About this episode
HEADLINESIsrael Iran clash escalates as Hezbollah attacksIran plots global attacks leveraging energyIEA releases record stocks amid Hormuz blockadeThe time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, alarms sounded in the north after an incursion by a hostile aerial vehicle, with reports that Iran fears ceding a major advantage and that a third party has entered the equation. Dozens of launches were directed at northern Israel from Lebanon, and there were reports of Iran firing toward the south after a period of relative quiet, as Hezbollah continued to bombard northern towns. The night also featured a statement from the chief of staff that air force and navy commanders will not finish their terms, described as a step of security and national consequence, while political developments including calls for a pardon for Netanyahu moved toward the final stages. At the United Nations, Israeli officials staged a dramatic moment when the ambassador activated a Red Alert siren and a 15-second timer during a Security Council discussion, underscoring the peril of moments that can slip away before safety is secured.In Iranian Retaliation, Israel issued a Passover warning that Iran and its proxies are plotting attacks on Israeli and Jewish targets around the world, advising Israelis abroad to take special precautions during the holiday period. Former MI6 chief Alex Younger warned that Iran understood the strategic value of energy leverage and has expanded the conflict into a global arena. Tehran’s posture has been described as demanding goals that are difficult to realize, with Western officials and mediators continuing to seek a path to de‑escalation even as the White House has pushed back on extreme Iranian demands. Several analyses note that Tehran has elevated its demands toward the United States, with discussions of a framework proposal and negotiations that many observers view skeptically. A spokesman for Iran’s unified command said there is no possibility of coexistence with the United States, even as talks are framed by American officials as real negotiations.In Regional Impacts, Asia looks to the COVID-era playbook to tackle the fuel crisis from the Iran war, as nations across Asia confront shortages tied to the blockage of the Strait of Hormuz by Iran since late February. More than 80% of the crude moving through Hormuz reaches Asian markets, prompting discussions of work-from-home policies and other stimulus measures once used during the pandemic. The International Energy Agency has coordinated a record release of roughly 400 million barrels from strategic stocks to ease pressures, and has urged measures such as reducing air travel and other changes to curb demand while markets adjust.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, officials stress that any attempt by Iran to link its
