Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-05-24 at 07:06

HEADLINES
Israel Strikes Hezbollah Sites Amid Regional Tensions
US Eases Syria Sanctions, Signals Diplomatic Shift
Gaza Aid Begins as Middle East Tensions Escalate

The time is now 03:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Today, Israel remains engaged across multiple fronts amid a complex regional and international landscape. Reports from Lebanese sources indicate that Israeli military strikes on Thursday evening and overnight targeted sites in southern Lebanon associated with Hezbollah, sites that, weeks earlier, had been reportedly "reconnoitered" by United Nations peacekeeping forces. These Lebanese sources also suggest that UNIFIL is offering residents in southern Lebanon up to 150 dollars in exchange for information about Hezbollah activities, hinting at a possible broader collaboration involving American channels to gather intelligence and conduct operations, avoiding direct conflict between Hezbollah and the Lebanese army. The Lebanese government’s condemnations of Israeli actions have been weak or absent, reflecting the fragile state of official response and the complex political environment.

Meanwhile, in Israel, the nation faces domestic challenges including psychological warfare tactics. During the night, thousands of Israelis reported receiving automated phone calls demanding the release of hostages, with recordings featuring one hostage shouting amid explosions and sirens—an apparent psychological operation aimed at sowing fear and confusion. Authorities advise the public to block these numbers and secure their communications.

On the diplomatic front, Syria has welcomed the recent decision by the United States to lift sanctions, a move that signals a potential shift in US policy. The Biden administration has issued new orders easing sanctions on Syria, contingent upon the Syrian government taking concrete steps, such as expelling foreign militias and combating ISIS. This development follows President Trump’s previous stance, which was more restrictive, and signals a possible recalibration of US engagement in the region.

In the broader Middle East, Israeli officials and diplomats express cautious optimism regarding normalization talks. Israeli ambassador to the US, Yechiel Leiter, indicated that Syria and Lebanon could join the Abraham Accords before Saudi Arabia, citing significant diplomatic shifts and the potential for these nations to emerge from their unstable states. Leiter emphasized that progress depends on tangible actions, such as disarming Hezbollah in Lebanon and disbanding jihadi groups in Syria, with performance-based agreements serving as the foundation for future normalization. He also voiced concern over Qatar’s regional role, describing it as less aligned with Western interests, and warned against supporting narratives that portray Qatar as a Western ally.

In military developments, Israeli aircraft conducted strikes near Khan Yunis and in the Latakia region of Syria, targeting what the IDF describes as military infrastructure linked to Iran-backed groups. The ongoing conflict in Gaza continues to escalate, with aid trucks beginning to enter Gaza through the Kerem Shalom crossing, although the situation remains tense and unpredictable. The Israeli military continues to emphasize its defensive posture, responding to threats from various fronts including Gaza, Lebanon, and Syria.

Internationally, the conflict has prompted a series of reactions. The United States has lifted nearly all sanctions on Syria, urging the Syrian government to take concrete steps toward stabilizing the region. In Ukraine, Russian forces launched a significant attack, deploying approximately 250 drones and 14 ballistic missiles toward Kyiv overnight, resulting in at least 14 injuries. The conflict in Ukraine remains intense, with ongoing military operations and civilian...