Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-05 at 15:02

HEADLINESIran rejects ceasefire to open HormuzUS rescues downed F-15 crew in IranBeirut assassination attempt targets Na'im QassemThe time is now 3:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Iranian Retaliation, Iran refused the proposal for a temporary ceasefire in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz.In US Military Role, the United States conducted a daring operation to recover a downed F-15 crew member in Iran’s Khuzestan province, following reports that an F-15 was downed on April 3, 2026. Former President Trump described the rescue as one of the most daring.In Regional Impacts, in the West Bank, Jewish settlers burned a chicken coop and trucks belonging to Palestinian residents in Qusra near Nablus as retaliation for a prior Palestinian stone attack; Israeli forces rushed to the area after reports of clashes. Britain’s defense ministry said RAF Typhoon and F-35 jets, supported by helicopters, have been operating over the Eastern Mediterranean, Jordan, Bahrain, and the UAE, with four pilots earning ace status for shooting down Iranian drones and protecting regional interests; there were fires at oil-related facilities in Abu Dhabi and Kuwait though no injuries were reported, and Saudi Arabia said it intercepted a cruise missile launched toward the Gulf. War overshadowed Easter in the Old City of Jerusalem, where residents described a somber mood and a lack of traditional celebrations. Reports in a regional security context indicated a Patriot missile intercept attempt near Bahrain that may have been unsuccessful against a drone, and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit to Syria to discuss security cooperation and food security, as Kyiv seeks to expand military ties in the region. In Ain Saadeh, east of Beirut, questions have arisen about who was eliminated, while Hezbollah’s actions in the area continued to draw attention. Hezbollah also claimed to have struck a vessel, later clarified as misidentifying a British warship off the coast of Israel as an Israeli ship and causing damage. Additionally, sources noted an assassination attempt in Beirut with discussions noting the target was not Hezbollah’s secretary-general but Na’im Qassem, and inquiries continued about the identity of those killed in Ain Saadeh.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, reports addressed an assassination attempt in Beirut with early indications that the target was not Hezbollah’s secretary-general but Na’im Qassem, and Lebanese channels described an attack in Ain Saadeh with injuries reported. Hezbollah was reported to have fired an anti-ship missile at a British warship off the coast of Israel, though the vessel was later identified as not Israeli, and damage occurred. Questions remained about who was eliminated east of Beirut in Ain Saadeh, as tensions involving Iranian proxies continued to unfold across the region.In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump said the Iranian people fear being abandoned in the middle of the war, but the United States will not abandon them. In a separate ruling, a US appeals court reinstated a $655 million terror verdict against the PLO and the Palestinian Authority, reviving a 2015 jury award related to past Second Intifada attacks and the Pay-for-Slay policy.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Emichi Shikli asserted that Ziv Agmon is not suitable for the role of chief of staff, a stance he reiterated after the exposure of what he described as ill-spirited remarks. Opposition leader Yair Lapid condemned the return of Agmon, saying Netanyahu has again shown that the country’s greatest racists reside in the Prime Minister’s Office. Netanyahu himself posted a message on social media. Reports indicated the leading candidate to replace Agmon is Ido Norden.In Uplifting News, a Modigliani painting looted by the Nazis, Seated Man With a Cane, has been returned to the estate of Oscar Stettiner in Paris after more than eight decades of legal battles. A New York court ordered the piece returned, noting that Stettiner owned or held superior possession before its unlawful seizure and that he never relinquished it.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. 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