Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-09 at 13:03

HEADLINES- Israel Property Claims Reach 28,237 FastTrack- Israel Lebanon to start Hezbollah disarmament talks- IDF Seizes Bint Jbail Hezbollah StrongholdThe time is now 1:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Regional Impacts, nearly 30,000 property-damage claims have been filed since the start of Operation Roaring Lion, the Israel Tax Authority reported Thursday. The ITA said 65 compensation-fund teams are operating across the country to assist civilians whose homes and property have been damaged in the war, and a property-tax team is active in hotels throughout Israel to help evacuees. A total of 28,237 property-damage claims have been filed since the start of the war: 18,408 for damage to a structure, 6,617 for damage to a vehicle, 2,594 for damage to a structure’s contents and equipment, and 618 for other damages. About 80% of these cases, or 22,871, have either had an appraiser visit the site and estimate the claim or were processed under a fast-track program for which an appraiser is not required. The fast-track program is available for damages under 30,000 shekels, and 4,164 claims have been filed under this program. Due to high demand, appraisers might be delayed in reaching the sites of property-damage claims. Meanwhile, in Lebanon, some hospitals could run out of life-saving trauma medical kits within days as supplies near depletion after mass casualties from Israeli strikes, the World Health Organization said. The kits, which include bandages, antibiotics, and anesthetics, are in short supply, and if another mass casualty occurs, officials warned it could become a disaster. Medicines for chronic diseases, such as insulin, are also facing weeks-long shortages.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel, Lebanon to begin direct talks on Hezbollah disarmament and peace, Netanyahu declares, as the prime minister said the negotiations will focus on disarming Hezbollah and establishing peaceful relations between Israel and Lebanon. The announcement came as tensions remained high, with Hezbollah rockets fired toward northern Israel and sirens sounding. Talks are expected to begin next week and will be conducted between Israeli ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter and Lebanese ambassador to the United States Nada Hamadeh Moawad, with mediation anticipated from the US ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, according to Israeli sources. Israeli officials noted there is no ceasefire yet and that Israeli forces will stay on the ground in Lebanon to respond to any threat from Hezbollah.Continued IDF ops. in Lebanon will ruin Iran peace talks in Islamabad, Iranian officials claim, with Tehran saying the current strikes complicate diplomacy. Iran’s deputy foreign minister Saeed Khatibzadeh told Britain's ITV News that, despite reports to the contrary, the Strait of Hormuz remains open to civilian ships coordinating with Iranian authorities. Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian described the ongoing Israeli operations as a violation of the initial ceasefire agreement and warned that continued aggression could undermine discussions in Islamabad aimed at stabilizing the region. Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf also called for a halt to IDF operations in Lebanon.IDF's 98th Division gains control over Hezbollah-ridden town in southern Lebanon, with Israeli media citing the IDF’s estimates that the town of Bint Jbail could fall under its control. The area has long been a Hezbollah stronghold, and the group has fired roughly 50 rockets toward Israel since Thursday morning, about 40 crossing the border and being intercepted. Lebanese reports say 17 people were killed in Israeli strikes on Thursday. The 98th Division has also been active in Gaza, east of the Yellow Line, in recent days, and earlier in the week prosecutors reported that 20 ceasefire violations were killed, including a commander linked to the October 7 invasion of Israeli territory. The division completed deployment along a defensive line against Hezbollah’s anti-tank missiles earlier in the week.As US Policy Concerning Israel, As US and Iran talk truce, Israel digs in for a 'forever war' - analysis, analysts say Israel’s strategy after the October 7 attacks involves creating buffer zones in Gaza, Syria, and now Lebanon as it moves toward a semi-permanent state of conflict with its neighbors. Six Israeli military and defense officials told Reuters that the approach reflects a view that Iran’s clerical leadership, Hezbollah in Lebanon, and Hamas in Gaza cannot be eliminated outright. “Israel's leaders have concluded that they are in a forever war against adversaries who have to be intimidated and even dispersed,” said Nathan Brown of the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace. The United States and Iran agreed on a pause in fighting to negotiate a broader end to the war, and Israel agreed to halt attacks on Iran while continuing its campaign against Iranian-backed Hezbollah.In Uplifting News, A man with conviction: Boy George posts support for Israel on X, with the Culture Club singer writing on April 7 that “It's very trendy to hate Israel, but I have always said 'fashion for the fragile, style for the brave,’” alongside a photo of himself with Culture Club from the 1980s. The post also references Hebrew signage visible in images associated with the singer. It notes that Boy George has previously voiced support for Israel and participated in related campaigns. Israel Today pinned a photo, as the outlet shared a post featuring a visual update on its social media.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/defense-news/article-892507https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-892501https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-892516https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-892508https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892493https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-892499https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-892510https://t.me/ILtoday/18568