Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-26 at 21:01

HEADLINES
F-35B sorties aboard USS Tripoli
Lebanon sovereignty hinges on Hezbollah disarmament
Interfaith groups unite against antisemitism

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, F-35B Lightning IIs from VMFA-121, the Green Knights, carried out flight operations aboard the America-class amphibious assault ship USS Tripoli (LHA-7) in the Arabian Sea on June 13, 2026.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun described the trilateral agreement signed in Washington between the United States, Lebanon, and Israel as the first step on the road to restoring Lebanon's sovereignty, with the framework aimed at disarming and dismantling Hezbollah and enabling an Israeli military withdrawal from Lebanon once the Hezbollah threat is removed. Aoun thanked President Donald Trump and American officials for hosting the talks, while Lebanon’s Prime Minister Nawaf Salam said the framework requires a full Israeli withdrawal from all Lebanese territory and for Lebanon to extend state authority over the country.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Cardinal Blase Cupich of Chicago is among church leaders voicing support for the Jewish people amid rising antisemitism, highlighting a broad coalition of groups advancing solidarity with Israel and against antisemitism. The Black Christian Leadership Council on Israel Relations is planning a trip for 500 leading Black pastors to Israel, and the International Christian Embassy Jerusalem, Eagles’ Wings, and the Israel Allies Foundation, with Jewish Federations of North America and others, have brought hundreds of Christian and Jewish leaders together in support of Israel and against antisemitism. The Southern Baptist Convention has condemned antisemitism, and the Hindu-Jewish Coalition of America has been formed to bolster ties. A Muslim group marched in the Israel Day Parade, and local Latter-day Saints communities are collaborating with their Jewish counterparts on security-related matters. Separately, German far-right leader Martin Reichardt of the Alternative for Germany party faced scrutiny after a photo suggested a Nazi salute at a 2020 New York gathering; Reichardt said the gesture was not a Hitler salute but part of a knighting ceremony, and the AfD remains a major force in upcoming regional elections in Saxony-Anhalt.

In Uplifting News, Jewish day school enrollment is rising across denominations. Prizmah: Center for Jewish Day Schools reports that across its network of 305 schools, enrollment grew from 94,008 in 2021-2022 to about 101,041 in 2025-2026, an increase of roughly 7,000 students or 7.5%. Non-Orthodox enrollment rose about 3% from 2021 to 2024, Orthodox schools up about 7%, and Reform day school enrollment up about 5%, marking the first sustained growth across denominational lines in decades. Paul Bernstein, CEO of Prizmah, attributes the trend to population growth in some communities, perceived improvements in private education, and renewed philanthropic investment. Also, Paul Goldenberg, a veteran policing expert and deputy director of the Rutgers Miller Center on Policing, describes nearly three decades of work safeguarding Jewish communities worldwide, with recent travels to the United States, Paris, Denmark, Sweden, Croatia, and beyond as he continues to advise on security for Jewish communities.

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/21779
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900623
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900396
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-900626
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-900624
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-900489