HEADLINES
Iran Opens Har Peak Enrichment, Inspections Blocked
US Funding Lapse Nears End, Flights Grounded
Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to Meet Trump
The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Two a.m. here is the hourly update on events shaping the Middle East and related global issues.
The United States is nearing the end of a 40-day federal funding lapse after eight Democratic senators joined Republicans in backing a spending agreement intended to reopen the government and resume funding for federal operations, including pay for federal workers. The development comes amid political disagreement within the Democratic ranks, with Senator Bernie Sanders describing the vote as a difficult bargain. Across the country, travel disruptions persist, with more than two thousand flights canceled due to a shortage of air-traffic controllers during the shutdown.
In Iran, reports indicate the Islamic Republic has opened a new uranium enrichment site code-named Har Peak near Natanz and has blocked international inspection access. Iranian officials are also described as running missile production facilities around the clock, part of an effort to build a large arsenal in case of potential Israeli action. Authorities warn that if conflict resumes, Iran could launch thousands of missiles toward Israel simultaneously rather than in waves.
In Syria, President Ahmed al-Sharaa is scheduled to meet US President Donald Trump at the White House, a historic first visit by a Syrian leader to the US capital. The talks arrive as Washington signals openness to sanctions relief, including considerations around repealing the Caesar Act, though congressional action would be required. Analysts note that reconstruction will be a long and costly process, with the World Bank estimating needs beyond two hundred billion dollars, even as regional realignments continue to unfold.
In Gaza and the West Bank, the armed wing of Hamas has publicly highlighted the issue of prisoners held in Rafah, underscoring how security arrangements remain central to any prospective settlement. Mediators say a relocation of prisoners is not currently on the table, and discussions continue around Gaza’s security framework and broader political prospects. Separate reporting notes Turkey’s push to secure safe passage for two hundred civilians trapped in Gaza’s tunnels, and Ankara’s role in efforts to recover the remains of an Israeli officer killed in Gaza, reflecting a broader humanitarian and diplomatic dimension to the Gaza question.
On the Lebanon front, Lebanese media report an Israeli drone strike targeting a Hezbollah commander, Samir Ali Fakhiya, in the town of Albisariya near Sidon. No independent confirmation from Israeli authorities has been issued publicly, but the report underscores ongoing border tensions and the risk of escalation along that front.
In the West Bank, Palestinian officials say Israeli forces detained four officers from the Palestinian Police in Dura, south of Hebron, overnight. The suspects were released after several hours, illustrating the continuing friction and security pressures that frame daily life in the area.
Turkish diplomacy and public statements also figure in this hour’s landscape. Ankara has characterized Hamas operatives in Rafah tunnels as civilians and is pressing for safe passage for civilians while coordinating with regional partners on humanitarian corridors and related implications of the broader conflict.
Diplomatic dynamics in the region continue to reflect shifting alignments. Observers note Syria’s leadership engaging more directly with the American-led coalition against Islamic State, signaling a broader realignment that includes questions about Iran and regional security arrangements.
Beyond the region, world events remain interco
Published on 1 month ago
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