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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-02 at 13:05
HEADLINES
1. Israel Strikes Damascus Amid Regional Escalation
2. Gaza Humanitarian Crisis Threatens Total Collapse
3. Iran-Backed Militias Fuel Middle East Tensions
The time is now 09:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Israel remains engaged in a multi-front conflict that continues to unfold across seven critical areas: Iran, Gaza, the West Bank, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, and Yemen. The ongoing hostilities are driven by concerns over Iran’s regional influence and its support for proxy groups, along with Israel’s efforts to neutralize threats to its security.
In Syria, Israeli forces conducted a strike near the presidential palace in Damascus, which the Syrian presidency described as a "dangerous escalation." Israel's Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz issued a joint statement asserting that the attack sent a clear message to the Syrian regime: Israel will not tolerate Syrian forces deploying south of Damascus or threatening the Druze community. Netanyahu emphasized Israel’s stance as a nation of law, expecting respect from all communities within its borders, including the Druze, who condemned violence from within their community and pledged to uphold the law.
Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, the humanitarian situation remains dire. Two months into a strict Israeli blockade, the UN and Red Cross warn that aid operations are close to collapse amid severe shortages of food, water, and medical supplies. The blockade, which Israel states is necessary to prevent weapons smuggling and attacks, has led to widespread suffering. Hamas reports a death toll exceeding 2,300 since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023, with thousands wounded. The UN warns that without urgent international intervention, Gaza faces total collapse, with starvation and disease spreading.
In the West Bank, security forces have intensified operations, arresting 75 wanted persons and confiscating over 40 weapons in recent weeks. Among those detained were the leader of a terrorist organization in Balata and individuals planning attacks in Kalkilya. Israeli police also intercepted a stolen motorcycle belonging to an Israeli citizen and uncovered weapons, including a converted firearm, pistol, grenade launcher, and ammunition, during raids in the Palestinian village of Hableh.
In Lebanon, Hezbollah remains a significant actor, although recent reports suggest a period of relative calm, but with ongoing concerns about potential escalations. Tensions persist along the northern border, with Israel monitoring Hezbollah's activities closely.
Syria reports an Israeli air strike near the presidential palace, which Damascus condemns as a “dangerous escalation.” Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz reiterated that such strikes are messages to deter Syrian forces from deploying in ways that threaten regional stability and Israel’s security.
Further complicating the region’s stability, Egyptian sources indicate that efforts to negotiate a ceasefire in Gaza have failed. Israel reportedly refuses to agree to a temporary ceasefire, and plans to maintain military operations in Gaza into the year’s end. Egyptian mediators have expressed frustration over Israel’s insistence on expanding military actions rather than de-escalating.
Meanwhile, in Iraq and Yemen, Iran-backed militias continue their activities, with recent reports of rocket attacks and attempts to supply weapons to local factions. Iran’s top diplomat, in a statement, linked the country’s economic situation to the potential revival of the nuclear deal, amid delays in renewed negotiations.
Internationally, the United States remains engaged, with Secretary of State Antony Rubio emphasizing Iran’s economic reliance on the nuclear deal, as Washington and Tehran await the resumption of indirect talk
Published on 1 week, 1 day ago