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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-15 at 06:07
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
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HEADLINES
Lebanon minister says Israel may continue attacks
US unveils Gaza Board of Peace plan
Trump seeks decisive Iran strike advisers cautious
The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Lebanon’s foreign minister sparked a fresh controversy overnight by saying in an interview that Israel “has the right to continue its attacks” so long as Hezbollah remains armed, a comment that drew swift condemnations from Hezbollah allies and pro-Hezbollah media outlets. In remarks carried by Sky News via N12, Youssef Rajji reiterated a hardline stance about Hezbollah’s disarmament and sparked questions about Lebanon’s government posture amid a broader regional争 and heightened brinkmanship along the Israel-Lebanon border. Al Akhbar, a pro- Hezbollah newspaper, labeled Rajji the “speaker of the enemy in the government” and urged Lebanon’s top leaders to act, while a Lebanese lawmaker from Hezbollah likewise criticized the minister, calling him a “moral and political failure.” The episode underscores the fragile balance Lebanon seeks to strike between its own security concerns and internal political fault lines, as regional tensions persist.
On the US policy front, reports circulated that President Trump has told aides he would want any American action against Iran to deliver a swift, decisive blow rather than a prolonged conflict, with advisers cautioning that a rapid regime collapse cannot be guaranteed. NBC News cited multiple sources indicating the president wants a definitive outcome, even as White House and defense officials acknowledge uncertainties about the regime’s vulnerability and the risk of broader retaliation in the region. Separately, hundreds of US troops were moved from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar amid concerns about potential Iranian responses, and officials stressed that all options remain on the table as Washington weighs different strategic paths. At the same time, Trump has publicly indicated he will monitor the process before deciding on any further actions, saying developments on the ground will guide the next steps.
In Israel, the national conversation has shifted to the social compact that underpins national service. An editorial from the Jerusalem-based Post argues that the draft system’s current equality challenge is not merely a policy dispute but a test of Israeli solidarity after more than a year of conflict. The piece notes that reserve soldiers and their families have shouldered heavy burdens—physically, financially, and emotionally—and that the traditional exchange between secular and ultra-Orthodox communities over conscription is reaching a breaking point as elections approach. Think-tank polling and security studies commentary are cited to illustrate growing public doubt about whether exemptions can be sustained without eroding the sense of shared obligation that has defined Israeli civic life since the founding era. The call stands: reform the draft to restore a sense of unity and shared risk, or risk further fraying of the social fabric at a moment of national vulnerability.
In the broader regional frame, Washington’s Gaza plan enters a second phase that envisions a shift from ceasefire to governance and reconstruction. US officials briefed journalists on a path that would establish a Palestinian technocratic committee to run daily affairs in Gaza, supported by a Board of Peace and an International Stabilization Force to secure the Strip. Officials described the Board of Peace as a political-to-technical bridge, with high-level figures including former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov and former British prime minister Tony Blair on an executive committee, and with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff involved in the broader effort. The plan envisions a staged disarmament process, beginning with heavy weaponry and a potential “buy-back” mechanism for lighter arms, and emphasizes pol
Lebanon minister says Israel may continue attacks
US unveils Gaza Board of Peace plan
Trump seeks decisive Iran strike advisers cautious
The time is now 1:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Lebanon’s foreign minister sparked a fresh controversy overnight by saying in an interview that Israel “has the right to continue its attacks” so long as Hezbollah remains armed, a comment that drew swift condemnations from Hezbollah allies and pro-Hezbollah media outlets. In remarks carried by Sky News via N12, Youssef Rajji reiterated a hardline stance about Hezbollah’s disarmament and sparked questions about Lebanon’s government posture amid a broader regional争 and heightened brinkmanship along the Israel-Lebanon border. Al Akhbar, a pro- Hezbollah newspaper, labeled Rajji the “speaker of the enemy in the government” and urged Lebanon’s top leaders to act, while a Lebanese lawmaker from Hezbollah likewise criticized the minister, calling him a “moral and political failure.” The episode underscores the fragile balance Lebanon seeks to strike between its own security concerns and internal political fault lines, as regional tensions persist.
On the US policy front, reports circulated that President Trump has told aides he would want any American action against Iran to deliver a swift, decisive blow rather than a prolonged conflict, with advisers cautioning that a rapid regime collapse cannot be guaranteed. NBC News cited multiple sources indicating the president wants a definitive outcome, even as White House and defense officials acknowledge uncertainties about the regime’s vulnerability and the risk of broader retaliation in the region. Separately, hundreds of US troops were moved from Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar amid concerns about potential Iranian responses, and officials stressed that all options remain on the table as Washington weighs different strategic paths. At the same time, Trump has publicly indicated he will monitor the process before deciding on any further actions, saying developments on the ground will guide the next steps.
In Israel, the national conversation has shifted to the social compact that underpins national service. An editorial from the Jerusalem-based Post argues that the draft system’s current equality challenge is not merely a policy dispute but a test of Israeli solidarity after more than a year of conflict. The piece notes that reserve soldiers and their families have shouldered heavy burdens—physically, financially, and emotionally—and that the traditional exchange between secular and ultra-Orthodox communities over conscription is reaching a breaking point as elections approach. Think-tank polling and security studies commentary are cited to illustrate growing public doubt about whether exemptions can be sustained without eroding the sense of shared obligation that has defined Israeli civic life since the founding era. The call stands: reform the draft to restore a sense of unity and shared risk, or risk further fraying of the social fabric at a moment of national vulnerability.
In the broader regional frame, Washington’s Gaza plan enters a second phase that envisions a shift from ceasefire to governance and reconstruction. US officials briefed journalists on a path that would establish a Palestinian technocratic committee to run daily affairs in Gaza, supported by a Board of Peace and an International Stabilization Force to secure the Strip. Officials described the Board of Peace as a political-to-technical bridge, with high-level figures including former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov and former British prime minister Tony Blair on an executive committee, and with Jared Kushner and Steve Witkoff involved in the broader effort. The plan envisions a staged disarmament process, beginning with heavy weaponry and a potential “buy-back” mechanism for lighter arms, and emphasizes pol