Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-18 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Iran 60-day window begins today says Vance
Israel keeps Lebanon 10 km security zone
Azerbaijani posts deny Agarunov legacy

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Vice President JD Vance said the 60-day window laid out in a memorandum of understanding approved by President Trump and Iranian leaders begins today, telling reporters at a White House briefing that the period officially started now and that Iran must change its behavior to receive any benefits under the agreement. He argued that those benefits do not come before the deal is fulfilled and dismissed criticisms that the benefits arrive before consummation as a talking point used by those who want the conflict to continue. In a separate interview with The New York Times, Vance defended Washington’s Iran accord and pressed Bezalel Smotrich and Itamar Ben-Gvir to offer concrete proposals, noting, “What is your exact proposal?” He warned that you cannot solve security problems by killing your way out of them and said Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not scrutinized the deal as intensely as the Israeli ministers, suggesting Netanyahu may be closer to the details. Vance also pointed to tensions within the American and Israeli discourse around the agreement, noting that President Donald Trump signed the memorandum in France and has observed a perceived misalignment between Israeli leaders’ goals and the American public. A recent analysis described how Trump’s handling of the Iran issue has fed a dynamic in which Israel’s posture and Washington’s approach intertwine in a way that some see as a loyalty dynamic, with Trump at times pressing allies while facing Israeli concerns over regional concessions. Separately, a report in another language cited JD Vance as saying there are real differences within Iran and that a pragmatic camp appears to be gaining the upper hand in internal debate. In the same vein, Trump’s defense of the memorandum drew critics from both ends of the spectrum who argue concessions outweigh commitments, while Netanyahu seeks influence through pro-Israel media figures and lawmakers.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed the IDF will not withdraw from the security strip in southern Lebanon until security is restored, saying maintaining the zone near the Lebanese border is necessary for Israel’s security and that there is no timetable for withdrawal. An Israeli source cited by The Jerusalem Post described ongoing negotiations with the United States over preserving the deployment in the security zone, which lies roughly 10 kilometers inside Lebanon. In addition, the Ministry of Defense announced a security drill tonight at the HaWeir crossing, running from 7:00 PM to 2:00 AM the following day, with Highway 367 intermittently closed; residents were warned to expect the sound of gunfire and explosions during the exercise.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Azerbaijani-language social media posts have circulated that question the legacy of Albert Agarunov, a Jewish National Hero of Azerbaijan, renewing Iranian and pro-Iranian claims that Azerbaijan is being used as a platform for Israeli operations against Iran. The posts described Agarunov’s story as a forgery and used language associated with pro-Iranian and Resistance-linked networks, including references to Iran, Tabriz, Islam and the Azerbaijani term Müqavimət. Agarunov, a Mountain Jew from Baku who served as a tank commander and died in 1992, was later named a National Hero of Azerbaijan and is buried in Baku’s Alley of Martyrs beneath the flags of Azerbaijan and Israel. A school and official commemoration details accompany the reporting, highlighting how narratives tied to regional politics can impact perceptions of Jewish heritage in the area.

In Uplifting News, the passage reads: Thus says the Lord to His anointed, To Cyrus, whose right hand I have held - To subdue nations before him And loose the armor of kings, To open before him the double doors, So that the gates will not be shut: I will go before you And make the crooked places straight; I will break in pieces the gates of bronze And cut the bars of iron. I will give you the riches hidden in darkness And hidden treasures of secret places, That you may know that I, the Lord, Who call you by your name, Am the God of Israel. For Jacob My servant’s sake, And Israel My elect, I have even called you by your name; I have named you, though you have not known Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; There is no God besides Me. I will gird you, though you have not known Me, That they may know from the rising of the sun to its setting That there is none besides Me. I am the Lord, and there is no other; I form the light and create darkness, I make peace and create calamity; I, the Lord, do all these things.

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/article-899872
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899868
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899860
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124880
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1xzjqzzfx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899856
https://t.me/newssil/204566
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-899869
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77950