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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 16:08
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
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HEADLINES
Iran poised to execute protester amid crackdown
Gaza shelters toppled as winter strikes
Lebanon indicts Salameh over embezzlement
The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is a news update from the newsroom with a steady briefing on the Middle East and surrounding regions. Here is the latest information shaping the region's political and security landscape.
In Iran, authorities are moving forward with a death sentence amid mass protests that have stretched for weeks. A 26-year-old protester, Erfan Soltani, is reportedly slated for execution by hanging on Wednesday after authorities did not provide what Western observers describe as a meaningful opportunity to defend himself in court. US officials say Soltani was not offered a defense attorney or access to the case file, and human rights groups note this would be among the first executions tied to the current wave of demonstrations. The protests have been driven by economic hardship and political repression, with Iran’s official toll stating roughly two thousand deaths, though activists and opposition outlets estimate the figure is far higher. Iran’s judiciary has described some protesters as engaging in “moharebeh,” or waging war against God, a charge that carries the death penalty in the Islamic Republic. Rights groups warn of the risk of extrajudicial and mass executions, urging the international community to protect civilians under threat. The Tehran crackdown has intensified international commentary, with some Western voices urging a calibrated response that emphasizes human rights and civilian protection while acknowledging Iran’s stated security concerns.
In Washington, US policy toward Iran has surfaced in a range of forms. President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to keep protesting and has asserted that “help is on the way” for the protest movement, while canceling meetings with Iranian officials until the violence subsides. Reports indicate discussions in Washington about options that could range from sanctions to potential military actions, with some officials pushing for renewed diplomatic engagement and others advocating firmer deterrence. Related commentary from US allies and partners reflects a divide over how best to support Iranian protesters without escalating regional tensions. At the same time, the United States has signaled a willingness to consider pressure mechanisms, including tariffs tied to broader engagement with Iran’s economy. Across the Atlantic, Britain publicly condemned the crackdown and summoned Iran’s ambassador to press for accountability and the protection of civil liberties. The international community continues to watch developments closely as Iranians on the streets and in online spaces appeal directly to international actors for support.
Beyond Iran’s borders, regional actors are watching with caution as dynamics inside Iran feed into broader regional security calculations. In Syria, Kurdish groups organized protests in Qamishli after the expulsion of Kurdish fighters from Aleppo, underscoring deep fault lines in the country’s long-running conflict. Clashes in Aleppo in recent days have been severe, with casualties and massive displacement, stirring fears of wider confrontation in the region. Turkey has accused the Kurdish-led forces of links to militant groups, illuminating the fragile balance between Kurdish factions, Damascus, and Ankara in an era of shifting alignments. The region’s stability remains on a knife edge as authorities seek to navigate competing security interests, ethnic sensitivities, and external pressures.
In Lebanon, prosecutors have indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh along with two lawyers on charges including embezzlement of public funds, forgery, and illicit enrichment. The indictment follows a lengthy period of investigations into financ
Iran poised to execute protester amid crackdown
Gaza shelters toppled as winter strikes
Lebanon indicts Salameh over embezzlement
The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
This is a news update from the newsroom with a steady briefing on the Middle East and surrounding regions. Here is the latest information shaping the region's political and security landscape.
In Iran, authorities are moving forward with a death sentence amid mass protests that have stretched for weeks. A 26-year-old protester, Erfan Soltani, is reportedly slated for execution by hanging on Wednesday after authorities did not provide what Western observers describe as a meaningful opportunity to defend himself in court. US officials say Soltani was not offered a defense attorney or access to the case file, and human rights groups note this would be among the first executions tied to the current wave of demonstrations. The protests have been driven by economic hardship and political repression, with Iran’s official toll stating roughly two thousand deaths, though activists and opposition outlets estimate the figure is far higher. Iran’s judiciary has described some protesters as engaging in “moharebeh,” or waging war against God, a charge that carries the death penalty in the Islamic Republic. Rights groups warn of the risk of extrajudicial and mass executions, urging the international community to protect civilians under threat. The Tehran crackdown has intensified international commentary, with some Western voices urging a calibrated response that emphasizes human rights and civilian protection while acknowledging Iran’s stated security concerns.
In Washington, US policy toward Iran has surfaced in a range of forms. President Donald Trump has urged Iranians to keep protesting and has asserted that “help is on the way” for the protest movement, while canceling meetings with Iranian officials until the violence subsides. Reports indicate discussions in Washington about options that could range from sanctions to potential military actions, with some officials pushing for renewed diplomatic engagement and others advocating firmer deterrence. Related commentary from US allies and partners reflects a divide over how best to support Iranian protesters without escalating regional tensions. At the same time, the United States has signaled a willingness to consider pressure mechanisms, including tariffs tied to broader engagement with Iran’s economy. Across the Atlantic, Britain publicly condemned the crackdown and summoned Iran’s ambassador to press for accountability and the protection of civil liberties. The international community continues to watch developments closely as Iranians on the streets and in online spaces appeal directly to international actors for support.
Beyond Iran’s borders, regional actors are watching with caution as dynamics inside Iran feed into broader regional security calculations. In Syria, Kurdish groups organized protests in Qamishli after the expulsion of Kurdish fighters from Aleppo, underscoring deep fault lines in the country’s long-running conflict. Clashes in Aleppo in recent days have been severe, with casualties and massive displacement, stirring fears of wider confrontation in the region. Turkey has accused the Kurdish-led forces of links to militant groups, illuminating the fragile balance between Kurdish factions, Damascus, and Ankara in an era of shifting alignments. The region’s stability remains on a knife edge as authorities seek to navigate competing security interests, ethnic sensitivities, and external pressures.
In Lebanon, prosecutors have indicted former central bank governor Riad Salameh along with two lawyers on charges including embezzlement of public funds, forgery, and illicit enrichment. The indictment follows a lengthy period of investigations into financ