Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-15 at 13:02

HEADLINES
- Regime Change Now Urged for Iran
- Israel Vows Indefinite Security Zones Full Force
- Israeli Armored Column Hit by Hezbollah

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, an opinion piece argues the Iranian regime must be toppled at the soonest possible date. It contends that negotiating with the mullah-led government is a waste and that regime change is the only path to the well-being of the Iranian people and to the security of Israel, America, Europe, and the broader West. The article describes a regime that chants “death to America” and “death to Israel,” that prioritizes Hezbollah over its citizens, and that oppresses women, LGBTQ people, and minority communities. It frames vilayet-e-Faghih as the governing principle and suggests a regime that does not value its own people cannot be trusted to respect others or to safeguard regional stability.

In Regional Impacts, Defense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will not withdraw from its security zones in southern Lebanon, Syria, or Gaza and will keep the IDF deployed there indefinitely to protect Israeli communities. He said terror infrastructure above and below ground will be destroyed, and that Prime Minister Netanyahu conveyed this position to President Trump and other senior US officials. Katz warned that if Iran attacks Israel over developments in Lebanon, Israel will respond with full force.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese sources aligned with the Shiite axis reported that an Israeli armored column was moving toward the summit of the Ali al-Taher ridge, and Hezbollah was said to have fired a anti-tank missile at the column.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the vast majority of IDF and Mossad officials oppose the current Iran nuclear deal as insufficient given the power dynamics and the threats Israel faces, arguing it leaves missiles and proxy threats unaddressed. They have called for keeping sanctions in place until the Islamic regime changes its approach, with some officials even favoring regime change. President Trump has stated that the deal has been signed and that the Strait of Hormuz will open fully on Friday. A senior US official said that Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon is not a condition for the agreement. US officials said the memorandum of understanding to settle the near four-month war has been signed, with a signing ceremony planned for Friday, and that Hormuz traffic is expected to rise significantly as traffic increases gradually. Trump also said the text of the Iran deal would be released after Friday, with the Strait of Hormuz opening fully by Friday.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir canceled his upcoming trip to the United States over difficulties obtaining a visa, specifically the fingerprinting requirement, saying the trip was personal and that he would travel on a regular tourist visa. Separately, EU foreign ministers have not reached a consensus on sanctions against Ben-Gvir, though questions about his conduct—such as a video in which he taunted humanitarian aid activists—have drawn international scrutiny. Some member states have proposed sanctions, and France has previously banned Ben-Gvir from its territory, while other Western governments have imposed measures targeting West Bank figures.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Israel Medical Association pushback story notes that, in response to a Lancet petition calling for suspension from the World Medical Association, IMA officials emphasize that politics should not define medical cooperation, stressing that the IMA has faced similar petitions before and that the British Medical Association cut ties with the IMA in 2025. Separately, Bologna’s Rivolta Pride 2026, with roughly 20,000 participants, saw a small group displaying Iranian or Israeli symbols join the march and be met with violent shoving and orders to leave, as demonstrators chanted “Zionists out.” Organizers and participants described intimidation, with those carrying specific flags saying some marchers were displaced and told that Iran was not their concern.

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/opinion/article-899438
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55772
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124660
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899503
https://t.me/newssil/204218
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124659
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77889
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/us-officials-says-iran-pact-signed-hormuz-traffic-will-rise-significantly
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/trump-iran-text-iran-deal-be-released-after-friday
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899512
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899499
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899513
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899507