Episode Details

HEADLINES
- Hegseth Targets Army Chiefs Amid Rift
- Experts Warn U.S. Iran Strikes War Crimes
- UN Eyes Shipping Shield for Hormuz

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth is moving to remove and force the retirement of General David M. Hodne, a former Army Ranger who leads the Army Transformation and Training Command, and Major General William Green Jr., the chief of the Army’s Chaplain Corps, as Hegseth and his team escalate a feud with Secretary of the Army Daniel P. Driscoll, who reports indicate may soon be departing the Trump Administration. International law experts have signed an open letter saying American strikes on Iran may amount to war crimes, citing concerns about potential violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law, including a comment from Trump about escalating the war and reports of hard-line statements from the Pentagon chief about engagement rules. Trump has said the military “hasn’t even started destroying what’s left in Iran,” with bridges and electrical power plants next in line, and urged that Iran’s “New Regime leadership knows what has to be done, and has to be done, FAST.”

In Regional Impacts, the UN Security Council is set to vote on a Bahraini resolution to protect commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz, with China opposing any authorization of force, and the vote expected Saturday morning since Friday is a UN holiday. The draft resolution would authorize “all defensive means necessary” to protect shipping as oil prices have surged after recent strikes on Iran and the broader conflict surrounding the region. A separate Hebrew-language report notes sirens in Metula and cites claims that an Iranian missile caused damage at five central sites, alongside assertions that Trump threatens Tehran and that the Pentagon has reported moves related to leadership changes in the US military and diplomatic postures, including mentions of Argentina’s stance toward Iran’s ambassador.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an editorial argues that Washington has the right to define its own interests just as Israel has the obligation to defend its survival. In a 19-minute address to Americans, President Trump offered a set of contradictory signals about Iran, initially suggesting regime change was not a goal while implicitly underscoring developments that pointed toward that outcome. He also indicated that Iran’s new leader asked for a ceasefire, but then warned that Washington would begin striking electric plants very hard if Tehran did not accept terms.

In Uplifting News, Editor’s Notes reflect on Passover and the future Israeli children deserve, describing how years of COVID and war have shaped daily life and family hopes, including a child’s song about drones that has circulated online. The story of Staff Sergeant (Res.) Effi Ben-Yakar, 32, who served in the IDF’s Yahalom unit and died after a cardiac event, honors his decision to donate his organs, saving four lives: his lungs went to a 38-year-old woman, his liver to a 71-year-old man, and his kidneys to a 40-year-old man and a 64-year-old man. His family spoke of his character and care. NASA has released some of the best footage yet from Artemis II, the first crewed Moon mission since the 1970s, lifting off from Launch Pad 39B at Kennedy Space Center in Florida.

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.

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