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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-18 at 02:07
Published 1 month, 1 week ago
Description
HEADLINES
IDF Shin Bet kill Hamas commander Khuli
US kills Bilal Hasan al-Jasim in Syria
Dnipro Jews endure missile drills in shelters
The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Tonight, a wide view of the region events that shape security, policy, and Jewish life around the world, with a focus on Israel’s security concerns, US positions, and the experiences of Jewish communities from Europe to Ukraine.
Israeli security operations in Gaza and the north continue to dominate the security landscape. The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet said they killed a Hamas commander, Muhammad Khuli, who led the Central Camps Operations Department and played a role in planning the October 7 attacks, along with two other Hamas and PIJ figures cited as involved in rocket and sniper activity. The strikes came as the IDF reported dismantling hundreds of terrorist infrastructure sites east of the Yellow Line this month and as clashes and cross-border activity continued in western Rafah. In parallel, officials noted ongoing threats to civilians and maintained readiness in fortified spaces, including shelters, as part of daily life for Israelis and residents in affected areas.
Turning to public voices about the conflict, Caitlyn Jenner spoke at an Israeli-American Council event about her visit to sites tied to October 7. She described the experience as reinforcing memory of the Holocaust and highlighted what she viewed as Israel’s openness and resilience, including an experience in a bomb shelter during her Tel Aviv Pride-related work. Jenner stressed the importance of staying strong and focused on liberty and security, while noting the personal and emotional dimensions of encountering the war’s toll. Her remarks reflect a broader international interest in how Jewish communities and Israel frame security needs, moral memory, and the persistence of life and culture under pressure.
On a different note tied to memory and education, Beit HaEdut in Nir Galim marked its 11th annual Operation Dugo, a memorial initiative built around falafel as a communal act of remembrance for Holocaust survivors. The project connects Israelis and Jewish communities worldwide and includes a commemorative stamp planned by the Israel Postal Company. The event emphasizes ongoing education and intergenerational connection, with schools and youth groups integrating the memory of survivors into daily life and national storytelling.
In the Gaza theater, the US military reported a strike in northwest Syria targeting a figure linked to Islamic State activity and the Palmyra ambush that killed a US civilian interpreter and two soldiers. CENTCOM said Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, described as an experienced terrorist leader with connections to ISIS and al-Qaeda networks, was killed. The operation is part of a broader campaign against ISIS infrastructure in the region, conducted in coordination with allied forces under Operation Inherent Resolve. US officials stressed that the fight against ISIS continues, with CENTCOM noting substantial numbers of ISIS fighters captured or killed in the past year as operations continue to disrupt rebel and terrorist networks.
Away from the battlefield, the humanitarian and cultural front remains active in Ukraine. In Dnipro, Jewish community leaders described how schools and community centers have built shelters and integrated bomb drills into daily life as Russian missile and drone activity persists. Students and educators continue lessons in basement shelters when sirens sound, with schools expanding shelter facilities to protect both Jewish and non-Jewish students. Community leaders emphasized resilience, noting that Hebrew and Jewish studies persist alongside secular curricula and that many families view these measures as essential to maintaining continuity and hope during wartime.
On the
IDF Shin Bet kill Hamas commander Khuli
US kills Bilal Hasan al-Jasim in Syria
Dnipro Jews endure missile drills in shelters
The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
Tonight, a wide view of the region events that shape security, policy, and Jewish life around the world, with a focus on Israel’s security concerns, US positions, and the experiences of Jewish communities from Europe to Ukraine.
Israeli security operations in Gaza and the north continue to dominate the security landscape. The Israel Defense Forces and Shin Bet said they killed a Hamas commander, Muhammad Khuli, who led the Central Camps Operations Department and played a role in planning the October 7 attacks, along with two other Hamas and PIJ figures cited as involved in rocket and sniper activity. The strikes came as the IDF reported dismantling hundreds of terrorist infrastructure sites east of the Yellow Line this month and as clashes and cross-border activity continued in western Rafah. In parallel, officials noted ongoing threats to civilians and maintained readiness in fortified spaces, including shelters, as part of daily life for Israelis and residents in affected areas.
Turning to public voices about the conflict, Caitlyn Jenner spoke at an Israeli-American Council event about her visit to sites tied to October 7. She described the experience as reinforcing memory of the Holocaust and highlighted what she viewed as Israel’s openness and resilience, including an experience in a bomb shelter during her Tel Aviv Pride-related work. Jenner stressed the importance of staying strong and focused on liberty and security, while noting the personal and emotional dimensions of encountering the war’s toll. Her remarks reflect a broader international interest in how Jewish communities and Israel frame security needs, moral memory, and the persistence of life and culture under pressure.
On a different note tied to memory and education, Beit HaEdut in Nir Galim marked its 11th annual Operation Dugo, a memorial initiative built around falafel as a communal act of remembrance for Holocaust survivors. The project connects Israelis and Jewish communities worldwide and includes a commemorative stamp planned by the Israel Postal Company. The event emphasizes ongoing education and intergenerational connection, with schools and youth groups integrating the memory of survivors into daily life and national storytelling.
In the Gaza theater, the US military reported a strike in northwest Syria targeting a figure linked to Islamic State activity and the Palmyra ambush that killed a US civilian interpreter and two soldiers. CENTCOM said Bilal Hasan al-Jasim, described as an experienced terrorist leader with connections to ISIS and al-Qaeda networks, was killed. The operation is part of a broader campaign against ISIS infrastructure in the region, conducted in coordination with allied forces under Operation Inherent Resolve. US officials stressed that the fight against ISIS continues, with CENTCOM noting substantial numbers of ISIS fighters captured or killed in the past year as operations continue to disrupt rebel and terrorist networks.
Away from the battlefield, the humanitarian and cultural front remains active in Ukraine. In Dnipro, Jewish community leaders described how schools and community centers have built shelters and integrated bomb drills into daily life as Russian missile and drone activity persists. Students and educators continue lessons in basement shelters when sirens sound, with schools expanding shelter facilities to protect both Jewish and non-Jewish students. Community leaders emphasized resilience, noting that Hebrew and Jewish studies persist alongside secular curricula and that many families view these measures as essential to maintaining continuity and hope during wartime.
On the