Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-13 at 01:01

HEADLINES
US downs Iranian drones in Hormuz Strait
Haredi draft dodgers rally hundreds after arrest
Preserved Bronze Age jars found in Shiloh

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the United States military shot down several Iranian suicide drones in the Strait of Hormuz, CENTCOM announced in a post on X on Saturday. The drones were an attempt by the regime to target commercial vessels transiting the strait, CENTCOM said. CENTCOM added that traffic flow through the Hormuz continues unimpeded and that the critical waterway remains open for transit. On Thursday, Iranian media reported Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps had fired drones at Kuwait's Ali Al Salem Air Base in retaliation for US strikes on Iranian military assets on Tuesday. Additional Iranian strikes were reported in Jordan, with the IRGC claiming to have fired four missiles at the US al-Azraq base, claiming the base housed F-35 fighter jet hangars and a command-and-control center. In addition, alert sirens sounded in Bahrain on Wednesday, according to the country's Interior Ministry. The IRGC warned on Thursday that they were prepared to deliver a "crushing and decisive" response to any additional US strike. President Donald Trump warned Iran on Friday against firing more drones at ships attempting to transit the strait, saying Tehran "better get their act together."

In Israeli Domestic Politics, two 25-year-old haredi draft dodgers were arrested overnight between Thursday and Friday and turned to the ultra-Orthodox community for support, Israeli media reported on Friday. The young men were stopped for a routine check at a checkpoint at the entrance of Ashdod. When the police realized who they were, the young men called the "Black Color" hotline, a forum designed to dispatch haredi protestors when draft dodgers are arrested, to intervene on their behalf. Shortly thereafter, approximately 100 haredi Jews arrived at the scene to assist the young men. Police said the protesters "tried to disrupt our work," according to the report. The police assured protesters that the young men were not being arrested and that the matter would be referred to the Military Police. The incident followed a day of demonstrations by haredi protesters against the military draft, which shut down major Israeli highways and the railway to the airport. The protest lasted for approximately 2 hours before being dispersed.

In Uplifting News, three well-preserved large storage jars dating back to the Middle Bronze Age were discovered during annual excavations in ancient Shiloh ahead of the city’s annual Wine Festival on Friday. The excavations—led by Dr. Scott Stripling, the Ancient Shiloh site and the Mishkan Shiloh Foundation, in cooperation with the Archaeology Staff Officer and the Heritage Ministry—found the jars in a layer of earth dated to the Middle Bronze Age, hidden beneath Late Bronze Age remains and below those from the Iron Age. Archaeologists had also previously uncovered approximately 10,000 animal bones, numerous Late Bronze Age pottery vessels, and offerings made of gold and silver in the same area. Following their excavation, the jars will undergo careful scientific analysis in order to determine their exact age and their original use, currently theorized as storage vessels for agricultural products, such as grapes, wine, olive oil, and other similar commodities. In the Tanach, Shiloh served as one of the ancient Israelites’ central locations of worship and housed the biblical Tabernacle. The ancient city has been positively identified.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899239
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899237
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-899217