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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-10-22 at 11:08
HEADLINES
IDF Kills Hezbollah Commander in Lebanon
Vance in Israel US Pushes Disarming Hamas
Britain Deploys 200 Troops to Israel
The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 7:00 AM Jerusalem time, the Middle East remains in a careful balance of persistence and pause as security operations, diplomacy, and humanitarian concerns unfold across several fronts. Israel’s military and political leadership are signaling a sustained focus on deterrence and readiness, while Washington and allied capitals press for progress toward a Gaza ceasefire, hostage recovery, and an eventual path to stability.
In the security arena, the Israeli military says it killed a commander linked to Hezbollah’s Radwan Force in a strike in south Lebanon. Issa Ahmad Karbala was described by the army as involved in moving weapons and advancing attacks against Israel, a development the IDF says violates ceasefire understandings. The operation comes as Israel continues a major exercise along the Lebanon border, described by the army as the first full division-level drill in years, designed to test readiness across defensive and offensive scenarios. The drill, centered on the 91st “Galilee” Division, has featured warnings of explosions, mock opposing forces, and increased drone and naval activity in northern and border areas.Israeli officials say the aim is to restore and demonstrate high readiness across all sectors, even as operations and intelligence-gathering continue along the border with Hezbollah and in Lebanon’s south.
On the political and diplomatic front, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated Israel’s stance that the country is not a US protectorate, underscoring sovereignty in security decisions. In Washington, US Vice President JD Vance arrived in Israel for discussions tied to the broader ceasefire framework. Vance has emphasized that the United States should be Israel’s ally while reducing its footprint in the Middle East, signaling a shift in emphasis rather than a disengagement from support. In parallel, the US is pushing a plan to disarm Hamas and to rebuild Gaza, a package the administration says would involve hostages, governance, and demilitarization steps as part of the longer-term stabilization effort. The United States has also established a Civil-Military Coordination Center in southern Israel to help monitor the ceasefire, coordinate aid, and oversee security and stabilization measures in Gaza as part of the broader peace process.
In the US policy arena, public opinion in the United States shows growing support for recognizing Palestinian statehood, according to a Reuters/Ipsos poll. The poll found a majority favor recognition, with 59% in favor, including strong Democratic support and notable cross-partisan numbers, suggesting a shift in public sentiment that could influence how policymakers frame future Israeli-Palestinian diplomacy.
Meanwhile, regional dynamics continue to evolve. Britain has announced the deployment of 200 troops to Israel to assist in monitoring and enforcing the Gaza peace plan, reflecting allied effort to support security and stabilization while humanitarian and political negotiations proceed. In parallel, a separate international development concerns the ongoing humanitarian and political processes surrounding Gaza, including debates over aid access and civilian protection.
In Lebanon and the broader Levant, attention remains on the aftermath of hostilities involving Hezbollah and the Israeli military’s broader security posture. Reports this week note that Lebanon’s south remains unsettled, with many residents still displaced nearly a year after a truce was intended to bring calm. The IDF’s mounting operations in the area are part of a broader effort to degrade Hezbollah’s military infrastructure and deter future attacks, even as the Lebanese gover
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