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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-13 at 21:01
Published 2 weeks, 4 days ago
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HEADLINES
US plans weeks-long Iran strikes if ordered
IDF Rafah ready to shift offensive
Stanford mistrial in anti Israel protests
The time is now 9:01 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, the United States is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, according to two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The planning comes as Washington seeks to revive diplomacy over Tehran's nuclear program, with US and Iranian talks held in Oman last week. The Pentagon has said it is sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East along with thousands more troops, fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of conducting and defending attacks. President Trump, addressing troops at a base in North Carolina, said it has “been difficult to make a deal” with Iran and added, “Sometimes you have to have fear. That's the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of.” The administration has signaled other steps, including the possibility of regime change, as a US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepares to meet Iran on Tuesday in Geneva. The USS Gerald R. Ford has been instructed to set course for the Persian Gulf to bolster forces, with the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln already in the region alongside other vessels, and the prospect of deploying a second carrier if talks falter. A separate line of discussion centers on a “next month” deadline for Iran talks as the Ford heads toward the region, with four weeks to go; Trump warned it would be a “very bad day for Iran” if diplomacy fails and cited potential options that include strikes on nuclear and missile sites as Tehran marks 40 days of mourning.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the IDF chief in Rafah said officers are ready to shift to offensive action but will not abandon the goal of Gaza’s demilitarization and the disarmament of Hamas. After clashes in southern Gaza, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir conducted a situation assessment in Rafah, stressing that there is “no immunity for terror” and reaffirming the objective of fully demilitarizing Gaza, with the IDF monitoring the region and prepared on all fronts.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a mistrial was declared in the case of five Stanford University students charged after anti-Israel pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. A Santa Clara County judge concluded the jury was deadlocked after five days of deliberations, unable to reach verdicts on the felony vandalism and conspiracy to trespass counts, despite jurors indicating partial convictions on those charges. Prosecutors said they will seek a new trial. The case followed demonstrations during which protesters barricaded themselves inside the university president and provost offices. Separately, a US Jewish research group notes that a recent poll found about one-third of American Jews identify as Zionists, a minority that has spurred questions about how to engage with anti-Zionist Jews. Researchers say many such adversaries are knowledgeable and that constructive dialogue may be more productive than exclusion, based on interviews conducted with anti-Zionist Jews.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, data released under a Freedom of Information request show that more than 50,000 IDF soldiers hold second citizenships. The figures indicate thousands of service members also hold US, French and Russian citizenship, with some listing multiple nationalities, including from Arab states.
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 compre
US plans weeks-long Iran strikes if ordered
IDF Rafah ready to shift offensive
Stanford mistrial in anti Israel protests
The time is now 9:01 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, the United States is preparing for the possibility of sustained, weeks-long operations against Iran if President Donald Trump orders an attack, according to two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity. The planning comes as Washington seeks to revive diplomacy over Tehran's nuclear program, with US and Iranian talks held in Oman last week. The Pentagon has said it is sending an additional aircraft carrier to the Middle East along with thousands more troops, fighter aircraft, guided-missile destroyers and other firepower capable of conducting and defending attacks. President Trump, addressing troops at a base in North Carolina, said it has “been difficult to make a deal” with Iran and added, “Sometimes you have to have fear. That's the only thing that really will get the situation taken care of.” The administration has signaled other steps, including the possibility of regime change, as a US delegation led by envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner prepares to meet Iran on Tuesday in Geneva. The USS Gerald R. Ford has been instructed to set course for the Persian Gulf to bolster forces, with the aircraft carrier USS Lincoln already in the region alongside other vessels, and the prospect of deploying a second carrier if talks falter. A separate line of discussion centers on a “next month” deadline for Iran talks as the Ford heads toward the region, with four weeks to go; Trump warned it would be a “very bad day for Iran” if diplomacy fails and cited potential options that include strikes on nuclear and missile sites as Tehran marks 40 days of mourning.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the IDF chief in Rafah said officers are ready to shift to offensive action but will not abandon the goal of Gaza’s demilitarization and the disarmament of Hamas. After clashes in southern Gaza, Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir conducted a situation assessment in Rafah, stressing that there is “no immunity for terror” and reaffirming the objective of fully demilitarizing Gaza, with the IDF monitoring the region and prepared on all fronts.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a mistrial was declared in the case of five Stanford University students charged after anti-Israel pro-Palestinian protests in 2024. A Santa Clara County judge concluded the jury was deadlocked after five days of deliberations, unable to reach verdicts on the felony vandalism and conspiracy to trespass counts, despite jurors indicating partial convictions on those charges. Prosecutors said they will seek a new trial. The case followed demonstrations during which protesters barricaded themselves inside the university president and provost offices. Separately, a US Jewish research group notes that a recent poll found about one-third of American Jews identify as Zionists, a minority that has spurred questions about how to engage with anti-Zionist Jews. Researchers say many such adversaries are knowledgeable and that constructive dialogue may be more productive than exclusion, based on interviews conducted with anti-Zionist Jews.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, data released under a Freedom of Information request show that more than 50,000 IDF soldiers hold second citizenships. The figures indicate thousands of service members also hold US, French and Russian citizenship, with some listing multiple nationalities, including from Arab states.
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 compre