Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-05 at 03:03

HEADLINESIranian cluster strikes hit 17 Israeli sitesUS special ops rescue airman in IranKuwait oil complex hit by Iranian strikeThe time is now 3:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, United Torah Judaism MK Moshe Gafni’s Bnei Brak residence was damaged by fragments from an intercepted Iranian cluster munition early Saturday morning. Gafni said he was in a shelter at the time and that no one was injured in his home, though a 45-year-old man elsewhere in Bnei Brak was hurt by a burst of glass. Gafni and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu spoke by phone after the incident. Across the region, about 17 sites were hit overnight, including Tel Aviv, Ramat Gan, and Petah Tikva. Hebrew-language reports also reference missile launches from Iran toward the north and the Gulf, with related commentary on regional responses.In US Military Role, new reporting described a daring rescue operation in Iran by a US special operations unit supported by heavy air power. Axios cited US officials confirming that the rescue recovered an airman from a downed F-15, with President Donald Trump announcing on Truth Social, “WE GOT HIM,” and pledging the airman will be fine. The operation marked a high-profile recovery of two airmen—one recovered previously and the second now safe—after an F-15 was downed. The mission reportedly involved two C-130 transports delivering commandos into Iranian territory far from borders, with the CIA conducting influence and deception efforts to mislead Iranian forces. Iranian sources later noted casualties among Basij forces as the rescue unfolded.Details about the rescue operation according to American and Iranian media described the American pilot as having hidden on an elevated ridge after landing, moving on foot away from the parachute point, and then activating a locator beacon. The terrain’s rugged, forested character helped delay Iranian reach as rescue teams worked. The operation reportedly reached a peak as two C-130s carried American commandos to an improvised airfield deep inside Iran, about 250 kilometers from the nearest friendly border. The account also mentions CIA influence activities and ongoing efforts to mislead Iranian observers, with casualties among Iranian forces cited by some sources.In Regional Impacts, an Iranian drone attack sparked a fire at the Shuwaikh Oil Sector Complex in Kuwait, with Kuwait’s official news agency reporting no casualties but confirming damage to the facility that hosts the Kuwait Petroleum Corporation and the Oil Ministry. Kuwait also said two power plants and a desalination facility were damaged in what it described as hostile Iranian aggression, and two power generators were shut down with no injuries reported. Bahrain’s Bapco Energies said a storage tank fire at one of its facilities was linked to the attack, with the fire extinguished and damage being assessed. Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a cruise missile launched toward its territory, and Abu Dhabi reported fires at the Borouge petrochemicals plant due to debris from air defenses intercepting Iranian attacks. In related regional developments, Iraqi PMF units reportedly entered Iran earlier this year and assisted the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps in a civilian massacre. On Lebanon’s border, reports in Hebrew note that Israeli forces continued operations against border villages. Separately, Hezbollah claimed it launched a sea-fired cruise missile at a Israeli Navy ship located about 68 nautical miles from the Lebanese coast. In the Sidon district, Lebanese sources said six people from the village of Khata were killed in overnight Israeli strikes following evacuation warnings.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hezbollah asserted at midnight that it fired a sea‑launched cruise missile at an Israeli Navy vessel about 68 nautical miles from Lebanon’s coast, a claim that components of the regional press treated with caution. Lebanese sources also reported that at least six residents of the village of Khata in the Sidon district were killed in a series of Israeli strikes overnight after evacuation warnings, underscoring the wider toll of the latest hostilities.In Israeli Economy and Business, El Al announced a broad expansion of activity and the restart of Bangkok services, while maintaining a limited emergency schedule with eight flights to Thailand in the coming week and increasing routes to Europe as inbound Israel-bound flights continue without passenger caps.In Uplifting News, The Muslim Family With The Key To The Church in Jerusalem is highlighted, reflecting a human-interest story centered on a family and a longstanding tradition in the city.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.SOURCEShttps://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892056https://t.me/newssil/197863https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1305236https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892055https://t.me/selena_updates/60826https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892059https://t.me/newssil/197862https://t.me/abualiexpress/119582https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjvqnf12wghttps://t.me/newssil/197855https://t.me/abualiexpress/119581https://t.me/abualiexpress/119578https://t.me/newssil/197859https://t.me/hnaftali/22624