Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-16 at 14:01

HEADLINES
Israel strikes Az Adin al-Hadad after approval
Pakistan mediates Iran-US talks amid tensions
IDF hits Hezbollah targets after border clashes

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, a security official says the political leadership approved the strike for about a week and a half ago. During that period, intelligence monitoring of Az Adin al-Hadad was continuous, and the attack was carried out now because of an operational opportunity with high chances of success to neutralize him.

In Iranian Retaliation, Tehran aired weapons training on television as Pakistan moves to mediate between Iran and the United States. Pakistan’s Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi arrived in Tehran for discussions on bilateral relations and the prospects of renewing peace talks, meeting with his Iranian counterpart Eskandar Momeni and other senior regime officials. Islamabad officials told Iran’s ISNA that Pakistan is pursuing a serious mediation effort between Tehran and Washington to encourage flexibility in negotiations and prevent a slide into a regional war. The context includes reports of renewed American-Israeli pressure on Iran, and Iranian state media last weekend showed presenters holding rifles on air, including a moment when a presenter fired an AK-47 at the studio roof.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah incidents over the past 24 hours included hostile aircraft, mortar shells, and explosive drones near the area where IDF soldiers are operating in southern Lebanon, with no sirens sounded as required by protocol. Over the weekend the IDF struck about 100 Hezbollah targets across southern Lebanon. Earlier today and this evening, the army targeted Hezbollah observation posts, terror infrastructure, and a weapons storage facility from which attackers had conducted operations against IDF personnel and the State of Israel.

In Israeli Economy and Business, a feature examines the new battlefield where Israel’s tech sector intersects with modern conflict. James Spiro notes that the whole world runs through tech, highlighting how technological advances shape defense, security, and broader society as Israel’s innovations play a central role on multiple fronts.

In Uplifting News, the piece on the little shop on Jaffa Street reflects on old Jerusalem as Jerusalem Day approaches and the city’s trauma from Oct. 7 and the war with Iran recedes. The author recalls a memory-filled journey from decades past with a family visit to Jerusalem, noting landmarks such as Pfefferberg’s on Jaffa Road and the President Hotel, and describing how the city’s atmosphere and memories endure through difficult times. The second story visits the sacred resting place of the Baal Shem Tov in Medzhybizh, where Shavuot is marked not only as the day of the Torah’s giving but also as a moment of farewell. The Besht’s grave is a major Jewish heritage site, and legend says that when he prepared to depart this world, two clocks in his house would stop; though the clocks did stop, his followers interpreted it as a sign that he would pass through one door and immediately enter through another.

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/newssil/201711
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/05/16/tehran-airs-weapons-training-on-tv-as-pakistan-rushes-to-mediate-between-iran-and-the-us/
https://t.me/selena_updates/63891
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1pwmfg5wx
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-896247
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-896370