Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-13 at 22:02

HEADLINES
First KC-130J unimproved runway landing in Japan
US carrier group skirts Suez sails Africa
Rubio to lead Israel Lebanon Hezbollah talks

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, a US Marine Corps KC-130J Super Hercules assigned to Marine Aerial Refueler Transport Squadron 152, under Marine Aircraft Group 12 and the 1st Marine Aircraft Wing, landed on an unimproved runway at Japan Air Self-Defense Force Gifu Airfield in Southern Japan with air traffic control mobile team support from Marine Air Control Squadron 4, on April 9, 2026, marking the first time such a landing was conducted there. The aircraft is part of VMGR-152, MAG-12, 1st MAW. In a separate development, the carrier strike group led by the USS George H.W. Bush (CVN-77), with escorts USS Donald Cook (DDG-75), USS Mason (DDG-87) and USS Ross (DDG-71), did not transit the Strait of Gibraltar and instead sailed around the southern tip of Africa. The group is currently operating off the coast of Namibia, avoiding a transit through the Suez Canal and potentially contested zones in the Red Sea and Bab el-Mandeb Strait.

In Regional Impacts, US Energy Secretary Chris Wright, speaking at the Semafor World Economy Summit in Washington, projected that energy prices will continue to rise and peak in the coming weeks as tensions around the Strait of Hormuz intensify, with both Iran and the United States threatening blocking actions. Crude prices reflected the strain, with WTI futures at about $116.20 per barrel and Brent near $117.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese TV host Walid Abboud urged Hezbollah to disengage, telling the group to “leave us” and to take its weapons, drones, rockets, mouthpieces, flags, its Supreme Leader, Iran, and the Resistance with it. A preparatory meeting between Israel and Lebanon is planned for tomorrow at 11:00 a.m. at the US State Department, with Secretary Marco Rubio and senior US, Israeli, and Lebanese officials expected to participate, focusing on the Hezbollah conflict and laying groundwork for future disarmament talks. Reports also indicate the attendance of the US Ambassador to Lebanon, Michel Issa, Counselor Michael Needham, Israeli Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, and Lebanese Ambassador Nada Hamadeh, as part of those discussions. A CNN report cited by one article says Rubio will take part in direct talks between Israel and Lebanon, with discussions touching on the broader regional dynamic, including calls associated with freedom of movement for the Strait of Hormuz and negotiations alleged to be sought by Iran. Observers note Lebanon has emerged as a central battlefield in the broader Israel-Hezbollah confrontation, alongside disclosures of an Iranian intelligence cell in Haifa involving four suspects linked to planned explosive activity.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the ultra-Orthodox city of Bnei Brak moved to shut vending machines after 10 p.m., expanding late-night restrictions to snack and drink machines because officials say they have become gathering spots for youths, a policy that has drawn complaints about noise, cigarette sales, and what supporters describe as spiritual harm.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the historical record is recalled with Josef Mengele, known as the Angel of Death, who ran a brutal program of experiments at Auschwitz, exploiting his medical status to conduct cruel procedures, including horrific twin studies and experimentation on people with disabilities, evading punishment for decades until his death in Brazil. In the United Kingdom, the Chief Rabbi issued a message for Yom Hashoah emphasizing resilience and standing tall as Jews. A separate examination asks about the Holocaust’s connection to Palestinians, describing how early Palestinian Arabs, including Haj Amin al-Husseini, allied with Nazi Germany and supported the Final Solution, while noting ongoing debates about memory and interpretation more than eight decades later, as well as discussions about contemporary attitudes and denial in some quarters.

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.

SOURCES
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20272
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20269
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20271
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74979
https://t.me/JewishNews24/52660
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20270
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1309639
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjuabgohze
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-892902
https://t.me/JewishNews24/52657
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/74978