Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-21 at 23:01

HEADLINES
- Iran Could Strike First, Intelligence Warns
- Southern Lebanon Devastation Mounts After Strikes
- House Blocks Iran War Vote, Trump Disappointed

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, intelligence officials warned on Thursday that Iran could be planning a surprise attack involving missiles and unmanned aerial vehicles against Gulf States and Israel. The warning followed a situational assessment with top military leaders and Defense Minister Israel Katz, as the United States and Iran continue ceasefire negotiations and President Donald Trump and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly disagree on how to proceed with Tehran. Security officials say Tehran may try to act before diplomatic options are exhausted, launching a preemptive strike similar to the early moves in Operation Epic Fury and Operation Roaring Lion. The Air Force and IDF’s Operations Directorate, under Major General Hidai Zilberman, have held talks with American counterparts to bolster readiness, including sharing intelligence on unusual Iranian activity, and IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir has briefed commanders as part of a broader situational assessment.

In US Military Role, the arrival of the USS Nimitz Carrier Strike Group in the Caribbean Sea has heightened tensions, with traders on Polymarket saying the odds of US military action against Cuba by year’s end have risen, recently surpassing 51%. At the same time, the US Air Force has issued an operational pause, grounding all T-38 Talon aircraft under Global Strike Command, Air Education and Training Command, Air Combat Command, and Air Force Materiel Command, out of an abundance of caution, following the May 12 crash at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi.

In Regional Impacts, Lebanese residents describe widespread destruction along the southern border as Israeli forces conduct airstrikes and a ground invasion in the area south of Lebanon, near Israel. A mother of two, Hala Farah, is collecting photos to preserve the memory of Yarun, her hometown decimated by the fighting, a pattern echoed across dozens of towns and villages since the Israel-Hezbollah conflict began on March 2. A ceasefire took hold on April 17, but demolitions and bulldozing have intensified, threatening homes, infrastructure, schools, places of worship, and farmland. Israel says its attacks target Hezbollah sites and operatives, not civilians, while Farah says nearly all in her town have been wiped away.

Morocco’s farmers faced a contrasting challenge as heavy rains offered hope for a robust harvest, but the war in the Middle East pushed up fuel and fertilizer costs. Mehdi el-Maazi and others in the Marchouch rural region saw vegetation return after renewed rains, lifting expectations for a strong cereal harvest — nearly nine million tonnes, with overall agricultural output up about 15 percent from last season. However, the conflict has disrupted maritime traffic through the Strait of Hormuz, sending energy markets into volatility and tightening fertilizer supplies. Before the war, farmers like Maazi spent roughly 1,200 dirhams per hectare on diesel to run equipment; those costs have fed into production pressures.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the United States announced sanctions on nine Hezbollah-aligned individuals in Lebanon, including Iran’s designated ambassador to Lebanon, for obstructing the peace process and impeding Hezbollah’s disarmament. The Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control said the officials were embedded across Lebanon’s parliament, military, and security sectors, working to preserve Hezbollah’s influence in key Lebanese state institutions. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent stressed that Hezbollah is a terrorist organization and must be disarmed.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US House Republicans canceled a vote on a resolution seeking to end the Iran war unless President Trump receives congressional authorization, just two days after a similar measure advanced in the Senate. The vote was scheduled for Thursday before lawmakers left Washington for the Memorial Day recess, capping a period in which Republicans repeatedly blocked three prior war powers resolutions; margins had narrowed, and the last vote to block ended in a tie. The chamber’s leadership said the vote would be moved to early June. Separately, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said he would meet NATO foreign ministers on Friday, noting that President Trump had been very disappointed with alliance members who had not allowed the use of bases for the US-Israel war, singling out Spain as an example. Trump has warned he may reconsider the US alliance role, while NATO officials have stressed that Washington did not ask the alliance to participate in the Iran war, though many members have allowed use of airspace and bases.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Arab parties Balad, Ra’am and Hadash-Ta’al are weighing a technical alliance to boost Arab turnout and avoid wasted votes, reviving the Joint List formula that delivered 15 seats in 2020. The move signals political maneuvering ahead of elections as these parties seek to maximize Arab representation.

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/iran-news/article-897001
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20869
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20868
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/lebanese-accuse-israel-wiping-their-towns-map
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/morocco-farmers-saw-hope-rain-mideast-war-inflates-production-costs
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/05/us-hits-nine-hezbollah-aligned-individuals-lebanon-sanctions
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-896999
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-896998
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjor8vakme