Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-28 at 20:02

HEADLINES
US Iran halt kinetic strikes in Gulf
Israel-Lebanon security annex preserves IDF freedom
Israel destroys Hezbollah drone fortress in Lebanon

The time is now 8:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, the US and Iran have agreed to halt reciprocal strikes in the Gulf region today, with a senior US official describing the move as, “We decided to stop all the kinetic activity.” Talks last week in Switzerland included an agreement to establish a military-to-military communications hotline between the US military and the IRGC, but the hotline has not yet been established, and officials indicate the Switzerland discussions are ongoing despite conflicting reporting about their status.

In US Military Role, Iranian state outlets said technical talks set for today were not attended by the Iranian team, citing the recent US retaliatory strikes as the reason. US officials, however, say technical talks on all facets of the US-Iran MOU are continuing, with the broader context tied to Iran’s rejection of a joint transit framework for the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, US Marines are preparing to conduct an aerial damage assessment of the Caracas coast in Venezuela. The Marines come from Marine Medium Tiltrotor Squadron 365 (Reinforced), Littoral Combat Force-24, aboard the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale.

In Regional Impacts, an official familiar with the Israel-Lebanon framework agreement says the classified security annex preserves the Israel Defense Force’s full freedom to act in the southern Lebanon security zone. The document also reiterates that there will be no automatic IDF withdrawals, with redeployments to be guided by conditions on the ground. The annex was kept classified at Lebanon’s request, and Israel is publicly guarding against any shift in the balance that could invite renewed threats amid regional tensions.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli strikes in Syria followed gunfire targeting a post in the buffer zone, with the IDF saying forces returned fire with mortars, artillery and an attack helicopter after shots near Tel Qudna; Syrian media reported strikes in Abdin and residents leaving their homes. Separately, the Israeli side said the terrorist from the encounter in which Captain David Hazutt fell overnight in a suspicious structure near Deir Siryan in southern Lebanon has been eliminated. In another development, a powerful blast was heard across northern Israel as the IDF destroyed Hezbollah’s drone fortress in Lebanon; a 200-meter tunnel network in Majdal Zoun was found to hold drones, warheads, explosives and launch shafts, built with Iranian know-how and used to target communities in Galilee. Israel also detonated a tunnel and struck south Lebanon as Hezbollah said it reserves the right to respond; the incidents came amid a trilateral framework agreement signed by Lebanon and Israel under US sponsorship to pave the way for peace and disarm Iran-backed Hezbollah. Lebanon’s state media reported strikes in Nabatieh, with the health ministry noting injuries from a stun grenade; officials said the tunnel contained significant weapons and launch capacity, and Israel said it had informed the United States and the US representative in Lebanon in advance of the destruction.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Iran did not take part in technical talks slated for Sunday due to recent attacks and unfulfilled conditions of the MoU, including access to unfrozen funds. A senior US official said nothing had been canceled and that technical talks regarding the MoU were on track for the coming days, with deconfliction channels up and running after the Lake Lucerne Summit. The parties also discussed a plan to meet in Qatar in the coming week, with officials noting that vessels could move freely at this time.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Rafael Advanced Defense Systems has secured the largest contract in its history as Romania advances a more than €2 billion air defense program, signing an initial agreement for the SPYDER air defense system. The deal will provide Romania with enhanced protection against drones, cruise missiles and other low-flying threats, marking a notable export milestone for Israel’s defense industry.

In Uplifting News, Ambassador Huckabee offers a pointed message of progress, saying it is a historic victory for the President and Secretary Rubio as Israel and Lebanon recognize that they are not at war with each other but with the terror group Hezbollah. The ambassador adds, “Get rid of the cancer and everyone lives in PEACE.”

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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