Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-17 at 04:02

HEADLINES
- Iranian Drones Target Ships, US Intercepts
- Lebanon Withdrawal Tied to Iran Nuclear Deal
- Gadi Eisenkot Surges as Netanyahu Falters

The time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, NBC, citing an American official, reports that since the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States was signed digitally on Sunday, Iran has fired several drones at merchant ships each night. The drones were launched by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, but US forces intercepted them.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Bloomberg’s reporting, echoed by other outlets, describes a 14-point memorandum in which Iran and the United States, along with their partners in the current conflict, sign on to an immediate and permanent end to the war across all fronts, including Lebanon, and commit not to initiate further hostilities. A separate report from Asharq Al-Awsat, citing a Hezbollah-Amal source in Lebanon, states that after the initial signing on Friday, Israel would be required to begin a gradual withdrawal from Lebanon and complete it within 60 days, with Tehran promising not to sign the nuclear agreement with Washington unless that withdrawal is finished. Lebanese sources also indicate pressure on Lebanon’s president and prime minister to withdraw from direct negotiations with Israel. Lebanese channels have also reported Israeli drone strikes in Barashita near Bent Jbeil and in al-Manzouri near Tyre. A Saudi-drafted briefing adds that the agreement would pause Israeli attacks in Lebanon and that Tehran promised Hezbollah a withdrawal within 60 days, to be completed before any nuclear agreement signing, with Tehran’s position conditioned on that withdrawal.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump harshly criticizes the Iran deal, arguing it awards Iran billions of dollars and contending the figure cited is incorrect. Court filings in a security case name five men accused of conspiring through TikTok and Signal to attack the White House UFC event, noting that lawmakers with pro-Israel PAC funding were discussed as potential targets alongside Trump, JD Vance, and others. The Qatari-donated interim Air Force One has been painted and is ready in New York, aligned with Qatar’s reported $1 billion investment pledge announced yesterday, a move viewed by some as a capitulation to Qatari-Iranian demands. Critics characterize the arrangement as a historic mistake, arguing that sending billions to the world’s leading state sponsor of terrorism will fuel more rockets, more drones, and more attacks against Israel and the West.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Yesh Atid leader Gadi Eisenkot is gaining ground, while Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Naftali Bennett lose support in the wake of the MoU with the United States, with a KAN poll showing Eisenkot rising and Likud and Together slipping. The poll has Yashar at 21 seats, Likud at 23, and Together at 17, with 55% opposed to the deal, 18% in support, and 27% undecided; 70% still regard Iran as a threat despite the evolving agreement. Separately, ultra-Orthodox anti-draft protesters from the Jerusalem Faction blocked Highway 4 near Bnei Brak; police dispersed the crowd by around 10 a.m., with five demonstrators arrested and two lightly injured. Police described the protest as illegal and emphasized the right to protest within the law, while a senior faction official warned they would not remain silent over what they view as violence.

In Uplifting News, Leket Israel founder Joseph Gitler, who moved to Israel in 2000, built the national food bank from a one-person effort to a nationwide operation. Today Leket Israel employs about 180 people, coordinates more than 100,000 volunteers annually, operates refrigerated vans, and partners with around 400 agencies to feed Israelis across all communities, highlighting the ongoing challenges of hunger in the country and the efforts to address “startup nation poverty.”

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
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https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/06/17/report-israel-will-be-required-to-fully-withdraw-from-lebanon-within-two-months/
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124770
https://t.me/newssil/204369
https://t.me/newssil/204370
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syhz96yzmg
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77912
https://t.me/hnaftali/23496
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899650
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899646
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-899655