Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-14 at 13:01

HEADLINES
Israel Braces for Iranian Missile Strike
Trump Denounces Beirut Strikes Hopes Iran Deal
Basque Region Vandalizes Tel Aviv Trains

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

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the IDF chief says the forces are ready for a potential Iranian ballistic missile attack in the coming hours and the home front should be on high alert. Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir said the attack would be a retaliation for the IDF’s airstrikes in Beirut earlier Sunday, which themselves were a response to Hezbollah drone launches against Israeli towns in the north. Zamir said he was receiving running updates on the heightened security situation. If Iran attacks Israel as it did last week with about 25 missiles, Israel would respond with airstrikes, as it did in two waves of dozens of fighter jets last week. It is expected that US President Donald Trump would step in after a relatively short time, and that a larger war would be avoided. Shows scheduled for Sunday by Omer Adam and Eyal Golan were canceled following new restrictions issued by the Home Front Command as Israel braces for a possible new missile attack by Iran, with both singers posting apologies on Instagram.

In Regional Impacts, the region awaits the unfolding situation as US President Donald Trump denounced the IDF’s strikes on Beirut on Sunday. “There should be no more attacks by Israel anywhere in Lebanon,” he said, adding that there should also be no more attacks by any other party, including Hezbollah, against Israel. Trump wrote that this morning’s attacks should not have happened, particularly on a day when a peace deal with Iran could be signed. He asserted that while Israel has the right to defend itself against threats, the threat it faced was “very small and meaningless.” He told Channel 12 that he was unhappy with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s choices, noting, “Bibi has no fing discretion.” He suggested the peace process could be the start of a long and beautiful peace if the Iran deal proceeds without further turmoil.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an opinion piece argues that Israel needs more than military force to counter Iran and its proxies. The piece notes Tehran’s effort to project control through Hezbollah in Lebanon, the Houthis in Yemen, and Shi’ite militias in Iraq, signaling that the so‑called Axis of Resistance remains active against the United States, Israel, and their allies. Israel’s stance has been to respond with greater force when needed, unless stopped by external actors such as the United States. A Netanyahu attribution cited in the piece suggests that “only force works, when they fear you,” but the author questions what happens when force does not deter the adversary, including Iran, Hezbollah, and the Houthis, as the conflict continues.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that America no longer has the stomach for war. It notes a generally pro-Israel administration in power at a time when Israel faces existential threats, yet highlights a trend toward negotiating with Iranian leadership, hardliners, and Hezbollah rather than pursuing decisive military options. The piece cautions that peace deals would come with painful concessions, and warns that a weaker posture could invite a renewed confrontation later, challenging the assumption that military victory is the sole path to security.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the homeless Right analysis describes a voter who identifies with the Right but feels unrepresented by Likud due to the coalition with haredi draft exemptions. He is unlikely to support Bezalel Smotrich or Naftali Bennett, and the data points to at least six seats potentially drawn by this segment, which could influence the next election. Separately, twenty haredi air force technicians were recruited at Tel Nof Air Force Base after a training course in Haifa; they will work on F-15 aircraft in the 106th Squadron, marking the first religious data center on the base. The IDF is pursuing ways to integrate haredim into mandatory service as manpower challenges grow, with broader concerns about reserve burdens and gaps between wartime needs and available personnel.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, masked attackers in Spain’s Basque region vandalized six CAF light rail trains believed destined for Tel Aviv. Windows were damaged and red paint sprayed on the carriages, with the group claiming it found the trains because they were marked in Hebrew. A spokesperson for Israel’s Metropolitan Mass Transit System said CAF informed the agency of the incident, which did not halt the Purple Line project’s progress. The incident is noted in the context of a broader UN report from September 2025 listing CAF among companies with human rights concerns.

In Uplifting News, Israel held its first annual Thai Festival as the two nations marked 72 years of diplomatic relations. Thai Ambassador Boonyarit Vichienpuntu said the festival would be an annual event in Israel, showcasing Thai culture, cuisine, traditions, and art. Held at the D-One Conference Hall in central Israel, the event drew hundreds and featured Thai music, dance, Muay Thai demonstrations, and Thai massages, underscoring a strengthening of people-to-people ties between the two countries.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-899369
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899374
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899103
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899090
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899372
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899319
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899381
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-899378