Episode Details

HEADLINES
Israel executes Caspian airstrike sinks six ships
US weighs bold Kharg Island invasion
Iran scales back strikes Saudi allows bases

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 Operation Lion's Roar, a small Israeli Navy intelligence team tracked Iranian vessels across the Caspian Sea, enabling a rare airstrike that destroyed six ships, a naval command center and a maintenance facility in a region where Israel had never operated.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Iranian state media shows a sticker affixed to a missile set to be launched at Israel, featuring Pedro Sánchez, the Spanish prime minister, with a quote about the war against Iran: not only illegal but also inhumane.

In US Military Role, senior American officials say the United States may have to launch a ground operation to seize Iran’s Kharg Island, the primary oil export terminal for the Islamic Republic, in the Northern Persian Gulf, where about 90 percent of its crude shipments go to China. The deployment includes the USS Boxer Amphibious Readiness Group, centered on the amphibious assault ship USS Boxer, alongside the amphibious transport docks USS Portland and USS Comstock, carrying about 4,500 Marines and additional combat personnel. The deployment follows a strike on Kharg Island about a week and a half earlier. Republican Sen. Lindsey Graham, speaking on Fox News, urged a ground invasion of Kharg Island, saying, "We've got two Marine Expeditionary Units sailing to this island. We did Iwo Jima. We can do this. The Marines, my money is always on the Marines." Separately, senior American officials told counterparts that the United States will be forced to launch a ground operation to capture Iran’s Kharg Island, the primary oil export terminal for the Islamic Republic, in the Northern Persian Gulf, according to two sources familiar with the details.

In Regional Impacts, Iran scales back strikes on Saudi Arabia amid escalation concerns, with Saudi policy shifting to allow the US military to use bases in the kingdom for operations against Iran. Planes are landing and taking off within five minutes of missile alerts in Dubai, United Arab Emirates, a development highlighted by a Wall Street Journal report as the conflict raises fears for civilian aviation near a war zone. The report notes that, since the start of the war, tens of thousands of flights have continued into the region, underscoring the ongoing risk to air travel. Iran’s Foreign Ministry also stated that ships belonging to hostile or attacking Iran cannot pass through the Hormuz Strait, while ships belonging to other states can pass through in coordination with Iran.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, 'Obsessed with Jews': Sa’ar slams German amb. for equating Iran strikes to settler violence, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar criticized German Ambassador Steffen Seibert after a post linked Hezbollah and Iranian attacks with violence by Israeli settlers. Sa’ar wrote that the ambassador's comments reveal an obsession with Jews living in Judea and Samaria that prevents condemnation of attacks against Israelis.

In Uplifting News, Israeli twins undergo circumcision in a bomb shelter, with neighbors joining the event after the couple alerted residents via a building group chat.

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.

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