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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-18 at 03:05
HEADLINES
Fragile Israel Iran ceasefire holds, risks escalate
Gaza hostages unresolved as famine looms
Houthi strikes threaten Red Sea shipping
The time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Good evening. This is an hour by hour update on the Middle East and related global developments.
The uneasy ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains fragile. Officials say the period has held for now, but the risk of renewed exchange of fire along multiple fronts persists as Iran’s allies and proxies watch closely and allied forces on both sides stay ready. Military leaders emphasize deterrence and readiness, while diplomats seek narrow channels for deconfliction and humanitarian relief.
On the broader theater of Iran’s proxies, the picture remains volatile. In Syria, political instability and shifting alliances complicate access to territory and influence. Reports and commentary point to ongoing competition among factions and to the possibility of new configurations that could shape the region’s security landscape. In Lebanon, the Lebanese government has signaled an intent to curb the influence of Hezbollah, even as the group maintains its presence across the border and its substantial fighting capacity. The Israeli Defense Forces have conducted operations against Hezbollah in recent years, and Lebanon’s leadership faces pressure to tighten security and restore order.
In Gaza, Hamas’s operational capabilities are described by some observers as diminished in this current phase of the conflict, even as the organization remains a central hinge in the hostages’ ordeal. The humanitarian crisis in Gaza has deepened, with international agencies warning of famine conditions and governments calling for increased aid access. Israel contends that it is acting to protect its citizens while striving to minimize civilian harm, asserting that Hamas has used civilian areas as refuge and as staging grounds for attacks. The Gaza health ministry, controlled by Hamas, has reported tens of thousands of fatalities, a figure that has been contested by Israel and by independent observers seeking verification. The fate of hostages abducted on October seventh remains unresolved, with families and international actors pressing for humanitarian corridors and negotiated releases.
Beyond Gaza, Yemen’s Houthi militants continue strikes that deepen regional instability and threaten Red Sea shipping and energy routes. The international community remains alert to spillover effects, including potential disruption to humanitarian aid flows and commercial traffic.
On the diplomacy front, a new moment in United States policy is being shaped by statements from President Donald Trump, who has said he would designate Antifa, a group he described as a dangerous radical left organization, as a major terrorist organization and urged investigations into sponsors and supporters. Supporters and critics frame the move in terms of national security and civil liberties, as the administration of that era sought to align with Israel and advance a position of peace through strength.
In the United Nations Security Council, a vote is anticipated on a draft resolution calling for a ceasefire and expanded humanitarian access to Gaza. The proposal has drawn support from a majority of council members and reflects ongoing pressure to act despite previous vetoes by the United States. The struggle to secure relief corridors and to protect civilians remains central to the debate.
Domestically, in Israel, violence inside the country continues to echo the wider conflict. In the Negev desert near a Bedouin town, three brothers in their twenties were killed in a shooting that preliminary investigations described as the result of a feud among criminal elements. Police authorities have taken charge of the investigation and have pledg
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