Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-13 at 02:01

HEADLINES
- US Kills Tren de Aragua Leader Guerrero
- Iranian Drones Downed as Hormuz Tensions Rise
- Israel Strikes Hezbollah Ten Commanders Killed

The time is now 2:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said US forces carried out a strike that killed Hector Rusthenford Guerrero Flores, also known as Niño Guerrero, the leader of the Tren de Aragua prison gang in Venezuela, describing it as a swift and lethal kinetic operation directed by him and coordinated closely with Venezuela. He added that the strike was carried out at his direction. Pentagon chief Pete Hegseth said the strike occurred earlier this week and Guerrero was confirmed killed during the operation. Venezuela's information ministry did not respond to requests for comment. The United States has long sanctioned Guerrero and other Tren de Aragua leaders for alleged drug trafficking, human trafficking, and money laundering, and the State Department has designated the group a foreign terrorist organization.

Separately, CENTCOM said the US military shot down several Iranian suicide drones in the Strait of Hormuz as they attempted to target commercial vessels. The command noted that traffic through the strait remained unimpeded and the waterway remained open for transit. The report follows recent Iranian strikes at bases in Kuwait and Jordan, with Bahrain reporting sirens and indicating it was prepared to respond to further US strikes. President Trump warned Iran not to escalate drone activity, urging Tehran to refrain from additional attacks.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi said ending the war in Lebanon requires Israel to withdraw from captured areas, a stance Israel rejected as the Israeli Defense Forces said it would continue acting against Hezbollah threats and reported that ten field commanders were killed in the clashes.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, two 25-year-old Haredi draft dodgers were arrested overnight between Thursday and Friday at the entrance to Ashdod during a routine checkpoint. The two men called the Black Color hotline, a forum that mobilizes Haredi protesters when draft dodgers are detained, and about 100 Haredi Jews gathered at the scene to assist. Police said the protesters attempted to disrupt the work and that the matter would be referred to Military Police. The day had earlier featured demonstrations that shut down major highways and the railway to the airport, lasting about two hours before dispersal.

In Uplifting News, a large longitudinal study tracking 12,000 participants found that relationship quality, not relationship status, drives emotional well-being. Singles reported higher well-being than those in poor or moderate relationships, though a high-quality partnership can boost happiness. The study, published in Personality and Individual Differences under the title Do relationship changes cause changes in emotional well-being? A longitudinal investigation, was led by Prof. Elyakim Kislev of the Hebrew University of Jerusalem and Dr. Menelaos Apostolou of the University of Nicosia in Cyprus.

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/international/article-899243
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899239
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1swqy9wzl
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899237
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-899244