Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-22 at 23:05

HEADLINES
1. Israel Battles Multi-Front Crisis Amid Rising Regional Tensions
2. US Investigates Jewish Museum Attack as Antisemitism Surges
3. Iran-Linked Proxy Conflicts Erupt Across Middle East

The time is now 07:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Tonight, at 7 p.m., Israel remains under intense multi-front pressure as its security situation continues to escalate across several key regions. Reports from northern border communities indicate that residents have heard loud explosions, likely resulting from recent Israeli airstrikes in southern Lebanon, with social media posts expressing a sense of foreboding amid the ongoing conflict. The Lebanese army and Hezbollah proxies have responded with increased activity, heightening fears of broader hostilities.

In the West Bank, violence has persisted as well. Palestinian sources report that settlers set fire to multiple homes and vehicles in the village of Bruchin, on the outskirts of Nablus, in what authorities suspect may be retaliatory “price tag” operations. Palestinian Red Crescent teams treated eight individuals suffering from burns, underscoring the rising tension in the area. Israeli security forces responded swiftly, evacuating Israeli suspects from the village amid concerns of further escalation.

Meanwhile, in the Gaza Strip, Israeli military units have reported near-constant airstrikes targeting Hamas positions, with reports of six alleged Hamas operatives killed during recent clashes. Israeli officials assert these strikes are part of a broader campaign to dismantle terrorist infrastructure following rocket fire from Gaza aimed at southern Israeli towns. The situation remains volatile, with ongoing exchanges of fire raising fears of a wider conflict.

Lebanon’s southern border remains tense as well, with recent reports of Israeli jets and drones operating in Lebanese airspace, and simultaneous artillery exchanges between Israeli forces and Hezbollah. In the south of Syria, Israeli aircraft are believed to have targeted Iranian-backed militia sites, while in Iraq, reports indicate that Iranian proxies have increased their activities, launching sporadic rocket attacks toward US and Israeli interests.

Across the region, the Israeli government has accused Iran of orchestrating these multi-front assaults, warning that Tehran’s efforts aim to threaten Israeli sovereignty and regional stability. Israeli officials have emphasized that their military responses are defensive, aimed at neutralizing threats and protecting civilians.

In international developments, the United States has condemned the recent violence, reiterating its support for Israel’s right to self-defense while calling for de-escalation. Diplomatic efforts are underway to prevent the conflict from widening further, as European nations express concern over the rising toll of violence.

Within Israel, the situation has also prompted domestic security measures. The military has increased troop deployments along the northern border and in strategic areas nationwide. Civil defense alerts remain active, and emergency services are on high alert to respond to potential escalations.

In other news, in Washington, the murder of two Israeli embassy staff members outside the Jewish Museum has prompted a federal investigation into the incident, with the US Justice Department filing first-degree murder charges against the suspect. The tragic event has intensified global concerns over rising antisemitism, which US officials say is at unprecedented levels, fueled by hostile rhetoric and foreign-funded organizations.

Simultaneously, in the United States, the Trump administration has announced plans to crack down on campus antisemitism. Senior legal officials have indicated that lawsuits will be filed against universities failing to combat anti-Jewish hate...