Podcast Episode Details
Back to Podcast Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-06-29 at 07:07
HEADLINES
1. Israeli Strike Kills Iran’s Quds Commander in Surprise Attack
2. Hezbollah’s Legitimacy Questioned Amid Lebanese Political Crisis
3. Iran’s Supreme Leader Orders Crackdown After Regime’s Secret Ceasefire Talks
The time is now 03:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Today at 3:00 AM, Israeli forces carried out a targeted operation in the city of Qom, Iran, resulting in the death of Ismail Shaqiri, the commander of the Quds Force named after Khomeini. According to official Iranian sources, Shaqiri was killed during this Israeli attack. Opposition reports suggest he was responsible for training Hamas operatives in parachuting techniques in Iran during the summer of 2023. The attack marks a significant escalation in Israel’s ongoing efforts to target Iranian military assets linked to regional destabilization. Iran has yet to issue an official response, but the incident raises concerns about the potential for widening hostilities.
Meanwhile, in Lebanon, political tensions are mounting. Jibran Basil, leader of the Free Patriot Stream party, has publicly criticized Hezbollah, asserting that the organization has lost its popular legitimacy in Lebanon’s ability to defend the country. In interviews over the weekend, Basil emphasized that Hezbollah’s ceasefire agreement with Israel should have initiated a disarmament process, which he claims has not yet begun. Basil further stated that Iran managed to defend itself without Hezbollah’s military involvement, calling into question Hezbollah’s deterrence capacity against Israel and within the broader resistance axis. He urged Hezbollah to prioritize building the Lebanese state and transferring its weapons to the government, stressing that this aligns with Lebanon’s national interests.
In Gaza, Hamas has dismissed recent claims reported by Sky News Arabia, citing a “Palestinian source” who alleged Hamas set conditions for a prisoner swap and ceasefire negotiations. Hamas officials stated these reports are false and serve Israeli interests, emphasizing that their terms for any agreement are publicly known and not negotiated through anonymous sources. The organization reaffirmed its stance on clear, publicly declared conditions.
On the diplomatic front, Israeli Defense Minister Bezalel Smotrich was scrutinized after a military investigation found no evidence of live fire directed at Jewish rioters near Ramallah. The incident remains under review, with authorities examining whether warning shots were fired during clashes involving masked stone-throwers. In Iran, reports indicate that the country’s supreme leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, has ordered a crackdown on top Revolutionary Guards officials, following revelations that members of the council approved a ceasefire agreement with the United States without Khamenei’s authorization. The leader reportedly issued a public execution order in Tehran’s Freedom Square as a warning against deviation from the regime’s official line.
In the broader regional security landscape, the Israeli Defense Forces warn that Iran’s primary strategic focus is shifting toward destabilizing Jordan. After setbacks in other theaters, Iran aims to turn Jordan into a new proxy battleground, with recent intelligence pointing to covert operations and sabotage efforts along the Jordanian border. The IDF has activated the Gilad Division and is deploying regional defense units, dubbed the “David Brigades,” to reinforce the eastern border and interior regions, including Judea and Samaria. These units, comprised partly of retrained naval personnel, are expected to become operational by late summer, with plans to establish new settlements and bolster border defenses, including a comprehensive fence system.
In the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, Ukrainian drones targeted a Russian logistical center in Biryansk last night, causing
Published on 1 week, 3 days ago