Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-05-25 at 05:02

HEADLINES
Iran Supreme Leader Hidden Delays Talks
Netanyahu Faces Hezbollah Drone Clash
Trump Mulls Final Military Move On Iran

The time is now 5:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, US intelligence says Iran's Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei is hidden in a secret location with little access to the outside world, reachable only through a labyrinth of couriers. The arrangement creates difficulties and delays in the ongoing negotiations between the United States and Iran, officials told CBS. Even the highest officials in the Iranian government are unaware of his exact location and cannot contact him directly, with information reaching him filtered and dated, producing noticeable latency in his responses. Officials describe a pattern in which many senior Iranian leaders spend weeks at a time inside fortified bunkers to avoid potential strikes, a dynamic that complicates messaging and decision-making at the top. Observers note the challenges of coordinating with a leader who is effectively insulated, and one official said the process of conveying guidance to the supreme leader often leaves his counterparts exasperated as they try to bridge the gaps in communication while negotiations proceed.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Netanyahu faces a clash over how to respond to Hezbollah drones as he presses the IDF for rapid protection from explosive drones after deadly attacks in Lebanon, while Finance Minister Smotrich argues that Israel should rely on deterrence and exact a heavier price from Hezbollah.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, with Washington and Tehran deadlocked, President Donald Trump convened a high-level meeting with senior national security officials, including the CIA director, the secretary of defense, and the vice president, to discuss scenarios for a possible return to military confrontation with Iran. Qatar and Pakistan mounted last-minute mediation efforts that ultimately failed to halt escalation. White House officials say Trump has grown frustrated with the stalled diplomacy and is weighing the option of a decisive final military operation, though no final decision has been made. Beyond the immediate talks, questions persist about who the United States is really dealing with inside Iran’s regime, and whether the CIA, in coordination with Mossad, now views regime change as a more realistic objective than in the past.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Netanyahu’s testimony in Case 2000 resumed this morning at the Tel Aviv District Court, but the session was cut short after his lawyers met with the presiding judges for security-diplomatic schedule reasons, ending the hearing at 1:45 p.m. The prime minister is nearing the end of his testimony, with prosecutors estimating only a few full days of cross-examination remain before a shorter redirect examination by his defense. Separately, the High Court of Justice is set to hear a petition challenging the state’s handling of discharged soldiers and reservists who died by suicide after Gaza war service, seeking to halt the implementation of recommendations from a committee on post-service recognition and burial for those no longer in active service. A third issue in this realm concerns the International Criminal Court’s focus on Betzalel Smotrich, a development some observers view as potentially transformative for Israeli politics and international legal exposure, with consequences that could extend beyond the current court cases.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Australia’s spy chief told a Royal Commission examining the Bondi Beach attack that antisemitism was left unchecked after the Gaza war, fueling violence against Jewish people. ASIO Director-General Mike Burgess said the war sparked strong emotions in Australia and that a spike in antisemitic incidents contributed to raising the national terrorism threat level to probable in August 2024. He warned that antisemitism escalated from threatening or intimidating conduct to direct targeting of Jewish Australians, a trend that saw increased violence in the period following the attack.

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-897200
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjhnokwlzg
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-897213
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897215
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897204
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-897197
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-897212