Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-04-18 at 00:01

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The time is now 12.01 am in New York.

I'm Noah Levi and this is the latest Israel today.

Ongoing war report.

In US military role, the USS Gerald R. Ford, CVN-78,

and her carrier strike group have logged 296 days at sea,

surpassing the record for the longest deployed carrier

since the end of the Cold War,

and have since transited the Suez Canal from the Eastern Mediterranean,

and are once again conducting operations in the Red Sea

in support of US Central Command.

The Ford, which initially left the Red Sea in March,

after a severe ventilation fire started in the ship's laundry,

and damaged hundreds of birthings and other compartments,

was expected to return to Naval Station Norfolk in Virginia

after lingering in the Eastern Mediterranean,

with stops in Crete and Croatia.

But the carrier and its crew appear to have been ordered to remain on station,

near Iran until the arrival of the USS George H.

W. Bush, CVN-77,

which is taking the long way to the region around the Cape of Good Hope in South Africa.

In regional impacts,

President Donald Trump said that Chinese President Xi Jinping

was very happy about the state of hormones being open and slash

or rapidly opening,

and that he looked forward to their meeting in China,

calling the encounter potentially historic,

and saying much will be accomplished.

In the conflict with Iran and its regional proxies,

ex-Al-Qaeda member and former British secret intelligence service,

Agent Aiman Dean,

claimed that the US-mediated ceasefire between Israel and Lebanon

is being used as leverage against Iran.

With Tehran delaying serious engagement,

nuclear talks,

and any opening of the Strait of Hormuz until there is a Lebanon ceasefire,

he argued that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu agreed to halt the fight against

Hezbollah not out of good will,

but to call the Iranian regime's bluff,

and by time for more military assets and supplies to reach the region.

Adding that if a Lebanon ceasefire is the real obstacle to Iran

reaching a deal with the United States,

Iran has no cover left to avoid an agreement.

In Israeli domestic politics,

Finance Minister Bates al-Al-Smotrich has appointed Israel Malachi

as the new Director-General of the Finance Ministry,

succeeding Ilan Rom.

Malachi, who has served as the Ministry's Deputy Director-General

for the past three and a half years,

brings extensive familiarity with the Ministry,

and its departments and experience interfacing between different levels of government

and third parties,

along with deep knowledge of regulatory fields.

He also previously served as the Treasurer of the Mateh

by Niamin Regional Council,

and as a board member of KKLJNF,

among other roles.

In the uplifting news,

KAN is celebrating its 90th anniversary

with a lineup of top Israeli dramas and comedies available to watch now on Khen.orgil,

including Tehran,

with English subtitles on Apple TV Plus,

ambivalence, all moms lie,

checkout dismissed and the stronghold,

which chronicles the Yom Kippur War,

with additional notes on recent drama offerings and prestige productions.

Separately, Modi Rosenberg,

described as the Jackie Mason of his generation,

is bringing Moshiach energy to New York City's Radio City Music Hall for two dates,

April 23 and April 30,

in what he calls a mission to spread laughter and healing to audiences from adolescence to seniors,

with tickets moving briskly for what is his biggest venue in three decades of stand-up.

Thank you for tuning into this Israel today,

ongoing war report update.

I'm Noah 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.