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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 09:02
Published 3 days, 13 hours ago
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HEADLINES
Ahmadinejad under house arrest, Israel recruited him
US strikes Iran; Hormuz tensions spike
UK bans IRGC, tightens state terrorism powers
The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence arm after Iranian authorities uncovered a significant portion of his contacts with Israel, The New York Times reported, citing four senior Iranian officials. The report describes a covert operation by Israel aimed at recruiting Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and, at a later stage, even planning to install him as Iran’s leader following the regime’s overthrow. It notes that in early 2024 a senior Hungarian official asked the rector of a Budapest university to invite Ahmadinejad to a conference on climate change, which the rector said was intended as cover for secret talks between Ahmadinejad and Israeli intelligence officials. He agreed, believing that if two enemies talked, it could yield advantages for both sides.
In US Military Role, explosions were heard around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Mehr News Agency reported on Monday afternoon, citing local sources. The report suggested the blasts could be the result of clashes in the strait. Earlier in the day, the US military announced that American forces had completed a wave of strikes against Iran in the early hours, part of an effort to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The US statement said dozens of targets across multiple cities were hit, including air-defense systems, radar sites, small boats and missile and drone capabilities. In response, Iran reportedly launched attacks against US military infrastructure in the region, triggering sirens in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.
In Regional Impacts, President Donald Trump said the United States will probably take over the Strait of Hormuz and should be reimbursed for guarding the waterway, telling Fox News that “we’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it. We’ll become the guardian of the strait.” He argued the United States should be compensated for protecting the passage, noting that energy markets have felt the impact of Iran’s actions and related disruptions. Tehran has said that passage remains suspended after an incident involving an unauthorized transit, with permits to be issued once stability is restored. The broader picture is a gulf region on edge, as Gulf states remain on alert for further Iranian actions and the conflict continues to affect regional stability.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, Senator Lindsey Graham’s death leaves a void in US support for Israel and Ukraine, removing a longtime advocate of strong security ties and a frequent traveler to allied capitals. In Kyiv two days before his passing, Graham discussed Russian sanctions, Ukraine’s air-defense needs, and the future of American backing for these priorities. His absence removes one of the Senate’s most visible voices in favor of robust US military commitments to Israel and Ukraine and sustained pressure on Iran, shaping how policy may be debated in the months ahead.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Saudi Arabia struck the runway at the Houthi-controlled Sana’a International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, Yemeni media reported, as the Yemeni Defense Ministry warned that its patience had run out and vowed to respond to any Iranian and Houthi violations of Yemen’s airspace. Residents in Sana’a reported airstrikes near the airport as warplanes flew over the city, and the Yemeni Information Minister said the Houthis had detained an International Committee of the Red Cross aircraft, holding its pilot and co-pilot at Sana’a air
Ahmadinejad under house arrest, Israel recruited him
US strikes Iran; Hormuz tensions spike
UK bans IRGC, tightens state terrorism powers
The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.
In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence arm after Iranian authorities uncovered a significant portion of his contacts with Israel, The New York Times reported, citing four senior Iranian officials. The report describes a covert operation by Israel aimed at recruiting Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and, at a later stage, even planning to install him as Iran’s leader following the regime’s overthrow. It notes that in early 2024 a senior Hungarian official asked the rector of a Budapest university to invite Ahmadinejad to a conference on climate change, which the rector said was intended as cover for secret talks between Ahmadinejad and Israeli intelligence officials. He agreed, believing that if two enemies talked, it could yield advantages for both sides.
In US Military Role, explosions were heard around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Mehr News Agency reported on Monday afternoon, citing local sources. The report suggested the blasts could be the result of clashes in the strait. Earlier in the day, the US military announced that American forces had completed a wave of strikes against Iran in the early hours, part of an effort to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The US statement said dozens of targets across multiple cities were hit, including air-defense systems, radar sites, small boats and missile and drone capabilities. In response, Iran reportedly launched attacks against US military infrastructure in the region, triggering sirens in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.
In Regional Impacts, President Donald Trump said the United States will probably take over the Strait of Hormuz and should be reimbursed for guarding the waterway, telling Fox News that “we’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it. We’ll become the guardian of the strait.” He argued the United States should be compensated for protecting the passage, noting that energy markets have felt the impact of Iran’s actions and related disruptions. Tehran has said that passage remains suspended after an incident involving an unauthorized transit, with permits to be issued once stability is restored. The broader picture is a gulf region on edge, as Gulf states remain on alert for further Iranian actions and the conflict continues to affect regional stability.
In US Policy Concerning Israel, Senator Lindsey Graham’s death leaves a void in US support for Israel and Ukraine, removing a longtime advocate of strong security ties and a frequent traveler to allied capitals. In Kyiv two days before his passing, Graham discussed Russian sanctions, Ukraine’s air-defense needs, and the future of American backing for these priorities. His absence removes one of the Senate’s most visible voices in favor of robust US military commitments to Israel and Ukraine and sustained pressure on Iran, shaping how policy may be debated in the months ahead.
In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Saudi Arabia struck the runway at the Houthi-controlled Sana’a International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, Yemeni media reported, as the Yemeni Defense Ministry warned that its patience had run out and vowed to respond to any Iranian and Houthi violations of Yemen’s airspace. Residents in Sana’a reported airstrikes near the airport as warplanes flew over the city, and the Yemeni Information Minister said the Houthis had detained an International Committee of the Red Cross aircraft, holding its pilot and co-pilot at Sana’a air