Episode Details
Back to Episodes
Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-23 at 16:02
Published 3 weeks, 4 days ago
Description
HEADLINES
- Drone Fiber-Optic Nest Emerges in Donbas
- Israel Kills Hezbollah Operatives Near Ridge
- Likud Primaries Draw 150000 Members
The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Regional Impacts, a bird’s nest found in Ukraine’s Donbas region is partly woven from discarded fiber-optic cables used by combat drones, illustrating wildlife adapting to debris from drone warfare that has become central to reconnaissance and attacks. The nest reportedly fell from a tree toppled by a Russian glide bomb, and the discovery is attributed to Olena Tregub with documentation by researcher and serviceman Oleh Malchenko. The thin strands of optical fiber in the nest reflect how such materials are scattered in conflict zones where first-person-view drones operate. The report also notes that in a broader regional context, Hezbollah has launched dozens of unjammable fiber-optic drones toward Israeli territory for months; while Israel’s Defense Ministry says it has seen progress countering this threat, officials acknowledge a more effective solution is still sought.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces say they killed armed Hezbollah operatives in two separate incidents near the Ali Taher Ridge at the edge of Israel’s security zone; local Lebanese media reported casualties in one case. The military said warning shots were fired before direct fire was opened as fighters approached, and in the second incident four fighters on a bulldozer and a motorcycle were identified as a threat and targeted. The fighting comes as Jerusalem and Beirut began talks in Washington on a wide range of issues, with a ceasefire holding overall. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett warned that Israel-US ties are in a precarious period and urged Israel to rebuild its image in America, arguing that policy cannot rest on the support of a single president and that “Brand Israel” is viewed negatively by many Americans for the first time in decades. He emphasized that Washington’s shifting politics require a diversified approach. Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s missile program is not part of any memorandum of understanding with the United States and “will never be,” insisting regional peace can only be achieved through honest discussion and intraregional cooperation. Earlier reporting noted that Tehran would decide how to use assets unfrozen under a US deal, with roughly $12 billion expected to be released; Washington and Doha have been described as having influence over funds once unfrozen, though Tehran maintains final say. The discussions come as regional actors weigh the implications of sanctions relief and leverage over future security arrangements.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that US policymakers have faced a cascade of failed promises regarding Iran and that the memorandum of understanding codifying those efforts does not represent victory but a continuation of strategic missteps. The author, who worked in the Clinton White House communications shop, recalls selling the Iran deal and contends JCPOA offered a path forward that avoids the calamities of force, a path the writer believes was neglected in later debates. The piece emphasizes that the United States should not anchor its long-term strategy to the position of a single president and that a durable approach requires broader, steadier diplomacy even as political winds shift.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Likud will hold democratic primaries in which around 150,000 party members will choose the Knesset slate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s voice to be heard in the process. Regev said there will be no selection committee, and that reserved spots will be determined through joint discussion, noting Netanyahu’s role in delivering votes while underscoring th
- Drone Fiber-Optic Nest Emerges in Donbas
- Israel Kills Hezbollah Operatives Near Ridge
- Likud Primaries Draw 150000 Members
The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Regional Impacts, a bird’s nest found in Ukraine’s Donbas region is partly woven from discarded fiber-optic cables used by combat drones, illustrating wildlife adapting to debris from drone warfare that has become central to reconnaissance and attacks. The nest reportedly fell from a tree toppled by a Russian glide bomb, and the discovery is attributed to Olena Tregub with documentation by researcher and serviceman Oleh Malchenko. The thin strands of optical fiber in the nest reflect how such materials are scattered in conflict zones where first-person-view drones operate. The report also notes that in a broader regional context, Hezbollah has launched dozens of unjammable fiber-optic drones toward Israeli territory for months; while Israel’s Defense Ministry says it has seen progress countering this threat, officials acknowledge a more effective solution is still sought.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces say they killed armed Hezbollah operatives in two separate incidents near the Ali Taher Ridge at the edge of Israel’s security zone; local Lebanese media reported casualties in one case. The military said warning shots were fired before direct fire was opened as fighters approached, and in the second incident four fighters on a bulldozer and a motorcycle were identified as a threat and targeted. The fighting comes as Jerusalem and Beirut began talks in Washington on a wide range of issues, with a ceasefire holding overall. Former prime minister Naftali Bennett warned that Israel-US ties are in a precarious period and urged Israel to rebuild its image in America, arguing that policy cannot rest on the support of a single president and that “Brand Israel” is viewed negatively by many Americans for the first time in decades. He emphasized that Washington’s shifting politics require a diversified approach. Iran’s president Masoud Pezeshkian said Iran’s missile program is not part of any memorandum of understanding with the United States and “will never be,” insisting regional peace can only be achieved through honest discussion and intraregional cooperation. Earlier reporting noted that Tehran would decide how to use assets unfrozen under a US deal, with roughly $12 billion expected to be released; Washington and Doha have been described as having influence over funds once unfrozen, though Tehran maintains final say. The discussions come as regional actors weigh the implications of sanctions relief and leverage over future security arrangements.
In the US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that US policymakers have faced a cascade of failed promises regarding Iran and that the memorandum of understanding codifying those efforts does not represent victory but a continuation of strategic missteps. The author, who worked in the Clinton White House communications shop, recalls selling the Iran deal and contends JCPOA offered a path forward that avoids the calamities of force, a path the writer believes was neglected in later debates. The piece emphasizes that the United States should not anchor its long-term strategy to the position of a single president and that a durable approach requires broader, steadier diplomacy even as political winds shift.
In Israeli Domestic Politics, Transportation Minister Miri Regev said Likud will hold democratic primaries in which around 150,000 party members will choose the Knesset slate, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s voice to be heard in the process. Regev said there will be no selection committee, and that reserved spots will be determined through joint discussion, noting Netanyahu’s role in delivering votes while underscoring th