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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-18 at 16:02
Published 1 week, 4 days ago
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HEADLINES
Iran warns rocket launches, drills with Russia
US to withdraw troops from Syria
Rabbis urge Netanyahu block women armored units
The time is now 4:02 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, Iran issued on Wednesday a notice to airmen that it plans rocket launches in areas across its south on Thursday from 3:30 GMT to 13:30 GMT. The notice appeared on the US Federal Aviation Administration website, and comes as Iran held naval drills this week in the Strait of Hormuz and plans to hold a joint naval exercise with Russia on Thursday. The move comes amid heightened tensions with the United States, which has deployed warships near Iran, as Washington weighs whether to continue diplomatic engagement with Tehran or pursue other options. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy is the president’s first option, stressing that its pursuit remains a priority. Airspace users were reminded that the airspace notices provide critical safety information. Some reports cited by media have suggested a US attack on Iran could occur eventually, though no timeline is given, and there is noted concern in some quarters about possible escalation. Iran has also urged Hezbollah to enter any potential war, and Israeli officials have warned that intervention by Hezbollah would be very painful, while also preparing for possible involvement by Houthis and other Iranian proxies.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, The Jerusalem Post reports that the United States is likely to attack Iran eventually but not necessarily in the coming days, and that Israel’s impression is that President Trump has not yet decided on his final course of action. A White House spokesperson said there are many reasons to strike Iran, while signaling that diplomacy remains a primary option for the United States. The United States military has moved more than fifty fighter jets toward the Middle East in a rapid buildup, and analysts cited by Axios suggest a campaign could begin very soon, though others warn that such steps could still be distant. Axios also reported that the United States is closer to military conflict with Iran than many Americans realize, a view echoed by former Israeli intelligence officials who cautioned travelers about the risk. Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is in the process of withdrawing all roughly one thousand troops from Syria, with remaining locations set to be cleared over the next two months. In familiar statements, the White House underscored that diplomacy is the preferred path, and senior officials emphasized that Tehran would be wise to reach an agreement to avoid conflict. Some political commentary highlighted disagreements with Saudi partners and debates over regional alignments, while Israel’s prime minister publicly stated that Israel will not fund Trump’s board of peace.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, An Australian man who called Jews “the greatest enemy” of Australia during an Australia Day march has been jailed for one year after being charged with publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race. Brandon Koschel, 31, gave a speech in Sydney in which he attacked Jewish influence and criticized politicians who supported anti-immigration policies, prompting magistrate Sharon Freund to rule the remarks clearly antisemitic and to impose the sentence.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Rabbis are urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to block an Israeli plan to place women in armored combat units, arguing the direction conflicts with Jewish law and operational judgment. Separately, Netanyahu decided that Israel will not be among the countries allocating funding for the construction of Trump’s board of peace.
In Uplifting News, crowd support helped Israeli figure skater Mariia Seniuk advance to the Olympic final. The
Iran warns rocket launches, drills with Russia
US to withdraw troops from Syria
Rabbis urge Netanyahu block women armored units
The time is now 4:02 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, Iran issued on Wednesday a notice to airmen that it plans rocket launches in areas across its south on Thursday from 3:30 GMT to 13:30 GMT. The notice appeared on the US Federal Aviation Administration website, and comes as Iran held naval drills this week in the Strait of Hormuz and plans to hold a joint naval exercise with Russia on Thursday. The move comes amid heightened tensions with the United States, which has deployed warships near Iran, as Washington weighs whether to continue diplomatic engagement with Tehran or pursue other options. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said diplomacy is the president’s first option, stressing that its pursuit remains a priority. Airspace users were reminded that the airspace notices provide critical safety information. Some reports cited by media have suggested a US attack on Iran could occur eventually, though no timeline is given, and there is noted concern in some quarters about possible escalation. Iran has also urged Hezbollah to enter any potential war, and Israeli officials have warned that intervention by Hezbollah would be very painful, while also preparing for possible involvement by Houthis and other Iranian proxies.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, The Jerusalem Post reports that the United States is likely to attack Iran eventually but not necessarily in the coming days, and that Israel’s impression is that President Trump has not yet decided on his final course of action. A White House spokesperson said there are many reasons to strike Iran, while signaling that diplomacy remains a primary option for the United States. The United States military has moved more than fifty fighter jets toward the Middle East in a rapid buildup, and analysts cited by Axios suggest a campaign could begin very soon, though others warn that such steps could still be distant. Axios also reported that the United States is closer to military conflict with Iran than many Americans realize, a view echoed by former Israeli intelligence officials who cautioned travelers about the risk. Separately, the Wall Street Journal reported that the United States is in the process of withdrawing all roughly one thousand troops from Syria, with remaining locations set to be cleared over the next two months. In familiar statements, the White House underscored that diplomacy is the preferred path, and senior officials emphasized that Tehran would be wise to reach an agreement to avoid conflict. Some political commentary highlighted disagreements with Saudi partners and debates over regional alignments, while Israel’s prime minister publicly stated that Israel will not fund Trump’s board of peace.
In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, An Australian man who called Jews “the greatest enemy” of Australia during an Australia Day march has been jailed for one year after being charged with publicly inciting hatred on the grounds of race. Brandon Koschel, 31, gave a speech in Sydney in which he attacked Jewish influence and criticized politicians who supported anti-immigration policies, prompting magistrate Sharon Freund to rule the remarks clearly antisemitic and to impose the sentence.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Rabbis are urging Prime Minister Netanyahu to block an Israeli plan to place women in armored combat units, arguing the direction conflicts with Jewish law and operational judgment. Separately, Netanyahu decided that Israel will not be among the countries allocating funding for the construction of Trump’s board of peace.
In Uplifting News, crowd support helped Israeli figure skater Mariia Seniuk advance to the Olympic final. The