Update from Israel

May 7, 2026

Prepared by and sent from Jewish Federations of North America's Israel Office 

• An Israeli soldier fell in Lebanon at the end of last week in an attack by Hezbollah
• US and Iran seem to be edging towards an agreement to end the war.
• IDF announces major new purchases

Iran

• Diplomatic contacts between Washington and Tehran intensified in recent days as the US seeks to extend the ceasefire and potentially end the war. President Donald Trump said publicly that talks with Iran were making “very good progress”. He suggested an agreement could be finalized within days, while warning, once again, that US strikes would resume if negotiations failed. Iranian officials confirmed they were reviewing a US proposal but accused Washington of maintaining military pressure alongside diplomacy.
• On the military front, the United States paused its naval escort operation in the Strait of Hormuz after less than two days, citing “diplomatic momentum.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guard issued fresh warnings to commercial shipping, insisting vessels adhere to Iranian‑approved transit routes and threatening action against ships that deviated.
• As tensions mounted, in parallel to new diplomatic efforts, Israeli officials said the IDF remained on heightened alert and had prepared additional operational targets in Iran should fighting resume. IDF Chief of Staff Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir said Israel was closely coordinating with US forces and monitoring Iranian efforts to rebuild missile capabilities damaged earlier in the war. The IDF’s Homefront Command has not, as yet, issued new directives or instructions to Israeli civilians.
• Yesterday, the United Arab Emirates reported further attempted missile and drone strikes launched from Iran, marking a second consecutive day of attacks affecting the country. Emirati authorities emphasized their coordination with international maritime and security partners. They refrained from public threats of retaliation, while Western officials warned that continued attacks on Gulf states could harden international positions against Iran. Israeli media says that some of the Iranian missiles directed at the UAE were intercepted by the IDF, and that others were shot down by Emirati defenses supplied to the country by Israel.
• In Israel, senior officials voiced concern that an emerging US‑Iran understanding could restore shipping and ease economic pressure on Tehran without meaningfully addressing missile production or Iranian support for regional proxies, potentially constraining Israel’s freedom of action.
• Earlier today, Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian said he recently met with Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, marking the first public acknowledgment of a meeting with Khamenei since he was seriously wounded at the outset of the US‑Israeli war on Iran. Khamenei has not appeared publicly or issued video statements since assuming the role following the death of his father in February. Pezeshkian said the meeting took place in a “humble and deeply cordial” atmosphere. 
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