Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-19 at 13:02
Published 1 week, 3 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
IRGC drills raise Hormuz closure risk
Turkey to Dispatch Troops for Gaza Stabilization
Bennett Refuses to Boycott Right-Wing Partners
The time is now 1:01 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, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says it is prepared to shut the Strait of Hormuz if ordered by the country’s senior leadership, as large-scale drills unfold in the Persian Gulf and routines of 24-hour intelligence coverage over the waterway are emphasized. Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, overseeing the exercises, said the decision to close the strait lies with senior officials and that the IRGC would carry out the order when given. The drills, described by Iranian media as an annual exercise focused on defensive and offensive scenarios around key Iranian-held islands, included what the commander called strong defense and invasion drills and reinforced the islands’ role as impregnable fortresses and national pride, with the Strait of Hormuz highlighted as a strategic focus. The Strait was temporarily closed during the drills. Separately, a report notes that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei participated in Ramadan-era events, wearing a ring inscribed with a Qur’anic verse and reflecting on faith as a shield against external pressure, a motif the piece ties to broader tensions with regional and global actors, including the US Navy. In broader regional analysis, observers describe a rising but informal Sunni convergence aimed at countering Iran, stabilizing energy markets, and projecting Sunni influence, though it is not a formal alliance. Iran has also rejected a comprehensive settlement proposal that would place restrictions on its ballistic-missile program and its network of regional proxy groups, a response reported by The Wall Street Journal. And, in political commentary from abroad, former US president Donald Trump suggested that a determination on war or peace with Iran would become clear in about 10 days.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Turkey announced it will contribute troops to Gaza’s International Stabilization Force, joining Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania, with Indonesia signaling more than 8,000 troops and Kazakhstan pledging medical units; other contributions include training police from Egypt and Jordan, while regional partners and the United States mobilize substantial financial support, including the UAE’s pledge of about $1.2 billion and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait’s pledges of $1 billion each, alongside a $10 billion commitment from the United States. The stabilization effort follows a broader push to stabilize Gaza under international auspices as part of Board of Peace discussions in Washington. In the West Bank, the Israeli military says stability is maintained heading into Ramadan 2026, with a high operational tempo designed to deter and rapidly respond to violence, including a deployment of about 21 battalions backed by commando units and additional companies; planners emphasize shifting quickly from routine activity to targeted raids and arrests to prevent isolated incidents from sparking wider unrest, focusing friction points around major crossings and religiously sensitive sites such as Rachel’s Crossing, Kalandiya, and the area around the Cave of the Patriarchs. In Gaza, a paratrooper was laid to rest after a fatal friendly-fire incident, with commanders and family reflecting on the service and personal impact.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said he would not boycott Itamar Ben-Gvir or Bezalel Smotrich, according to leaked recordings, describing Ben-Gvir as “unserious” and Smotrich as “very combative,” a disclosure fueling speculation about post-election government formations and the potential for pressure on political partners. The recordin
IRGC drills raise Hormuz closure risk
Turkey to Dispatch Troops for Gaza Stabilization
Bennett Refuses to Boycott Right-Wing Partners
The time is now 1:01 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, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says it is prepared to shut the Strait of Hormuz if ordered by the country’s senior leadership, as large-scale drills unfold in the Persian Gulf and routines of 24-hour intelligence coverage over the waterway are emphasized. Rear Adm. Alireza Tangsiri, overseeing the exercises, said the decision to close the strait lies with senior officials and that the IRGC would carry out the order when given. The drills, described by Iranian media as an annual exercise focused on defensive and offensive scenarios around key Iranian-held islands, included what the commander called strong defense and invasion drills and reinforced the islands’ role as impregnable fortresses and national pride, with the Strait of Hormuz highlighted as a strategic focus. The Strait was temporarily closed during the drills. Separately, a report notes that Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei participated in Ramadan-era events, wearing a ring inscribed with a Qur’anic verse and reflecting on faith as a shield against external pressure, a motif the piece ties to broader tensions with regional and global actors, including the US Navy. In broader regional analysis, observers describe a rising but informal Sunni convergence aimed at countering Iran, stabilizing energy markets, and projecting Sunni influence, though it is not a formal alliance. Iran has also rejected a comprehensive settlement proposal that would place restrictions on its ballistic-missile program and its network of regional proxy groups, a response reported by The Wall Street Journal. And, in political commentary from abroad, former US president Donald Trump suggested that a determination on war or peace with Iran would become clear in about 10 days.
In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Turkey announced it will contribute troops to Gaza’s International Stabilization Force, joining Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania, with Indonesia signaling more than 8,000 troops and Kazakhstan pledging medical units; other contributions include training police from Egypt and Jordan, while regional partners and the United States mobilize substantial financial support, including the UAE’s pledge of about $1.2 billion and Saudi Arabia and Kuwait’s pledges of $1 billion each, alongside a $10 billion commitment from the United States. The stabilization effort follows a broader push to stabilize Gaza under international auspices as part of Board of Peace discussions in Washington. In the West Bank, the Israeli military says stability is maintained heading into Ramadan 2026, with a high operational tempo designed to deter and rapidly respond to violence, including a deployment of about 21 battalions backed by commando units and additional companies; planners emphasize shifting quickly from routine activity to targeted raids and arrests to prevent isolated incidents from sparking wider unrest, focusing friction points around major crossings and religiously sensitive sites such as Rachel’s Crossing, Kalandiya, and the area around the Cave of the Patriarchs. In Gaza, a paratrooper was laid to rest after a fatal friendly-fire incident, with commanders and family reflecting on the service and personal impact.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, former prime minister Naftali Bennett said he would not boycott Itamar Ben-Gvir or Bezalel Smotrich, according to leaked recordings, describing Ben-Gvir as “unserious” and Smotrich as “very combative,” a disclosure fueling speculation about post-election government formations and the potential for pressure on political partners. The recordin