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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-13 at 19:02
Published 2 weeks, 3 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
Iran regime change talk as carriers assemble
Da Costa antisemitic posts force resignation
Robotic octopus speeds tank maintenance
The time is now 7:01 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, President Trump said regime change in Iran “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen” if talks fail and a deal isn’t reached. He argued Iran would need to deliver the right deal, noting decades of talks have cost lives. The United States has bolstered its Middle East posture, with the USS Gerald R. Ford ordered to head for the Persian Gulf to support forces, and the USS Lincoln remaining in the region alongside other vessels. When asked about sending a second aircraft carrier, Trump said that “in case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” adding that if a deal is reached the trip could be cut short and the carrier would depart “very soon.”
In US Policy Concerning Israel, two US officials told Reuters that the US military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Trump orders an attack. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the president “has all options on the table with regard to Iran,” and noted he weighs a range of perspectives before making a decision, while the Pentagon declined to comment. The reporting highlights how planning for a longer campaign would raise the stakes in the ongoing diplomacy with Tehran and follows discussions around force posture and regional capabilities.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, inflammatory tweets by New York City political staffers point to growing normalization of anti-Zionism. A Times of Israel report details Mamdani campaigner Catherine Almonte Da Costa’s antisemitic posts from 2011 and 2012, including references to “money hungry Jews,” “rich Jewish peeps,” and labeling a Jewish-area subway line as “the Jew train.” Da Costa apologized, and Mamdani accepted her resignation, saying he would not have hired her had he known about the comments and promising to change his administration’s vetting process. Days later, the Anti-Defamation League reported that other Mamdani appointees had made comments in support of Palestinian resistance, backed Louis Farrakhan, described Zionism as racism, and urged revisions in how affiliations with Zionism are viewed.
In Israeli Economy and Business, the IDF unveiled a new robotic system that lets tank mechanics perform 48 hours of maintenance in two hours. Developed by the Israeli company Ruby AI, the robot resembles a multi-armed mechanical octopus and can penetrate a tank’s engine to clean, wash, scan, locate faults, and perform tasks previously done by humans. It operates autonomously, keeping soldiers out of dangerous environments and avoiding exposure to chemicals, oils, or extreme heat. Founder Daniel Ben Dov said the company is building both the arms and their brains, including a Physical AI core that can learn elements of the physical world, understand what it sees, and execute precise actions. The company currently employs about 20 people, mostly engineers in software, hardware, aerospace, and AI.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.
SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-886586
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-14-2026/
https://www.ynetnews.com/a
Iran regime change talk as carriers assemble
Da Costa antisemitic posts force resignation
Robotic octopus speeds tank maintenance
The time is now 7:01 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, President Trump said regime change in Iran “seems like that would be the best thing that could happen” if talks fail and a deal isn’t reached. He argued Iran would need to deliver the right deal, noting decades of talks have cost lives. The United States has bolstered its Middle East posture, with the USS Gerald R. Ford ordered to head for the Persian Gulf to support forces, and the USS Lincoln remaining in the region alongside other vessels. When asked about sending a second aircraft carrier, Trump said that “in case we don’t make a deal, we’ll need it,” adding that if a deal is reached the trip could be cut short and the carrier would depart “very soon.”
In US Policy Concerning Israel, two US officials told Reuters that the US military is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Trump orders an attack. White House spokesperson Anna Kelly said the president “has all options on the table with regard to Iran,” and noted he weighs a range of perspectives before making a decision, while the Pentagon declined to comment. The reporting highlights how planning for a longer campaign would raise the stakes in the ongoing diplomacy with Tehran and follows discussions around force posture and regional capabilities.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, inflammatory tweets by New York City political staffers point to growing normalization of anti-Zionism. A Times of Israel report details Mamdani campaigner Catherine Almonte Da Costa’s antisemitic posts from 2011 and 2012, including references to “money hungry Jews,” “rich Jewish peeps,” and labeling a Jewish-area subway line as “the Jew train.” Da Costa apologized, and Mamdani accepted her resignation, saying he would not have hired her had he known about the comments and promising to change his administration’s vetting process. Days later, the Anti-Defamation League reported that other Mamdani appointees had made comments in support of Palestinian resistance, backed Louis Farrakhan, described Zionism as racism, and urged revisions in how affiliations with Zionism are viewed.
In Israeli Economy and Business, the IDF unveiled a new robotic system that lets tank mechanics perform 48 hours of maintenance in two hours. Developed by the Israeli company Ruby AI, the robot resembles a multi-armed mechanical octopus and can penetrate a tank’s engine to clean, wash, scan, locate faults, and perform tasks previously done by humans. It operates autonomously, keeping soldiers out of dangerous environments and avoiding exposure to chemicals, oils, or extreme heat. Founder Daniel Ben Dov said the company is building both the arms and their brains, including a Physical AI core that can learn elements of the physical world, understand what it sees, and execute precise actions. The company currently employs about 20 people, mostly engineers in software, hardware, aerospace, and AI.
Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.
SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-886586
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-february-14-2026/
https://www.ynetnews.com/a