Israel Update 4.6.26

THE WAR AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON

Another difficult week for the IDF.

On Saturday, Staff Sgt. Michael Tyukin, 21, was killed by a Hizbullah drone and four other soldiers were wounded.

Staff Sgt. Adam Tzarfati, 20, was killed overnight Sunday/ Monday by a drone strike. Three other soldiers were wounded, one seriously.

IDF medical officer, Captain Doctor Ori Yosef Silvester, 30, was killed on Monday, the 15th soldier killed by Hezbollah since the “ceasefire” in Lebanon took effect. Several other soldiers were wounded in the same incident, one seriously.

Reports here here& here

The IDF has launched an operation to take control of the area north of the Litani River in response to increasing drone attacks, as Hizbullah expands its rocket fire on Israel. The move marks a significant expansion of Israeli military operations in Lebanon into an area considered a key Hizbullah stronghold.

Israeli troops have captured the Crusader-built Beaufort castle in southern Lebanon, the head of the Metula town council, said, “The Beaufort is 4.5 km. from Metula. Dozens of anti-tank missiles were fired from there….It’s a place that threatens Metula and the Galilee Panhandle.” Reports here & here (paywall)

On Saturday, Hezbollah expanded its rocket range firing a barrage of over 10 rockets were fired at northern Israeli cities including Karmiel, Safed and Nahariya. A rocket hit a shopping centre in Kiryat Shmona. Footage from Nahariya showed rocket impacts in the sea and bathers fleeing the beach. Schools in towns close to the Lebanese border were closed and the Nahariya hospital moved operations underground. Reports here & here

Maj. (ret.) John Spencer wrote: “The IDF reports it has eliminated 2,500 Hizbullah terrorists in Lebanon since Feb. 28, 2026. The Lebanese Ministry of Health claimed 3,300 deaths since this date.
This means the wide majority of deaths have been Hizbullah terrorists, reflecting the reality that the IDF is operating with immense precision. The IDF targets terrorists while taking many effective measures to mitigate harm to civilians.”X post here

The IDF revealed Tuesday that Hizbullah fighters have embedded themselves inside the Christian neighborhood of Tyre, after fleeing other areas of the southern Lebanese city. Report here

Following meetings in Washington between Israel and Lebanon on June 2-3, both agreed to the implementation of a ceasefire, contingent on a complete cessation of Hizbullah fire and the evacuation of all Hizbullah operatives from the South Litani Sector. The two sides agreed with the guidance of the U.S. to swiftly advance the creation of pilot zones in which the Lebanese Armed Forces will take exclusive control of the territory to the exclusion of all non-state actors.
Israel and Lebanon reaffirmed that they have no hostile intent toward one another and committed to continuing direct negotiations to resolve all outstanding issues and work toward a comprehensive agreement between the two countries. Israel reaffirmed that its security and respect for its territorial integrity can only be achieved through the disarmament of Hizbullah and the dismantlement of its infrastructure throughout Lebanon. US statement here

UN SECURITY COUNCIL

U.S. Ambassador to the UN Mike Waltz told the UN Security Council on Monday: “On March 2 of this year, Hizbullah – as we all know is an Iranian proxy that frankly justifies its entire existence through conflict – unilaterally initiated hostilities once again with Israel, just as it did in October 2023. Hizbullah clearly sees Lebanon as nothing more than a launchpad for its Iranian-inspired attacks on Israel. It does not care about Lebanon, the country, or the future of its people.”… “Hizbullah has not only rejected the Lebanese government’s demands for a ceasefire, it has even recently threatened to overthrow it. So, let’s let that sink in: an Iranian-backed terrorist army is threatening the legitimate government of the country that it claims to defend.”
“The path is clear: Hizbullah stops attacking Israel. The Lebanese Armed Forces and the legitimate Government of Lebanon assert control over Lebanese territory. Iran stops using Lebanon as a forward operating base. And the Lebanese people…finally get a chance to rebuild a country that belongs to them – not Hizbullah, not its thug leadership, and certainly not to Tehran.” US Govt statement here

Israeli UN Ambassador Danny Danon told the UN Security Council on Monday that Israel “did not wake up one morning and decide to enter Lebanon.” It “had no choice,” as Hizbullah increased its fire on Israel’s northern communities despite a ceasefire in place.Danon also displayed a Hizbullah drone saying, “This is an example of a drone used by Hizbullah, this is what we are dealing with. These drones weigh less than two kg., they fly low and are very difficult to detect. By the time you hear one above your head, it is often too late.” “It can fly undetected for tens of miles. It does not rely on a radio signal and cannot be easily jammed. It gives the operator a live video feed and direct control until impact. Reports here & here

TERROR ATTACKS

A 17-year-old Arab Israeli has been arrested on suspicion of murdering a married couple last week in central Israel, in a terror attack. Ruslan and Olga Prihodko were found shot dead in their car last Friday evening near Mishmar Ayalon.Report here

A Palestinian driver from Hebron struck a group of Israeli boys and girls at a bus stop, south of Jerusalem, on Sunday. Three people were wounded, one seriously, one moderately, including two girls, aged 17 and 15. The terrorist was shot by IDF soldiers.Report here

IRAN

The UAE carried out dozens of airstrikes against Iran during the war, in contrast to some of its Gulf neighbours who have taken a far more cautious approach to the Iranian threat.
The attacks were conducted in coordination with the U.S. and Israel, both of which provided intelligence.
Iran targeted the UAE with 2,800 missiles and drones, far more than it fired at any other country including Israel.
Israel sent Iron Dome batteries and Israeli troops to defend the UAE during the war, with many dozens of troops still stationed in a military complex there. .Report here (paywall)

On Wednesday an Iranian drone attack heavily damaged Kuwait’s airport, killing one person and causing injuries to several others, hours after Iran and the US traded missile strikes in the region.

Bahrain said on Wednesday it had intercepted three Iranian missiles and several drones targeting civilian sites. Reports here & here (paywall)

Qatar has approved a $6 billion line of credit for Iran, intended for the purchase of goods through Doha.
The sum is part of the aid network Qatar is providing Iran as it seeks ways to bypass economic restrictions. Report here

China is bolstering Iran’s long-range strike deterrent by providing the Islamic Republic with satellite-based targeting data. Report here

GAZA

Israeli PM Netanyahu said last week that he had directed the IDF to expand its control of Gaza to 70% of the enclave, ratcheting up pressure on Hamas. Negotiations on Gaza’s future have stalled over Hamas’s refusal to disarm. After the ceasefire agreement in October, the Israeli military held 53%, but has gradually taken more territory, sometimes simply by moving concrete blocks with which it marks the boundary. Report here (paywall)

INNOVATION

Tevel Aerobotics, a startup based in Tel Nof, has developed the world’s only flying autonomous robots that pick fruit. They operate as part of a connected harvesting system, using artificial intelligence, computer vision, machine learning, guidance algorithms and onboard sensors to identify fruit, navigate through foliage, and pick only what is ready, working around the clock.

There are other robot solutions for fruit picking, but they are big ground-based machines that aren’t as agile, efficient or cost-effective. These robots are currently operating in Italy, Chile and the United States, as well as in Israel. Reports here & here

DEFENCE

Dronelight is a new Israeli laser anti-drone system, developed by Omer-based Esh-Tech Systems With Dronelight’s “machine gun method”, it only takes a second or two to shoot down a drone, so 30 threats can be intercepted in a minute, instead of just four as in the case of existing laser systems. Report here

The U.S. Army is buying rifle-mounted smart scopes that soldiers can use to shoot down small drones; Israel’s Smart Shooter has received a $10.7 million contract for its SMASH 2000LE fire control systems,Report here

Smart Shooter has announced its first contract with the U.S. Navy, valued at $1.8 million, for SMASH 2000LE fire control systems. Report here

Annual Israeli arms sales reached a new record in 2025, for the fifth consecutive year, up nearly 30 % compared to the previous year.

Defence exports totalled nearly $19.2 billion last year, up from $14.8 billion in 2024. Sales to the Asia-Pacific region alone nearly doubled, from around $3.4 billion in 2024 to $6.1 billion last year. Report here

BUSINESS

US tech giant Motorola Solutions announced Monday that it will buy Israeli drone defence startup D-Fend for $1.5 billion, as governments and critical infrastructure operators worldwide rush to defend against the growing threat of rogue ‌drones. Hebrew media described the deal as the largest-ever sale of an Israeli defence company.D-Fend makes technology that uses radio waves to take control of rogue drones mid-flight, rather than disrupting signals or shooting them down Its flagship product, EnforceAir, is deployed in over 30 countries including NATO members to protect military zones, airports and critical infrastructure. Its tech is also used by the US ‌departments ⁠of Homeland Security, Defence and Justice. Report here

INNOVATION AWARD

Prof. Hossam Haick of the Technion (Israel Institute of Technology) has been elected as a Fellow of the prestigious U.S. National Academy of Inventors.

His pioneering research has opened new paths for diagnosing cancer, neurological disorders, infectious diseases, and more — using breath, skin, and advanced sensing technologies rather than needles or radiation. His work has led to the emergence of a new scientific field — volatilomics — which studies the chemical “fingerprints” the body emits through breath and skin.This groundbreaking discovery has led to fast, noninvasive tests that give accurate results in just minutes and are used in medical centres worldwide. Report here

FIJI

Israel’s new embassy in Fiji’s capital, Suva, opened this week, 30 years after the previous one was closed.

Attending the opening, Israeli FM Sa’ar held talks focused on strengthening bilateral ties. He thanked Fiji for its support of Israel in multilateral forums.Report here

THE UK

The UK no longer advises against all travel to Israel, the Foreign Office confirmed on Wednesday.

Most of Israel has now been listed as “green” under the departments classification system, meaning that prospective travellers should consult its specific guidance before departure.

Map and further information: View here

CO-EXISTENCE

The Jerusalem Orchestra East & West was established as the result of a youth project and is composed of Jewish and Arab performers. This Israeli orchestra led by conductor Tom Cohen, blends Western orchestral music with Middle Eastern, North African and Andalusian traditions. Report here

SPORT

Israel’s rhythmic gymnastics team won silver in the teams competition & 4 bronze medals at the recent European Championships. photo here

ENTEBBE ANNIVERSARY NEXT MONTH

Next month is the 50^th anniversary of the Entebbe hostage rescue mission.

This article tells the story of the crucial role played by British agent, and former Kenyan minister, Bruce McKenzie. Article here

COMMENT & OPINION

Israel is fighting for its survival in Lebanon

Jake Wallis Simons: Say you were the leader of a small democracy with enemies committed to your destruction visible to the naked eye on the other side of your border to the north. Say they had already fired many hundreds of rockets onto your towns, claiming lives and causing mass evacuations… Say the enemy in question had been ordered by the UN to withdraw from the border and lay down its weapons back in 2006. Say it had totally ignored that UN Security Council resolution, with no consequences whatsoever. Say the enemy was so deeply embedded in that territory to your north that its own government was powerless to evict them, and there was evidence that they were planning a massacre on a medieval scale.

Say your country had already suffered the worst terrorist atrocity imaginable in the south three years ago, bringing you face-to-face with the folly of turning a blind eye while your enemies prepare their attack… With no alternative in sight, say you made the only reasonable decision: to send in your troops to degrade the northern enemy and allow your people to live their lives in safety.

In Lebanon, however, we now see the interests of the two partners (US & Israel) beginning to diverge as Trump becomes increasingly desperate for a deal with Tehran, while Netanyahu’s priority remains what it has always been: survival. Article here

Iran

Khaled Abu Toameh: There can be no “good” deal with a jihadist regime that openly sponsors terrorism across the Middle East, brutalizes its own people, calls for the destruction of Israel, and continues to chant “Death to America.”
An agreement will not moderate them. It will embolden them. The Iranian regime and its terror proxies will interpret any deal as a victory over the U.S. and the West. They will see it as proof that terrorism, missile attacks, hostage-taking, nuclear blackmail, and claiming control of the Strait of Hormuz forced Western powers into concessions.
This is exactly what happened when the Obama administration signed the 2015 “nuclear deal,” that provided Tehran with sanctions relief and access to billions of dollars while merely delaying its nuclear and ballistic missile programs. The Iranian regime never changed its behaviour. Instead, it expanded its ballistic missile program, increased support for terrorist organizations, intensified regional aggression, and steadily advanced its nuclear capabilities. Why should anyone believe that this time will be different?
Any agreement that eases sanctions will only strengthen the IRGC, finance terrorism, and fuel new wars across the Middle East. More money for Tehran means more drones and rockets for Hizbullah in Lebanon.
The only realistic strategy is one based on sustained maximum pressure – including kinetic action if necessary – diplomatic isolation, economic sanctions, and decisive measures aimed at dismantling Iran’s nuclear and ballistic programs permanently. Anything less will simply postpone the next crisis while making the Iranian regime richer, stronger, and more dangerous. Article here

Dr. Dan Diker: Iran views negotiations not as a path to permanent peace, but as a continuation of conflict through diplomatic means. The regime sees agreements as tactical pauses that preserve the broader struggle rather than resolve it…
Temporary truces are a recurring strategic model used to buy time, regroup, and strengthen before resuming confrontation…The U.S. must not give up leverage too early through phased diplomacy. Sanctions, military pressure, and blockades have weakened Iran’s networks, and easing that pressure prematurely could allow Tehran to regroup economically and militarily.Article here

Marziyeh Amirizadeh: I have been watching reports of negotiations between the U.S. and the Islamic Republic of Iran with anguish. I want to believe that President Trump understands what I know as the truth about the Islamic Republic: that you can never negotiate with them, and they will always lie and do anything to stay in power…
There is no real victory and no deals to be had for America while the Islamic Republic remains in power. They will never let go of their plans to achieve nuclear weapons and are willing to make a deal now and wait until Trump’s successor is looking the other way to break out to a weapon. No deal will change this reality. Article here

“Genocide”

Joan Leslie McGill: Karim Khan, the chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court, was recently asked why he hadn’t charged Israel with genocide.
The answer: “It would be a reckless prosecutor to move simply because of clamour. You move based upon evidence.”
The interviewer pressed him. Hasn’t there been evidence in Gaza? There is no evidence.
What makes this especially significant is that Mr. Khan is no friend of Israel. He rushed to prosecute Israeli leaders after Oct. 7, 2023.
Moreover, Alice Wairimu Nderitu, the Kenyan jurist who served as the UN’s Special Adviser on the Prevention of Genocide, explicitly stated that Israel’s operations in Gaza did not meet the definition.
In the summer of 2025, I led a congressional delegation to Israel, travelled to the Gaza border, and met the senior IDF official for humanitarian aid.
He provided evidence that the Israelis allowed 600 aid trucks into the strip every day, while the Gaza population could comfortably survive on 300 trucks.
The tragic truth is that any Gaza residents going hungry were doing so because their Hamas government stole their aid and profited from it.
For two years influencers irresponsibly hurled “genocide” to generate viral content, and no one bothered to fact-check. Article here

Taryn Thomas

Taryn Thomas was a committed member of the pro-Palestinian movement at Stanford University. In October 2024, she received an open invitation to the Nova Music Festival Exhibition in Los Angeles. Three hours later, Thomas emerged feeling “so lost.” “I experienced a lot of cognitive dissonance – what I was seeing versus what I’d been told. It was like I arrived a year too late to a funeral. I had so many questions, but I really had no one I could talk to about this. All of my friends were from the encampment.”
Seeing pictures and footage of the young festival-goers hit home. “They were kids my age, just dancing, and then fleeing for their lives the next moment. I could see myself in them. When she heard an audio clip of a jubilant Hamas fighter phoning his father to let him know he’d killed 10 Jews, “my heart sank, because these [were] our martyrs, the resistance we were claiming we wanted. When we called for any means necessary, I didn’t realize that’s what it meant.” Thomas has since received death threats for speaking out. Article here (paywall)

Palestinian Authority (PA)

Lt.-Col. (res.) Maurice Hirsch:
In 2025, the PA continued terror reward payments to terrorist prisoners and families of “martyrs.” Where did they get the money to pay the terror rewards?
The use of international donations through World Bank mechanisms to fund “Pay-for-Slay” occurred repeatedly.
The EU restricts most of its direct aid to the PA for payment of teachers’, civil servants’, and healthcare workers’ salaries. However, since funding is fungible, by shouldering the burden of paying the PA’s ostensibly legitimate employees, the EU allows the PA to use its remaining funds to pay the terror rewards. Moreover, the EU is funding the people who have indoctrinated generations of Palestinian to hate Israelis and seek their murder.Article here