Episode Details

HEADLINES
- Israel strikes Hezbollah command center in Baalbek
- Silicon Valley engineers indicted over Iran secrets
- Pentagon withdraws troops as Iran options loom

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, the Israeli military says it struck a Hezbollah command center in Baalbek, Lebanon, on Friday, killing three Hezbollah commanders identified as Ali Zeid al-Moussawi, Muhammad Ibrahim al-Moussawi, and Hussein Yaghi. The strike was described as targeting a commanders’ meeting and comes amid initial reports that an Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commander may have been targeted, though verification of those claims remains uncertain. Reuters reported at least 10 people killed and 50 wounded, with one Hezbollah official among the dead. The IDF characterized the operation as targeting a command center embedded within civilian infrastructure in violation of ceasefire understandings and as exploiting civilians as human shields to advance terror attacks. The report also notes that the military struck a Hamas command center in southern Lebanon in the same operation. In a separate security development, federal authorities announced the arrest of three Silicon Valley engineers — Samaneh Ghandali, Sorour Ghandali, and Mohammad Javad Khosravi — on charges of conspiring to steal trade secrets from Google and other tech companies and to transfer them to Iran and other foreign entities. The indictment alleges the group copied documents related to processor security and cryptography and moved files to personal locations and third parties, including Iran, while taking steps to conceal their actions, such as destroying records and photographing screens. OSINT imagery circulating online purportedly shows a significant US air presence at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia, including six E-3 AWACS aircraft, about 20–21 aerial refueling aircraft (a mix of KC-135 and KC-46), three E-11 aircraft, and transport planes, with the arrangement aligning with expectations of enhanced air support amid tensions with Iran; the timing of the photos could not be independently verified. A report citing the New York Times says the Pentagon has withdrawn hundreds of American troops from Al-Udeid base in Qatar and from bases in Bahrain, including the Fifth Fleet base, as part of defensive steps against possible Iranian retaliation. Separately, officials say the Pentagon is preparing for a prolonged Iran-related conflict, weighing options from targeted killings to regime change, while some US officials warn that mixed signals from Washington could provoke a harsh retaliation.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, after a photo showing a Haredi man with a weapon in Beit Shemesh circulated, a neighbor says the man’s home address was spread by a group of Haredim and that daily many residents spit on his door and shout: "There is no place for soldiers who are infidels among the believers."

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-887372
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-887370
https://t.me/newssil/192211
https://t.me/newssil/192210
https://t.me/newssil/192209

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