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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 06:01
Published 3 days, 16 hours ago
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HEADLINES
Iran US clash widens; Hormuz closed again
Hamas doc hints Israel may use nukes
Israel heads to elections as Knesset dissolves
The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Regional Impacts, renewed US-Iran fighting drew Jordan and Bahrain deeper into the regional fallout over the weekend, as Iran launched another wave of missiles and drones toward US military facilities and countries hosting American forces following large-scale US strikes inside Iran. The latest escalation marked a significant expansion of the fighting that resumed on July 8 and 9, further undermining the memorandum of understanding Washington and Tehran signed on June 17. Iran again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, while the United States said commercial traffic continued and carried out strikes against Iranian missile sites, naval assets, communications infrastructure, and other military targets. Iranian attacks and alerts were reported across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Tehran said it was striking US military infrastructure, although many of its claims about specific targets and damage could not be independently confirmed. The renewed confrontation followed an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container vessel in the Strait of Hormuz; the ship was seriously damaged. Separately, for the first time since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, a Turkish warship anchored off Latakia, marking a notable naval development in the region.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas documents reveal that Yahya Sinwar believed Israel might respond to the October 7 invasion with nuclear weapons against Gaza. A hand-written document dated August 24, 2022, was disclosed as part of ongoing releases of Hamas materials captured by the IDF. The document notes a six-to-ten hour window for achieving a surprise effect and warns that Israel would mount a powerful response, not ruling out the possibility of nuclear weapons. It includes the line that the enemy “will not hesitate to use all the means and weapons at its disposal.”
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Shin Bet has been directed to investigate the alleged leak of the start date of Operation Roaring Lion to an unnamed media outlet, following a recommendation from security officials and a cabinet discussion led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shin Bet’s chief indicated the inquiry could proceed but identified challenges in tracing the leaker given how many people were privy to the secret, and officials said there is no need to obtain the attorney-general’s approval since the investigation targets defense establishment personnel rather than journalists. Netanyahu later directed the agency to proceed and to report findings.
Election season in Israel has officially begun, with the 25th Knesset set to dissolve on Friday, ending its four-year term. The government will continue to operate until a new administration is formed. July 19 marks 100 days before the election and is the last day for senior civil servants to resign if they plan to run for the 26th Knesset. Civil servants are restricted from running for the Knesset while in government service, and parties are moving toward primaries ahead of the general election. Among the political landscape, three prominent Israeli parties have confirmed they will hold primaries in advance of the vote.
Almost half of Israelis, 46 percent, and half of Jews, 50 percent, favor imposing more pressure to enlist Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men into the IDF, according to a July poll by the Jewish People Policy Institute. About 31 percent support conscription only with the agreement of Haredi leadership, and 11 percent believe the effort should stop. Public opinion shows a sharp ideological split on the issue: right-wing respondents favor a compromise, while center-left and left groups
Iran US clash widens; Hormuz closed again
Hamas doc hints Israel may use nukes
Israel heads to elections as Knesset dissolves
The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Regional Impacts, renewed US-Iran fighting drew Jordan and Bahrain deeper into the regional fallout over the weekend, as Iran launched another wave of missiles and drones toward US military facilities and countries hosting American forces following large-scale US strikes inside Iran. The latest escalation marked a significant expansion of the fighting that resumed on July 8 and 9, further undermining the memorandum of understanding Washington and Tehran signed on June 17. Iran again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, while the United States said commercial traffic continued and carried out strikes against Iranian missile sites, naval assets, communications infrastructure, and other military targets. Iranian attacks and alerts were reported across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Tehran said it was striking US military infrastructure, although many of its claims about specific targets and damage could not be independently confirmed. The renewed confrontation followed an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container vessel in the Strait of Hormuz; the ship was seriously damaged. Separately, for the first time since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, a Turkish warship anchored off Latakia, marking a notable naval development in the region.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas documents reveal that Yahya Sinwar believed Israel might respond to the October 7 invasion with nuclear weapons against Gaza. A hand-written document dated August 24, 2022, was disclosed as part of ongoing releases of Hamas materials captured by the IDF. The document notes a six-to-ten hour window for achieving a surprise effect and warns that Israel would mount a powerful response, not ruling out the possibility of nuclear weapons. It includes the line that the enemy “will not hesitate to use all the means and weapons at its disposal.”
In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Shin Bet has been directed to investigate the alleged leak of the start date of Operation Roaring Lion to an unnamed media outlet, following a recommendation from security officials and a cabinet discussion led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shin Bet’s chief indicated the inquiry could proceed but identified challenges in tracing the leaker given how many people were privy to the secret, and officials said there is no need to obtain the attorney-general’s approval since the investigation targets defense establishment personnel rather than journalists. Netanyahu later directed the agency to proceed and to report findings.
Election season in Israel has officially begun, with the 25th Knesset set to dissolve on Friday, ending its four-year term. The government will continue to operate until a new administration is formed. July 19 marks 100 days before the election and is the last day for senior civil servants to resign if they plan to run for the 26th Knesset. Civil servants are restricted from running for the Knesset while in government service, and parties are moving toward primaries ahead of the general election. Among the political landscape, three prominent Israeli parties have confirmed they will hold primaries in advance of the vote.
Almost half of Israelis, 46 percent, and half of Jews, 50 percent, favor imposing more pressure to enlist Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men into the IDF, according to a July poll by the Jewish People Policy Institute. About 31 percent support conscription only with the agreement of Haredi leadership, and 11 percent believe the effort should stop. Public opinion shows a sharp ideological split on the issue: right-wing respondents favor a compromise, while center-left and left groups