About this episode
HEADLINESLebanese missiles trigger Israel's northern alertTHAAD stockpile drained, years to replenishTaiwan fears China exploits US distractionThe time is now 7:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, dozens of missiles were fired toward northern Israel from Lebanon, triggering sirens across the country and marking a tense overnight period described as two and a half hours of high alert. The report notes the death of Nouriel Dubin, z”l, in Hezbollah firing and speaks of ongoing tension around Iran, with references to upheaval there and concerns that a third factor entered the picture after a period of quiet as Hezbollah continued to mount attacks on northern communities.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, sirens sounded across large parts of Israel after Iran launched several ballistic missiles, with some damage reported but no injuries. A fire near Hadera followed a suspected impact by missile fragments, though the Israel Electric Corporation later said its infrastructure in the region sustained no damage. Magen David Adom teams treated at least seven sites of suspected shrapnel impacts across central Israel, with no injuries reported. Earlier in the north, air defenses chased and intercepted a drone over the Upper and Lower Galilee after about a 30-minute patrol. A separate, unverified claim circulating in the report suggests Putin halted visits to the Kremlin following the killing of Iran’s leadership figure, with assertions that Iran faces pressure from an operation attributed to the Mossad. The day also saw renewed sirens in central Israel.In US Military Role, a new Congress study warns that US interceptor stockpiles for THAAD have been significantly drawn down by the current conflict, risking a lengthy replenishment period. The analysis notes that roughly a third of the THAAD stockpile has been used during Operation Epic Fury, with about 92 interceptions reported out of an estimated 632 interceptors in service. It points to a limited annual production rate of around 100 interceptors and cautions that replenishing the stockpile could take three to eight years, illustrating a persistent challenge for future deployments and readiness.In Regional Impacts, Taiwan fears China may exploit the United States’ distraction amid the Middle East war, with a senior security official describing China’s move as an effort to flex influence while Washington reallocates forces in the Indo-Pacific. The report notes China’s resumed large-scale air incursions near Taiwan since mid-March, part of a broader strategy to create leverage as US forces shift focus. Iran has asserted it will allow non-hostile ships to pass through the Strait of Hormuz, a claim presented in coverage of regional shipping dynamics. Separately, FPV drone footage released by Iraqi militias shows incursions inside the US Victoria Base in Baghdad, i
