broader regional confrontation. In related and unverified circulation, a number of unofficial Hamas-linked channels have floated claims that Ez A-Din Al-Hadad, the commander of the group’s military wing, may have been killed tonight; one widely seen example references a past video from October 7, 2024 in which Hamas’s military wing spokesman Abu Obaida explains that after every commander is killed, others take their place, and notes that if killings were a victory, the resistance would have ended with the killing of Ez A-Din Al-Qassam about 90 years ago. The posts offer no independent verification.

In Uplifting News, As part of celebrations marking the United States’ 250th anniversary, President Donald Trump is calling on Americans to observe Shabbat, encouraged by a May 4 Jewish American Heritage Month proclamation that invites Jewish Americans to observe a national Sabbath from sundown Friday to nightfall Saturday and to include Americans of all backgrounds in the observance. Trump described the day as a recognition of the sacred Jewish tradition of rest, reflection, and gratitude to the Almighty, marking the first time a sitting president has formally urged Shabbat observance. Ivanka Trump, who converted to Judaism before marrying Jared Kushner, is reportedly among those who observe Shabbat. In another uplifting note, Daniela Gerson’s new book The Wanderers chronicles her family’s journey as Holocaust survivors who fled to the Soviet Union, tracing how Polish Jews escaped eastward during the war, enduring a decade of wandering from Siberian labor camps to Central Asia and displaced persons camps in Austria and Germany. Gerson, an immigration reporter and professor, highlights that her grandparents were part of the largest group of European Jews who survived the Holocaust, a story she presents through memoir, history, and journalism.

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/middle-east/article-896336
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896335
https://t.me/abualiexpress/122420
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-896334
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-896333