Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-20 at 22:02

HEADLINES
Hamas sniper posing as Al Jazeera slain
D9 bulldozer leads southern Lebanon tunnel assault
Trump vows no Iran war mocks Netanyahu

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 Hamas terrorist doubling as Al Jazeera photojournalist killed in Gaza, the IDF said it killed Ahmed Samir Muhammad Washah, a Hamas sniper operative who doubled as a photographer for the Al Jazeera broadcaster. He was killed in an Israeli strike in the center of the Gaza Strip alongside two other Hamas militants. The military said he had advanced sniper attack plans and other terrorist activities against IDF troops in Gaza. Washah's brother, who had also posed as an Al Jazeera journalist, was killed by Israeli forces in April. Muhammad Samir Muhammad Washah had worked in Hamas' rocket and weapons production headquarters. The military added that Washah's brother was involved in the development of drones, rockets, and other weapons, and played a role in transferring arms across Gaza during the war. The statement said Washah contributed to Hamas's force build-up and was directly involved in planning attacks.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Colonel Shaul Yisraeli spoke about the 7th Armored Brigade’s operations in southern Lebanon, describing engineering breakthroughs and the shift in battlefield dynamics as it breached routes toward the Litani River and neutralized subterranean "cities of refuge" constructed by Hezbollah over the last two decades. He said the force selected the most experienced Heavy Engineering Equipment operators to breach the routes, calling the mission one of the most complex ground maneuvers in southern Lebanon. The operation unfolded late at night inside the cabin of a D9 bulldozer, with the vehicle commander and an HEO operator at the controls as tanks waited for clearance. Separately, Israeli forces cornered dozens of Hezbollah militants in Tebnit in a vast underground base more than a kilometer in total length, engaging in combat both above and below ground. Reports said about 30 Hezbollah terrorists were trapped, fighting with mortars and drones. The base was described as one of Hezbollah’s most important southern Lebanon headquarters, and the operation aimed to remove a long-term threat to northern Israeli communities. US intelligence has warned the White House that continued Israeli operations against Hezbollah could undermine a memorandum of understanding with Iran, according to a Washington Post report published after a ceasefire was announced. IDF spokespersons noted that the military would continue to remove immediate threats to Israel’s national security, and that a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah had been reached.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a new book about Donald Trump reports that the US president told Elon Musk and Tucker Carlson in the Oval Office that he would not go to war with Iran, and that he referred to Netanyahu as one of the harshest insults in his lexicon, including descriptions described as a 'con man' and noting a pager attack described as 'fascinating and appalling'.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-899982
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899985
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899980
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1hr93nfgx