Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 5, 2026, 01 AM Eastern

0:00You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi. US officials are increasingly concerned about Iran's potential for significant escalation in its conflict with the United States. According to recent US intelligence reports cited by The New York Times, Iran has grown more confident in its capabilities and its understanding of the limits of American pressure. This increased confidence, according to the report, is leading to a reluctance among Iranian leaders to make any agreement to fully end the war. US officials fear that Iran may intensify its attacks both within the Middle East, targeting more ships in the strait of hormones and US infrastructure in the region, and within the cybersphere. In recent weeks, Iran has resumed strikes against US targets, and the US has resumed strikes within Iran. However, US officials believe Iran-linked hackers were behind cyberattacks on more than

1:01100 water systems across the US in July, while no systems were degraded to the point of making water unsafe to drink. The attacks caused disruptions that required manual overrides and precautionary boilwater advisories. US oil and gas infrastructure may also be on the hacker's target list. Although current and former US officials told The New York Times that those systems are more protected. It remains unclear whether any energy systems have been breached. According to the report, Iran has also gained a more precise understanding of its leverage over the strait of hormones, and believes that US forces will not be able to sustain major new strikes due to dwindling munitions stockpills. Additionally, signs have emerged of Iran's spreading propaganda against President Trump, and focusing on US midterm elections, with domestic media in Iran publishing numerous articles about the topic. In cultural news, actor Mark Ruffalo has become the center of a controversy, following comments, he made regarding the Paramount Skydance merger.

2:01Some Jewish groups and figures have accused Ruffalo of antisemitism, stating that his remarks invoked classic antisemitic tropes about Jewish wealth and power. Ruffalo had linked Paramount Skydance CEO David Ellison, whose father Larry Ellison is one of the world's richest men and a prominent supporter of Israel, to the tech giant Oracle. He claimed Larry Ellison was a classic oligarch, who is crushing workers and consolidating the wealth of the world. Paramount itself has stated that opposition to the merger has an antisemitic element, and seized on Ruffalo's comments to support its claim. However, a large group of notable Jewish personalities, including entertainers, rabbis and physicians, have released an open letter defending Ruffalo, calling the attacks against him a false and dangerous weaponization of charges of antisemitism. I'm Noah Levi. Thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today, ongoing war report in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.

3:02Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.