Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-16 at 23:01

HEADLINES
- US intercepts Iranian drones near Hormuz
- Israel absorbs 6000 Bnei Menashe from India
- South Africa uncovers 1.8-million-year fire

The time is now 11:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the US continues to intercept Iranian drones launched against commercial shipping in and around the Strait of Hormuz since the US-Iran MOU was signed. The Joint Maritime Information Center says the local threat level remains substantial.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told attendees at a conference on Israeli heritage that America’s foundations are deeply tied to Jewish history and to Israel, saying that without Israel, without the Jewish foundation, there would not be an America. He emphasized that Israel’s historical and biblical legacy has helped shape the United States. Separately, Senate Majority Leader John Thune said he has not yet been briefed by the administration on the Iran deal, though a briefing is being sought. And Senator Lindsey Graham urged that Saudi Arabia and Israel should pursue peace and engage in business together, arguing that such ties would benefit the region and the world.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced that the government will bring the entire 6,000-person Bnei Menashe community from India to Israel over about five years, with 1,200 expected to arrive by the end of this year and roughly 600 already having moved this year; the community, from Manipur and Mizoram, is being absorbed with support highlighted by the strong relationship with India’s Narendra Modi. The Times of Israel reports that Likud reportedly scrapped an election campaign highlighting Netanyahu’s close ties to Trump in wake of the US-Iran deal.

In Uplifting News, emergency crews responded after a small plane crashed into a parking lot near Whiteman Airport in California’s San Fernando Valley, and the solo pilot was rescued and is being evaluated by medical personnel. In South Africa, Israeli and international scientists reported signs of the earliest use of fire in Wonderwerk Cave, dating burns on fossilized bones to as early as 1.8 million years ago, a finding that pushes back previous estimates and relied on new techniques to detect signs of burns.

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/DefenderDome/21544
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-899637
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55861
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55863
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55866
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-899638
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-17-2026/
https://t.me/JewishNews24/55862
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-african-cave-israeli-international-scientists-find-signs-of-earliest-use-of-fire/