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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-15 at 04:07
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
HEADLINES
Maduro Captured, Senate Struggles War Powers
Gaza Forms Technocratic Panel for Reconstruction
Starlink Opens Info Lifeline Amid Iran Protests
The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 11:00 PM, a briefing on the evolving Middle East and related global developments:
In Caracas, President Trump spoke by phone with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office after the US captured Nicolás Maduro and transported him to the United States to face drug charges. Both leaders described the call as positive, with Trump saying the discussion covered oil, minerals, trade, and security as Washington seeks to help Venezuela stabilize and recover. Rodríguez called the exchange long, productive, and courteous, noting a bilateral agenda aimed at benefiting both countries. The White House and Rodríguez have each signaled a continued bilateral approach, even as Rodríguez’s government faces questions about the legality and optics of Maduro’s removal. In Washington, the Senate blocked a war-powers resolution that would have barred further US military action in Venezuela without congressional authorization. The vote, 51-50 on a Republican point of order to dismiss the measure, reflected party-line divides, with a small number of Republicans crossing over to back the measure as Democrats pressed the case for Congress’s role in authorizing force. The administration contends Maduro’s capture was a judicial proceeding aimed at bringing him to trial in the United States, not a ground incursion, while critics argued that the naval and other pressure on Venezuela could amount to a broader campaign requiring legislative approval. Even if the bill had passed, it would have faced a veto and a difficult path through a Republican-led House, highlighting ongoing debates over Congress’s constitutional authority to authorize the use of force.
Beyond the Venezuelan issue, US policy toward Iran and the wider region continues to unfold in several threads. SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service has emerged as a potential channel for Iranians seeking information amid a government crackdown and an air of information isolation. Activists and reporting indicate Starlink’s services have been made available with reduced or no fees for Iranian users, and a firmware update has been pushed to help users counter regime jamming efforts. Iran’s nationwide protests, now entering their second month, have taken a heavy toll and prompted questions about the reach of digital communications and international attention. The company has not issued an official public statement, but activists say Starlink access has become more widely available to Iranians with receivers, even as the regime intensifies efforts to block outside information. Observers note the broader implications for information flows in Iran and the potential for other states to study Starlink’s model as a tool in information campaigns or humanitarian crises. The death toll from the demonstrations has been reported at more than 2,500 people, including protesters and security personnel, according to human rights networks.
In Gaza, a technocratic committee is being formed to administer the Hamas-ruled enclave as part of suggestions tied to a broader American-led framework for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance. Ali Shaath, a Gazan civil servant and former deputy minister of planning and international cooperation, is slated to head the new body, which aims to coordinate water supply, infrastructure, and reconstruction efforts after more than two years of conflict and widespread devastation. The committee, consisting of Palestinian experts and advised by international figures, is to meet in Cairo, with several members traveling from the Gaza Strip to Egypt for the inaugural session. The plan envisions a gradual handover of duties and emphasizes technical expertise
Maduro Captured, Senate Struggles War Powers
Gaza Forms Technocratic Panel for Reconstruction
Starlink Opens Info Lifeline Amid Iran Protests
The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
At 11:00 PM, a briefing on the evolving Middle East and related global developments:
In Caracas, President Trump spoke by phone with Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez, who took office after the US captured Nicolás Maduro and transported him to the United States to face drug charges. Both leaders described the call as positive, with Trump saying the discussion covered oil, minerals, trade, and security as Washington seeks to help Venezuela stabilize and recover. Rodríguez called the exchange long, productive, and courteous, noting a bilateral agenda aimed at benefiting both countries. The White House and Rodríguez have each signaled a continued bilateral approach, even as Rodríguez’s government faces questions about the legality and optics of Maduro’s removal. In Washington, the Senate blocked a war-powers resolution that would have barred further US military action in Venezuela without congressional authorization. The vote, 51-50 on a Republican point of order to dismiss the measure, reflected party-line divides, with a small number of Republicans crossing over to back the measure as Democrats pressed the case for Congress’s role in authorizing force. The administration contends Maduro’s capture was a judicial proceeding aimed at bringing him to trial in the United States, not a ground incursion, while critics argued that the naval and other pressure on Venezuela could amount to a broader campaign requiring legislative approval. Even if the bill had passed, it would have faced a veto and a difficult path through a Republican-led House, highlighting ongoing debates over Congress’s constitutional authority to authorize the use of force.
Beyond the Venezuelan issue, US policy toward Iran and the wider region continues to unfold in several threads. SpaceX’s Starlink satellite service has emerged as a potential channel for Iranians seeking information amid a government crackdown and an air of information isolation. Activists and reporting indicate Starlink’s services have been made available with reduced or no fees for Iranian users, and a firmware update has been pushed to help users counter regime jamming efforts. Iran’s nationwide protests, now entering their second month, have taken a heavy toll and prompted questions about the reach of digital communications and international attention. The company has not issued an official public statement, but activists say Starlink access has become more widely available to Iranians with receivers, even as the regime intensifies efforts to block outside information. Observers note the broader implications for information flows in Iran and the potential for other states to study Starlink’s model as a tool in information campaigns or humanitarian crises. The death toll from the demonstrations has been reported at more than 2,500 people, including protesters and security personnel, according to human rights networks.
In Gaza, a technocratic committee is being formed to administer the Hamas-ruled enclave as part of suggestions tied to a broader American-led framework for Gaza’s reconstruction and governance. Ali Shaath, a Gazan civil servant and former deputy minister of planning and international cooperation, is slated to head the new body, which aims to coordinate water supply, infrastructure, and reconstruction efforts after more than two years of conflict and widespread devastation. The committee, consisting of Palestinian experts and advised by international figures, is to meet in Cairo, with several members traveling from the Gaza Strip to Egypt for the inaugural session. The plan envisions a gradual handover of duties and emphasizes technical expertise