Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-08 at 11:03

0:00The time is now 11.02 a.m. in New York. I'm Noah Levi and this is the latest Israel today, ongoing war report. In Iranian retaliation, Iran has once again closed the Strait of Hormuz, blocking oil tankers from transiting the waterway in retaliation for Israeli strikes on Hezbollah. According to the Islamic Revolutionary Guard courtied outlet-fars news, oil tankers attempting to transit the Strait received threatening messages from the Iranian Navy, according to several shipping sources. Any vessel trying to travel into the sea will be targeted and destroyed. The message which was received by several vessels said, this is a developing story. In US military role, US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegsuth said that America had a decisive military victory against Iran, in comments to the press. He added that Iranian supreme leader Majtaba Khamenei was wounded and disfigured. Regarding the ceasefire, Hegsuth stated that Iran

1:03had begged for it, saying the US had used less than 10 percent of its military capabilities in Operation Epic Fury. He noted that the US conducted 800 strikes on Tuesday night prior to the ceasefire. Destroying Iran's defense industrial base, further describing Iranian factories as having been raised to the ground. Following the Strait of Hormuz, Hegsuth said the Strait is open, and that Iran will allow ships to transit it, further stating that US forces will ensure Iran abides by the ceasefire's terms, and that the US military will be hanging around Iran. We hope and believe the ceasefire will hold," said Hegsuth. Iran would be wise to get the word out to their troops to stop firing. Hegsuth also touched on Iran's enriched uranium, saying that Iran will either give the uranium to the US, or will take it out. In regional impacts, the Kurdistan region of northern Iraq has been one of the main targets of Iran, and its proxies in the month, and a half of war since February 28. There have been around 600-700 drone and missile attacks on the region.

2:06Kurds have been killed, and the drones and missiles have wreaked havoc in the cities of the region. This includes numerous attacks on the regional capital of Erbil, as well as attacks on Suleimanye and Dohuk. Many attacks also targeted Kurdish-Iranian opposition groups. These groups have bases and members in northern Iraq, because some Kurds in Iran have lived in exile in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. The Kurdish people live in Iraq, Iran, Syria, and Turkey. The Kurdish opposition groups have long had forces in the Kurdistan region of Iraq. They have trained in the mountains, and they have maintained small camps and facilities for their members and families. Over the years, Iran targeted some of these groups, specifically the group PDKI and also the Kurdistan Freedom Party, PAK, as well as a group called Komala. Since the war with Iran began, Tehran told its militias in Iraq to target the Kurdistan region. They targeted US forces and facilities in the region. Five things to watch amid the ceasefire with Iran notes that a fragile ceasefire took shape

3:08on April 8. With Lebanon, Iraq and other flashments remaining hot spots as the ceasefire begins, including concerns over Israel's campaign in Lebanon, doubts about mediator talks, and the fate of Iran's 10-point plan, alongside Iraqi dynamics and domestic political fallout. In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies, Hezbollah fired at targets in northern Israel, and a fragment from an intercepted rocket fell in an open area with no injuries, according to Israeli media. Iran had also launched missiles toward Israel early Wednesday hours after US President Donald Trump announced a two-week ceasefire involving the US, Israel and Iran, with alerts continuing in Israel after the truce was announced. On Tuesday, several locations in Central Israel were hit by fragments from an Iranian missile following a launch toward the region. According to reports received by Major David Adom and United Hatsala, the Roche High in Municipality stated that there was significant damage to both

4:08residences and a pedestrian street across the city. Despite the damage, no injuries were reported. In US policy concerning Israel, a pause not an end. What the two-week ceasefire with Iran really means, opinion rights, that from Washington's perspective reopening the Strait of Hormuz constitutes a major strategic achievement, while for Iran the ceasefire offers temporary breathing room. The piece notes that the ceasefire is a short pause with no guarantee that the broader conflict is over, no withdrawal of forces, and no halt to Israel's ongoing campaign. Trump says he will work with Iran for very productive regime change. There will be no enrichment. Claiming the United States will partner with Iran to remove deeply buried nuclear assets and imposing tariffs on weapons to Iran as part of deter and engage discussions. He also suggested a joint effort to safeguard the Strait of Hormuz during the talks and indicated a path toward coordination on sanctions relief and other terms. In antisemitism and anti-Jewish hate,

5:09a defiant Hassan Piker boosts Michigan Senate candidate Abdul-Elsaid in rallies taking on Israel. Outside, hundreds gathered for Elsaid's campaign rally as Piker, a prominent progressive streamer, drew attention for remarks linking to Israel's policies. Leading Democrats have urged the party to distance itself from Piker, while attendees express support for Elsaid's Medicare for all platform and criticised Israel. The event highlighted ongoing debates within the political left over Israel and the broader Israel-Palestinian issue, including how antisemitism concerns are framed in campaigning. In Israeli economy and business, he prepare he-break-Uf he-break-Uf, he-briod he-bri-mame he-briod he-bri-hay he-bri-od he-bri-s-amic he-bri-tate he-bri-vav he-bri-rash he-bri-od he-bri-mame he-bri-sh-in he-bri-tav he-bri-cuth he-bri-al-aif he-bri-tav he-bri-n-he-bri-tav he-bri-od he-bri-bate he-bri-hay he-bri-n-he-bri-pay he-bri-tate he-bri-hay he-bri-cate he-bri-sh-in he-bri-vav he-bri-bate he-bri-bate he-bri-tav he-bri-tav he-bri-lame-he-bri-mame describes a bottleneck that remains in the strait of hormones despite a ceasefire thousands of

6:13seafarers are stuck with about 800 ships detained leaving global trade paralysed. The peace characterises the situation as a logistics crisis and notes Iranian leverage including claims of victory and disclosure of conditions reportedly agreed to buy the United States. The development underscores how the hormones standstill continues to shape economic activity and energy markets. In uplifting news, resilience is in Israel's DNA. AM. Yisrael Chai reflects a recurring sentiment of determination and continuity in Israeli society, underscoring a sense of resilience. Thank you for tuning into this Israel today, ongoing war report update. I'm Noah 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.