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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-21 at 21:02
Published 3 weeks, 5 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
- US Refueling Surveillance Over Hormuz Tensions Rise
- Iran-US Talks Extend Amid Strait Closure
- Israel Destroys Hamas Money Network
The time is now 9:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In US Military Role, US military activity over the Strait of Hormuz continues with at least six US Air Force KC-135 "Stratotankers" and one US Navy P-8A "Poseidon" maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft active at this hour. The presence combines aerial refueling capabilities with maritime surveillance as tensions in the Gulf persist.
In Regional Impacts, Iran-US peace talks in Switzerland stretched into their second day as Tehran again closed the Strait of Hormuz and US President Donald Trump repeated threats to resume attacks on Iran. The talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, aim to extend a 60-day ceasefire term and lay groundwork for a possible nuclear deal, with Vice President JD Vance negotiating on the ground in Buergenstock to press for progress. On the opening day, US and Iranian sources described the talks as moving across formats and leaving some room for trust-building, though Iranian officials reportedly walked out at one point citing threatening statements from Trump. Separately, Axios cited a US diplomat saying the first round focused on elements of a potential nuclear agreement and the enforcement of a Lebanon ceasefire, with mediators continuing to shuttle messages as the day progressed. Shipping data indicated traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed after Iran announced a renewed closure, with just five vessels passing on Sunday compared with far more the day before, though the US military said commercial vessels were still operating. VP Vance voiced optimism, saying there has been great progress in ensuring the Lebanon ceasefire holds and that the president is committed to a full regional ceasefire.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the IDF will not withdraw from Lebanon or make concessions, with forces deployed along the Blue Line to protect northern communities. In a separate development, Israeli forces announced the elimination of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives who facilitated a transfer of more than 500 million NIS ($169 million) to Hamas’s military wing, a strike that targeted a network of couriers and money exchangers operating in Turkey and the Gaza Strip. President Trump urged Iran to stop its proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble, warning that stronger action would follow if Tehran does not comply. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visiting southern Lebanon, said Hezbollah is in a "very difficult situation" after the elimination of several mid-level commanders, while warning that the ceasefire remains fragile and the IDF must be ready for a rapid transition to offensive action if required; he stressed that Israel’s mission in southern Lebanon remains clear and unchanged.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, US Envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Israel and the UAE worked together militarily to defend each other against Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham asserted that if a nuclear deal fails, President Trump may take the Strait of Hormuz by force and, if Iran contests control, the United States would obliterate them, even as he warned about financing a future operation. VP Vance, speaking in Switzerland, credited POTUS leadership and expressed a vision of a Middle East that will look different a decade from now. And on a separate exchange, President Trump told Trey Yingst in a call that the United States may take over the Strait of Hormuz in the future if necessary, noting plans that could involve taking a portion of the oil that passes through the strait and emphasizing that Washington holds a suite of options if Iran does not commit to serious terms at the n
- US Refueling Surveillance Over Hormuz Tensions Rise
- Iran-US Talks Extend Amid Strait Closure
- Israel Destroys Hamas Money Network
The time is now 9:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In US Military Role, US military activity over the Strait of Hormuz continues with at least six US Air Force KC-135 "Stratotankers" and one US Navy P-8A "Poseidon" maritime intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance aircraft active at this hour. The presence combines aerial refueling capabilities with maritime surveillance as tensions in the Gulf persist.
In Regional Impacts, Iran-US peace talks in Switzerland stretched into their second day as Tehran again closed the Strait of Hormuz and US President Donald Trump repeated threats to resume attacks on Iran. The talks, mediated by Qatar and Pakistan, aim to extend a 60-day ceasefire term and lay groundwork for a possible nuclear deal, with Vice President JD Vance negotiating on the ground in Buergenstock to press for progress. On the opening day, US and Iranian sources described the talks as moving across formats and leaving some room for trust-building, though Iranian officials reportedly walked out at one point citing threatening statements from Trump. Separately, Axios cited a US diplomat saying the first round focused on elements of a potential nuclear agreement and the enforcement of a Lebanon ceasefire, with mediators continuing to shuttle messages as the day progressed. Shipping data indicated traffic through the Strait of Hormuz slowed after Iran announced a renewed closure, with just five vessels passing on Sunday compared with far more the day before, though the US military said commercial vessels were still operating. VP Vance voiced optimism, saying there has been great progress in ensuring the Lebanon ceasefire holds and that the president is committed to a full regional ceasefire.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the IDF will not withdraw from Lebanon or make concessions, with forces deployed along the Blue Line to protect northern communities. In a separate development, Israeli forces announced the elimination of Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad operatives who facilitated a transfer of more than 500 million NIS ($169 million) to Hamas’s military wing, a strike that targeted a network of couriers and money exchangers operating in Turkey and the Gaza Strip. President Trump urged Iran to stop its proxies in Lebanon from causing trouble, warning that stronger action would follow if Tehran does not comply. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamir, visiting southern Lebanon, said Hezbollah is in a "very difficult situation" after the elimination of several mid-level commanders, while warning that the ceasefire remains fragile and the IDF must be ready for a rapid transition to offensive action if required; he stressed that Israel’s mission in southern Lebanon remains clear and unchanged.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, US Envoy to the United Nations Mike Waltz said Israel and the UAE worked together militarily to defend each other against Iran. Senator Lindsey Graham asserted that if a nuclear deal fails, President Trump may take the Strait of Hormuz by force and, if Iran contests control, the United States would obliterate them, even as he warned about financing a future operation. VP Vance, speaking in Switzerland, credited POTUS leadership and expressed a vision of a Middle East that will look different a decade from now. And on a separate exchange, President Trump told Trey Yingst in a call that the United States may take over the Strait of Hormuz in the future if necessary, noting plans that could involve taking a portion of the oil that passes through the strait and emphasizing that Washington holds a suite of options if Iran does not commit to serious terms at the n