Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-16 at 22:02

HEADLINES
Iran resumes oil exports as waivers granted
Hezbollah rockets intercepted; Israel destroys launcher
Israel to relocate 6,000 Bnei Menashe

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Tehran can immediately resume oil sales upon signing the new US-Iran memorandum, with sanctions waivers for banking, transport, and insurance. An Iranian supertanker has left Chabahar port and crossed the former US blockade, the first such crossing since April.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, several rockets launched by Hezbollah toward Israeli troops operating in southern Lebanon were intercepted by air defenses, according to the Israel Defense Forces. The Israeli Air Force later struck and destroyed the launcher used in the attack. In a separate incident, troops identified a suspicious vehicle in the area of operations, fired warning shots, and subsequently carried out an airstrike to eliminate the threat.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee said the United States would not exist if it weren't for Israel, describing the relationship as a shared heritage and noting that without Israel, America would not exist. At the same time, President Donald Trump criticized Israel's tactics in Lebanon, telling reporters at the G7 that bombing entire apartment buildings to hunt militants is unnecessary, and saying Israel has been fighting Hezbollah for too long.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government approved a proposal to bring the entire 6,000-person Bnei Menashe community from India's northeast to Israel in about five years, with about 1,200 members expected to arrive by the end of this year. Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the decision, saying the community would be absorbed in areas including the Galilee and Nof Hagalil. Separately, Netanyahu told off IDF Chief of Staff after an Air Force commander released a letter detailing a canceled attack on Iran, calling it a national mistake that embarrasses Israel in front of Trump; the letter said the attack was canceled an hour before it was to begin, while other strikes had been carried out in Beirut's Dahiyeh district.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Eliezer Bublil, 63, of Even Yehuda, was arrested on suspicion of threatening a pharmacist at a Clalit Health Services pharmacy, spitting at her, and making racist remarks including "You Arabs should not be here." He allegedly arrived with a prescription for his wife, a dispute arose, and police say the pharmacist was frightened; security camera footage from the pharmacy was presented at a hearing. In Toronto, police say hired gunmen appear to be targeting Jewish sites, with attackers recruited through encrypted messaging apps to carry out attacks and often filmed for payment; authorities say there are multiple networks and they are investigating who pays to create fear in the Jewish community.

In Uplifting News, Rivka Rubashkin, the longtime matriarch of the Rubashkin family and a Brooklyn figure of hospitality, died this week in her late 90s. She was the widow of Avraham Aharon Rubashkin, a pioneer in the kosher meat industry and a founder of Agriprocessors, and her home in Boro Park was known for welcoming guests, yeshiva students, and families in need. United Airlines unveiled Stars and Stripes special-edition aircraft honoring US veterans, including the 8,300 veterans who work at the airline, with the patriotic liveries on a Boeing 737-800 and a Boeing 787-10.

In Britain's Jewish Culture Month aims to move conversation beyond October 7, Britain's Jewish Culture Month wrapped up on Tuesday with the aim of showing that British Jewish identity extends beyond conflict. Adam Ma’anit of the Board of Deputies said the community is not defined by pain. The program featured performances, lectures, and art exhibits across the country, with more than 150 events over four weeks at major museums and venues under the banner Less Oy, More Joy.

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://t.me/JewishNews24/55850
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55851
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-899637
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/trump-criticizes-israels-tactics-lebanon-says-it-killing-civilians
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-899638
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899633
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-899634
https://www.timesofisrael.com/toronto-police-say-hired-gunmen-appear-to-be-targeting-jewish-sites/
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55849
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55853
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-899631