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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-16 at 04:02
Published 1 month ago
Description
HEADLINES
Israel halts planned Iran strike amid pressure
Dermer says Iran weakened since Oct 7
CIA warns Iran unlikely to honor deal
The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Operation Lion's Roar, Israeli Air Force chief Major General Omer Tischler confirmed that a planned large-scale strike on Iran was canceled one hour before departure, even as the air force had previously hit several Iranian targets in response to Iranian missile fire at Israel. He noted that in parallel with the defensive fight, the air force conducted an offensive about 1,500 kilometers from home, striking dozens of targets in Iran and significantly damaging the Iranian air defense system and other regime components. The proposed broad sortie, which would have targeted hundreds of sites inside Iran, did not go forward, and the strike was halted during briefing. The cancellation was reportedly ordered after the United States pressed Israel not to escalate the fighting, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tied to the decision.
In Iran weakened, Hezbollah shattered since Oct. 7, former strategic affairs minister Dermer asserts, former strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer told an audience that Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas have been significantly weakened since October 7 and that Israel should take a step back to reassess the strategic picture. He recalled that two and a half years ago Iran posed an existential threat, but three years later Iran’s nuclear capability has been destroyed. He cited Iran’s remaining leverage as its enriched material located in two deeply buried sites, while its ballistic capabilities have been set back by years. Dermer argued that current discussions should not be described as a nuclear deal but rather as an effort to ease international economic pressure, and, in his view, to address broader regional concerns, while tensions with Iran continue to be managed.
In American Jewish leaders across political spectrum express alarm at Trump’s Iran deal, American Jewish groups across the right and left are united in concern over the deal announced with Iran, even as its terms remain unclear. The piece notes that the 2018 agreement with Iran divided opinion, but this time around the groups express a more unified sense of worry. President Trump has suggested the deal reopens the Strait of Hormuz, and Vice President JD Vance told ABC that the deal would include substantial sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to curb its nuclear weapons program. It remains unclear what concessions Iran has made on its nuclear program, and there are no clear indications about Tehran’s ballistic missile program or its regional proxies.
In CIA director warned Trump Iran unlikely to adhere to nuclear deal – report, the report cites that CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly warned President Trump and other senior officials that US intelligence questions whether Iran will honor the nuclear concessions sought in a final agreement. Axios, citing three sources, said Ratcliffe’s warning came as the administration defended a memorandum of understanding intended to extend a ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and begin 60 days of negotiations toward a broader nuclear agreement. The internal debate included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raising questions, while Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner argued in favor. The discussions occurred ahead of Sunday’s announcement of the framework.
In Bennett launches critique against Netanyahu, claims he is the 'only one' who can defeat him, former prime minister Naftali Bennett sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview on Kan News, saying the current government is no longer capable of advancing Israel and that Netanyahu’s approach has compromised Israel’s standing on the w
Israel halts planned Iran strike amid pressure
Dermer says Iran weakened since Oct 7
CIA warns Iran unlikely to honor deal
The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Operation Lion's Roar, Israeli Air Force chief Major General Omer Tischler confirmed that a planned large-scale strike on Iran was canceled one hour before departure, even as the air force had previously hit several Iranian targets in response to Iranian missile fire at Israel. He noted that in parallel with the defensive fight, the air force conducted an offensive about 1,500 kilometers from home, striking dozens of targets in Iran and significantly damaging the Iranian air defense system and other regime components. The proposed broad sortie, which would have targeted hundreds of sites inside Iran, did not go forward, and the strike was halted during briefing. The cancellation was reportedly ordered after the United States pressed Israel not to escalate the fighting, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu tied to the decision.
In Iran weakened, Hezbollah shattered since Oct. 7, former strategic affairs minister Dermer asserts, former strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer told an audience that Iran, Hezbollah, and Hamas have been significantly weakened since October 7 and that Israel should take a step back to reassess the strategic picture. He recalled that two and a half years ago Iran posed an existential threat, but three years later Iran’s nuclear capability has been destroyed. He cited Iran’s remaining leverage as its enriched material located in two deeply buried sites, while its ballistic capabilities have been set back by years. Dermer argued that current discussions should not be described as a nuclear deal but rather as an effort to ease international economic pressure, and, in his view, to address broader regional concerns, while tensions with Iran continue to be managed.
In American Jewish leaders across political spectrum express alarm at Trump’s Iran deal, American Jewish groups across the right and left are united in concern over the deal announced with Iran, even as its terms remain unclear. The piece notes that the 2018 agreement with Iran divided opinion, but this time around the groups express a more unified sense of worry. President Trump has suggested the deal reopens the Strait of Hormuz, and Vice President JD Vance told ABC that the deal would include substantial sanctions relief in exchange for Iran agreeing to curb its nuclear weapons program. It remains unclear what concessions Iran has made on its nuclear program, and there are no clear indications about Tehran’s ballistic missile program or its regional proxies.
In CIA director warned Trump Iran unlikely to adhere to nuclear deal – report, the report cites that CIA Director John Ratcliffe reportedly warned President Trump and other senior officials that US intelligence questions whether Iran will honor the nuclear concessions sought in a final agreement. Axios, citing three sources, said Ratcliffe’s warning came as the administration defended a memorandum of understanding intended to extend a ceasefire, reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and begin 60 days of negotiations toward a broader nuclear agreement. The internal debate included Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth raising questions, while Vice President JD Vance and envoys Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner argued in favor. The discussions occurred ahead of Sunday’s announcement of the framework.
In Bennett launches critique against Netanyahu, claims he is the 'only one' who can defeat him, former prime minister Naftali Bennett sharply criticized Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu during an interview on Kan News, saying the current government is no longer capable of advancing Israel and that Netanyahu’s approach has compromised Israel’s standing on the w