Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 4, 2026, 05 AM Eastern

0:00You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report I'm Noah Levi. In Southern Lebanon, the upcoming school year, set to begin September 15, presents a stark challenge for thousands of displaced families. Six months into the conflict between Israel and Hezbollah, many children are still living in public schools that have been converted into shelters. These families fled Israeli airstrikes and now face uncertainty, not only about housing, but also about their children's education, with some children having missed nearly two years of schooling. According to Lebanon's health ministry, since March 2nd, Israeli strikes have killed over 43 zero people in Lebanon, including more than 250 children, and wounded another 12,000, including 1,000 children, while many displaced individuals have returned home. More than 340,000 remain displaced due to destroyed hometowns or ongoing conflict zones,

1:03turning to security operations, the IDF, guided by the Shinnbett, concluded a two-day counter-terrorism operation in the Nablus area. During this operation, Israeli forces dismantled over 30 weapon production machines, confiscated concealed weaponry, and arrested more than 10 wanted individuals. Meanwhile in Gaza, concern is growing within the IDF Southern Command regarding potential Hamas responses, such as rocket fire or guerrilla operations. These concerns follow recent targeted strikes, and the capture of a senior Hamas official earlier this week. Officials noted this arrest, carried out in cooperation with a Gaza anti-Hamas militia, is key to understanding the organization's operational plans. This Minister Israel Katz stated Israel does not wait for threats, but pursues and destroys Hamas' terror infrastructure, emphasizing a severe response to any attacks on Israeli soldiers or civilians. In related developments, Anukba Battalion commander, who led the raid on the Sufa outpost during

2:04the October 7 massacre, and was involved in holding hostages with Hamas, has been eliminated. Separately, Garsons reported strong, deliberate explosions in the Barney-Suhailer Square area of eastern Karn Unis. The military wing of Islamic Jihad also claimed that militias, allegedly with Israeli backing, attempted to abduct one of their members in Karn Unis early this morning, resulting in the members' death during an exchange of fire, and in East Jerusalem, a 33-year-old assailant known to security forces, was shot dead by police near Damascus Gate, after reportedly attempting to attack civilians before turning to stab police officers. Domestically, the political landscape is dynamic. Marew's latest election poll shows the merger of Finance Minister Bates' Arl-Smotrich's religious Zionist party, and Moche-Faglin's Zehut party, pushing them past the electoral threshold with five seats. The Ofa Winter-led people of Israel party also passed the threshold with four seats, boosting Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's coalition prospects in the poll.

3:08In contrast, the opposition block has weakened. The poll also surveyed public opinion on leadership, with the gap narrowing between Gadi Eisenkot and Netanyahu. Former Prime Minister Naftali Bennett is continuing his campaign efforts, traveling the country, and engaging with voters to explain his past decisions, meanwhile the Lecude party released a new video, asserting that enemies of Israel want Prime Minister Netanyahu to fall and urging supporters not to let them succeed. On the international policy front, the US House of Representatives has approved a bill by a vote of 237 to 169 that imposes sanctions on universities boycotting Israel or restricting student exchange programs with the country. The bill now moves to the Senate for consideration. In economic news, Russia has reportedly refused to permit a new L.L. flight route to St. Petersburg. This move is seen as a retaliatory measure, potentially linked to international sanctions and the ongoing Russian-Ukrain War, following Israel's earlier grounding of aero-flot flights.

4:12And finally, the 113-year-old Anti-Defamation League, or ADL, is facing what its CEO calls a moment of reckoning due to surging antisemitism. The organization is reportedly exploring new strategies, including the use of artificial intelligence to combat these challenges. I'm Noah Levi. Thank you for listening to Israel Today on-going war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today on-going war report in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.