Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-07 at 13:03

HEADLINESMissile hits open area in Israel clashIran to charge Hormuz ship transit feesIRGC strikes Jubail petrochemicals facilitiesThe time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, sirens sounded in central Israel and in Samaria in the northern West Bank as Iran launched a missile attack. A single ballistic missile fired was allowed to hit an open area under established protocol, and there were no injuries reported.In Regional Impacts, Iran is proposing to charge fees for ships passing through the Strait of Hormuz as part of its efforts to end the war with Israel and the United States after blocking most traffic through the crucial energy waterway for weeks. The Strait, about 34 kilometers wide between Iran and Oman, is a major route for roughly a fifth of the world’s oil and other vital goods. A senior Iranian official told Reuters that Tehran would seek to impose a variable transit fee depending on ship type and cargo, with a protocol being drafted with Oman to require permits and licenses to pass the Strait in a move officials say is meant to facilitate, not restrict, movement. Oman has held talks with Iran on options to ensure smooth transit. Separately, emergency responders reported continued civilian tolls: in the last 24 hours, up to 7:15 pm, medical teams treated 41 people, including 25 bodily injuries and 16 cases of anxiety, with three bodily injuries considered mild from missile fire and 22 people hurt while heading to a shelter. Since the start of the operation, responders have treated thousands, including more than 1,800 with bodily injuries and hundreds of anxiety cases, with dozens of fatalities noted, including road accidents tied to alarms. Northward alarms were also reported as authorities monitor possible drone intrusions. In regional strikes, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said it attacked Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex with medium-range missiles and several suicide drones, targeting the Sadara joint venture and other facilities in Jubail, and a facility in Juaymah; the exact facilities hit could not be independently confirmed. Separately, the Iranian-backed Kataib Hezbollah militia said it would release kidnapped American journalist Shelly Kittleson, telling her to leave Iraq immediately, a move occurring as Washington’s ultimatum to Iran nears expiration. In another development, missiles were fired toward Israel as Passover began, with central and northern Israel targeted; there were no injuries, and the Israeli military warned vessels off the coast of Lebanon to move north as fighting with Iran intensifies, with officials saying the campaign is approaching a strategic crossroads. Analysts noted that the Houthis’ threat to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait may help explain why Gulf states have not joined US-led actions against Iran, a point raised by a regional expert. On the northern border, Orna Weinberg described how she and her community, displaced after a Hezbollah rocket struck her home in October 2023, have decided to stay put despite renewed rocket fire and ongoing tensions, underscoring the spillover of the broader conflict into civilian life.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israelis on the northern border, including Orna Weinberg, say they will remain in place despite renewed Hezbollah-linked fire after years of displacement, reflecting the direct impact of regional hostilities on border communities. A Yemeni Houthis’ threat to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait is cited by some analysts as a reason Gulf states have refrained from joining military actions against Iran, with a regional scholar noting the risk to Red Sea and maritime traffic if the strait were blocked. Iran-backed groups continue to push messages tied to the broader confrontation: a militia announced it would release a kidnapped American journalist, signaling possible political signaling near Washington’s deadline for any Iran-related ultimatum. Ballistic and other missiles were reported toward Israel during Passover observances, with the Israeli military cautioning ships near Lebanon to move north as part of an escalating campaign against Iran, which its leaders describe as reaching a strategic crossroad. Attacks attributed to Iran and allied proxies also reached Saudi Arabia’s Jubail petrochemical complex, with the IRGC claiming responsibility for strikes on multiple facilities in Jubail and nearby Juaymah, and video imagery showing smoke and flames, though independent verification of specific facilities hit remained incomplete.In Israeli Domestic Politics, national security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir toured the Temple Mount with Home Front Command officials, urging expanded access for worshippers amid wartime restrictions. His office noted that no agreement had been reached on reopening the site, while indicating another visit was planned to explore entry options. The tour followed a High Court ruling allowing larger anti-war protests at certain sites, with the court permitting at least 150 participants at three locations and no fewer than 600 at Habima Square, a decision that has fed debate over how to balance security restrictions with civil expression during the conflict.In Uplifting News, French nationals Cecile Kohler and Jacques Paris are reported free and en route to France after more than three years in Iran’s Evin Prison, Macron said in a post. Lawmakers greeted the news with a standing ovation at the National Assembly. The two were released from Iran in November 2025 after extended detentions on espionage charges, in what was described as an exchange for an Iranian national who had been conditionally released in October 2025.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://t.me/selena_updates/61203https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/04/explainer-can-iran-charge-fees-ships-transit-strait-hormuzhttps://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306245https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1306238https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892330https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892335https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892333https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1c9b3mhzghttps://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1hwcjf2wghttps://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892336https://www.jpost.com/international/article-892331