Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-09-04 at 19:01

HEADLINES
US May Strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain
IDF Strikes Hezbollah After Drone Attack
Madrid Protests Nazi Salutes at Migrant Rally

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Trump said the United States may strike Iran's Pickaxe Mountain very soon. Pickaxe Mountain sits near Iran's heavily damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility and is a heavily fortified site that hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes. Trump credited the US Space Force and space technology for the broad intelligence on movement around Pickaxe Mountain. "We're leading in space. We know everybody that's moving at Pickaxe, we know everybody that's moving everywhere, all over Iran, and if anything goes bad, we hit them. We hit them hard," he said. He characterized the situation as a military conflict, not a war, calling it "small potatoes" for the United States. He also addressed the Strait of Hormuz, saying Iran had placed mines which the United States removed with its minesweepers. Alternatives to the Strait of Hormuz are also being built, he said, noting that pipelines are being built all over the Middle East now.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli Defense Forces said it struck Hezbollah targets in Lebanon after Hezbollah launched a drone at Israeli soldiers. The soldiers shot down the drone, and no IDF soldiers were injured in the attack, which the military described as a "blatant violation" of the ceasefire. The incident occurred while troops were in the IDF security zone in southern Lebanon. Earlier, Defense Minister Katz announced that Lebanon's Ali al-Taher ridge tunnels had been cleared of Hezbollah terrorists, with several terrorists killed and others fleeing. Iran warned the United States that it would respond forcefully to any Israeli attack on the ridge complex.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that Israel is confronting a battle over its identity and legitimacy, and that the United States should pay attention before that battle reaches its shores. The author questions how truth is established in a world where photographs can be fabricated, voices cloned, history rewritten, and institutions may no longer agree on basic facts. The piece contrasts these concerns with well-known works of fiction to illustrate a broader anxiety about evidence and credibility.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, NY Hasidic rabbis reportedly discussed Israel’s draft crisis in meeting with Trump, appealing to the president for help with federal prisoners, schools and housing.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Spanish far-right activists raised Nazi-style salutes and sang a Spanish fascist anthem in Madrid amid anti-migrant protests. The protest group Núcleo Nacional has about 2,000 members, many from neo-Nazi and Francoist groups, according to the Global Network on Extremism and Technology. The demonstrations in Madrid were part of mass protests called by Spain’s conservative People’s Party and far-right Vox, drawing tens of thousands of people, with the protestors filmed performing the outstretched-arm gesture and singing Cara al Sol as migrants arrived in Ceuta.

In Uplifting News, as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 approaches, this week’s haftarah from Isaiah offers a perspective on destruction, rebuilding, and memory, urging resilience for Zion and Jerusalem: "For Zion’s sake I will not be silent, and for Jerusalem’s sake I will not be still, until her righteousness goes forth like brightness, and her salvation like a burning torch." The piece frames these reflections as a reminder of recovery after tragedy. Israel after Oct. 7: What Moses teaches us about survival and responsibility adds that surviving hardship is only the beginning; we must decide what we stand for, and the message concludes with Atem nitzavim hayom – you are still standing.

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-907610
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-907612
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-907423
https://www.timesofisrael.com/ny-hasidic-rabbis-reportedly-discuss-israels-draft-crisis-in-meeting-with-trump/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907614
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-907466
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-907460