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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-11 at 11:03
Published 2 weeks, 6 days ago
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HEADLINES
Iran Shadow Tankers Threaten Major Spill Risk
Barrack Shifts US Israel Policy Toward Syria
Ashdod Refinery Tragedy Fuels Netanyahu Probe
The time is now 11:02 AM 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, Iran’s network of aging oil tankers used to move crude under sanctions is increasingly being flagged as an environmental and maritime safety risk, with experts warning that a serious accident could trigger a catastrophic spill. Pole Star Global assessed 29 Iran-linked vessels that went dark by switching off satellite identification systems, and found that about half were older than the 20-year safe service life. Seven of the vessels were over 25 years old, and three were more than 30. Five of the ships were aging very large crude carriers capable of holding about 300,000 tons of oil, meaning a single accident could dwarf past disasters. The Guardian noted more than 50 reported incidents involving shadow tankers globally in recent years, with nine oil slicks between 2021 and 2024 attributed to Russia’s dark fleet, underscoring the potential for a major spill and heightened safety concerns as enforcement and maintenance appear uneven outside standard scrutiny.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, a broad brace of developments shapes how Washington and Jerusalem view each other’s priorities. A Jewish People Policy Institute Israeli Society Index for February finds 73% of Israelis rate President Donald Trump as better-than-average for Israel’s interests, with 49% describing him as one of the best in history for Israel, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Results vary by political alignment: 92% of the Israeli right see Trump as above average, including 73% who call him one of the best presidents for Israel, while only 34% of the Israeli left share positive views. Americans’ views are mixed, with about 48% of voters considering Trump above-average or among the best in American history on Israel policy, and 20% predicting he would be remembered as one of the worst, another 20% as average or below average. In another line, US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who also serves as ambassador to Turkey, is described as playing a key role in shaping policy in the northern Levant. He has been meeting in Saudi Arabia with partners in the anti-Is ISIS coalition and engaging with Damascus, signaling a shift toward direct coordination with Syria and Gulf actors as Washington transitions from working mainly with the SDF to engaging with the Assad regime. Barrack notes regional solutions and shared responsibility as Syria participates in ongoing anti-ISIS efforts. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this morning with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Blair House in Washington, officially joining President Trump’s Board of Peace, and Trump is set to host Netanyahu at the White House later in the afternoon, reinforcing the close, high-level ties between Washington and Jerusalem.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the domestic political discourse returns to questions over investigations and leadership, with several items drawing attention to how processes are perceived in the public arena. A lawyer, Mikhail Dovorin, contends that the investigations into Netanyahu’s cases began without the written authorization required by law, while a columnist from Maariv argues that authorization exists, and the dispute centers on scope. A judge, Mizrahi, is reported to have challenged investigators over a case described with stark language, including references to “blood on the hands” and mentions of a figure tied to past killings in Gaza. In related commentary, the former head of the National Security Council notes that Netanyahu’s trip to the United States is not ordinary and should be prepared carefully. The report also flags concerns tied to safety and security de
Iran Shadow Tankers Threaten Major Spill Risk
Barrack Shifts US Israel Policy Toward Syria
Ashdod Refinery Tragedy Fuels Netanyahu Probe
The time is now 11:02 AM 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, Iran’s network of aging oil tankers used to move crude under sanctions is increasingly being flagged as an environmental and maritime safety risk, with experts warning that a serious accident could trigger a catastrophic spill. Pole Star Global assessed 29 Iran-linked vessels that went dark by switching off satellite identification systems, and found that about half were older than the 20-year safe service life. Seven of the vessels were over 25 years old, and three were more than 30. Five of the ships were aging very large crude carriers capable of holding about 300,000 tons of oil, meaning a single accident could dwarf past disasters. The Guardian noted more than 50 reported incidents involving shadow tankers globally in recent years, with nine oil slicks between 2021 and 2024 attributed to Russia’s dark fleet, underscoring the potential for a major spill and heightened safety concerns as enforcement and maintenance appear uneven outside standard scrutiny.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, a broad brace of developments shapes how Washington and Jerusalem view each other’s priorities. A Jewish People Policy Institute Israeli Society Index for February finds 73% of Israelis rate President Donald Trump as better-than-average for Israel’s interests, with 49% describing him as one of the best in history for Israel, ahead of a meeting with Prime Minister Netanyahu. Results vary by political alignment: 92% of the Israeli right see Trump as above average, including 73% who call him one of the best presidents for Israel, while only 34% of the Israeli left share positive views. Americans’ views are mixed, with about 48% of voters considering Trump above-average or among the best in American history on Israel policy, and 20% predicting he would be remembered as one of the worst, another 20% as average or below average. In another line, US Special Envoy to Syria Tom Barrack, who also serves as ambassador to Turkey, is described as playing a key role in shaping policy in the northern Levant. He has been meeting in Saudi Arabia with partners in the anti-Is ISIS coalition and engaging with Damascus, signaling a shift toward direct coordination with Syria and Gulf actors as Washington transitions from working mainly with the SDF to engaging with the Assad regime. Barrack notes regional solutions and shared responsibility as Syria participates in ongoing anti-ISIS efforts. Separately, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met this morning with Secretary of State Marco Rubio at the Blair House in Washington, officially joining President Trump’s Board of Peace, and Trump is set to host Netanyahu at the White House later in the afternoon, reinforcing the close, high-level ties between Washington and Jerusalem.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the domestic political discourse returns to questions over investigations and leadership, with several items drawing attention to how processes are perceived in the public arena. A lawyer, Mikhail Dovorin, contends that the investigations into Netanyahu’s cases began without the written authorization required by law, while a columnist from Maariv argues that authorization exists, and the dispute centers on scope. A judge, Mizrahi, is reported to have challenged investigators over a case described with stark language, including references to “blood on the hands” and mentions of a figure tied to past killings in Gaza. In related commentary, the former head of the National Security Council notes that Netanyahu’s trip to the United States is not ordinary and should be prepared carefully. The report also flags concerns tied to safety and security de