Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-17 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Iran Hormuz MoU Nears Signature
IDF Soldiers Wounded in Hezbollah Drone Strike
Netanyahu Meets New Mossad Chief Gofman

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 Regional Impacts, negotiators are moving toward signing a Memorandum of Understanding with Iran as early as Wednesday, with the deal set to take effect immediately for measures related to the Strait of Hormuz once signed and the full text is released. The timetable has been accelerated to open the strait sooner, and one diplomatic source says Iran pressed to keep the MoU text secret until signing, while others note the signing could come electronically by Wednesday evening and would be enacted on Friday if formalized. The arrangement would allow the United States to publish the full text, with immediate effect on the strait’s provisions once the agreement is signed. Separately, remarks attributed to former US President Donald Trump about Iran’s ballistic missiles circulated, with Trump arguing that Iran could keep missiles and questioning calls to ban them, saying missiles are not the core issue and challenging what some critics propose.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Houthis remain a resilient force in Yemen, with Al-Ain media reporting an exclusive look at how they militarized Ibb province into an armed camp. The province, a mountainous area north of Taiz with about 4 million residents, has been transformed from Yemen’s former “Green Paradise” into a fortified military hub, giving the Houthis reach to threaten Saudi Arabia, the Gulf, Israel, and the Red Sea. Five IDF soldiers were wounded, including one seriously, when an explosive Hezbollah drone struck their position in southern Lebanon; the blast near a tank caused shrapnel injuries to four soldiers, and a second strike hit their evacuation vehicle, injuring another. The first four were evacuated to a hospital, and the fifth was flown out by helicopter as families were notified. Hezbollah’s drone activity has grown a foe for Israeli forces along the northern border, even as the G7 called for an immediate firm ceasefire in Lebanon and the disarmament of Hezbollah. Israeli forces continue operations in southern Lebanon, with artillery on the outskirts of Nabatieh al-Fawqa and an airstrike in the Mahlah al-Zafata area near Tebnit in the Nabatieh district.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held his first regular one-on-one working meeting with the new Mossad chief, Roman Gofman, since Gofman took over the agency earlier this month. Gofman, previously Netanyahu’s personal military secretary for about two years, now leads a global network of operatives and shoulders the Iran file during peacetime as well as conflict. In his opening remarks, he signaled a hard stance on Iran, aligning with ongoing debates in war cabinet discussions ahead of shifts in policy. Separately, an anonymous Shin Bet officer, whose identity is classified, filed a High Court petition against the Knesset’s decision to grant immunity to MK Tally Gotliv, arguing the vote was legally flawed and politically predetermined and harmful to Israel’s security services. The petition seeks to overturn the committee’s recommendation to grant immunity and the plenary’s approval, highlighting the sensitive balance between security agency oversight and political immunity.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-899733
https://t.me/newssil/204429
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-899723
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-899721
https://t.me/selena_updates/65817
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899736
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899729