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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-03 at 16:02
Published 3 weeks, 6 days ago
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HEADLINES
- Houthis threaten return, Jordan base in sight
- IDF uncovers 110 shells in UNRWA bags
- Milk strike as Smotrich cuts dairy tariffs
The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, tensions surged as Houthi threats resurfaced, an Iranian MP urged action against a Jordanian air base and US personnel, and the United States reported a drone being downed near a carrier in the Arabian Sea.
The Houthis issued threats in their communications, saying “if you come back, we will come back,” signaling a hardening stance in the region. Iranian MP Mojtaba Zarei, a member of Iran’s Foreign Policy Commission, called on Jordanian forces to seize the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and to take American soldiers captive after Tehran signaled a missile strike could target bases in the region. Zarei posted his call in both Farsi and Arabic, noting the base’s history of hosting US and allied aircraft and tying it to efforts countering Iranian missiles and protecting Tel Aviv. Separately, the US military said the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier task force again faced potential threats when a drone was directed toward the carrier group and was downed roughly 500 miles from Iran, according to US Central Command.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), IDF troops uncovered 110 mortar shells, several rockets, and additional weapons hidden inside blankets and UNRWA humanitarian aid bags near the Yellow Line. Despite a ceasefire, Gaza-based militants are described as rearming, using UNRWA aid for cover as they move weapons into position.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Knesset panel discussed tens of thousands of shekels in salary deductions charged to reservists employed in the civil service during 2025, stemming from a new salary mechanism that took effect in May 2025. The Finance Ministry said any deduction resulted from the amendment and that the amount will be returned to affected personnel as an advance payment while a renewed review is conducted. Histadrut official Michal Ettinger called the situation a scandal and said many reservists faced unlawful deductions, while committee chair MK Sharon Nir criticized the conduct as a trampling of workers’ rights and urged protection for all reservists. Separately, dairy farmers halted milk supplies in protest of a reform push by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich; supermarkets limited purchases as shelves ran low, and the Israel Dairy Board confirmed the farmers’ strike. Smotrich indicated plans to remove tariffs on dairy products for an extended period to keep milk available, asserting the change would counter deliberate shortages and promote competition. The same day, the court system lifted additional publication restrictions in the so‑called midnight parking-lot affair tied to leaks from the Prime Minister’s Office, with investigators examining whether Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman used sensitive information in the course of his duties and whether he had advance notice of the leak probe; allegations also involve assertions by former Netanyahu spokesman Eli Feldstein about prior warnings and potential efforts to shut down the investigation.
In Israeli Economy and Business, a new analysis questions why milk prices remain high in Israel despite the country’s tech-driven image. The piece argues that the price gap to the United States and parts of Europe reflects a highly centralized, regulated dairy sector in which the state plays a central role from farm to market. Prime Minister Netanyahu has highlighted Israel’s innovation, but critics say the structure of the dairy industry keeps prices elevated. Finance Minister Smotrich’s push to remove dairy tariffs is framed as a step aimed at restoring supply and price stability through greater market competition.
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- Houthis threaten return, Jordan base in sight
- IDF uncovers 110 shells in UNRWA bags
- Milk strike as Smotrich cuts dairy tariffs
The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, tensions surged as Houthi threats resurfaced, an Iranian MP urged action against a Jordanian air base and US personnel, and the United States reported a drone being downed near a carrier in the Arabian Sea.
The Houthis issued threats in their communications, saying “if you come back, we will come back,” signaling a hardening stance in the region. Iranian MP Mojtaba Zarei, a member of Iran’s Foreign Policy Commission, called on Jordanian forces to seize the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base and to take American soldiers captive after Tehran signaled a missile strike could target bases in the region. Zarei posted his call in both Farsi and Arabic, noting the base’s history of hosting US and allied aircraft and tying it to efforts countering Iranian missiles and protecting Tel Aviv. Separately, the US military said the USS Abraham Lincoln carrier task force again faced potential threats when a drone was directed toward the carrier group and was downed roughly 500 miles from Iran, according to US Central Command.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), IDF troops uncovered 110 mortar shells, several rockets, and additional weapons hidden inside blankets and UNRWA humanitarian aid bags near the Yellow Line. Despite a ceasefire, Gaza-based militants are described as rearming, using UNRWA aid for cover as they move weapons into position.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Knesset panel discussed tens of thousands of shekels in salary deductions charged to reservists employed in the civil service during 2025, stemming from a new salary mechanism that took effect in May 2025. The Finance Ministry said any deduction resulted from the amendment and that the amount will be returned to affected personnel as an advance payment while a renewed review is conducted. Histadrut official Michal Ettinger called the situation a scandal and said many reservists faced unlawful deductions, while committee chair MK Sharon Nir criticized the conduct as a trampling of workers’ rights and urged protection for all reservists. Separately, dairy farmers halted milk supplies in protest of a reform push by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich; supermarkets limited purchases as shelves ran low, and the Israel Dairy Board confirmed the farmers’ strike. Smotrich indicated plans to remove tariffs on dairy products for an extended period to keep milk available, asserting the change would counter deliberate shortages and promote competition. The same day, the court system lifted additional publication restrictions in the so‑called midnight parking-lot affair tied to leaks from the Prime Minister’s Office, with investigators examining whether Chief of Staff Tzachi Braverman used sensitive information in the course of his duties and whether he had advance notice of the leak probe; allegations also involve assertions by former Netanyahu spokesman Eli Feldstein about prior warnings and potential efforts to shut down the investigation.
In Israeli Economy and Business, a new analysis questions why milk prices remain high in Israel despite the country’s tech-driven image. The piece argues that the price gap to the United States and parts of Europe reflects a highly centralized, regulated dairy sector in which the state plays a central role from farm to market. Prime Minister Netanyahu has highlighted Israel’s innovation, but critics say the structure of the dairy industry keeps prices elevated. Finance Minister Smotrich’s push to remove dairy tariffs is framed as a step aimed at restoring supply and price stability through greater market competition.
Thank you for tuning