Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-01 at 08:02

HEADLINES
Israel claims two preemptive strikes crushed Iran
Iran vows retaliation after dead leader remark
New Kurdish group Xori Hiwa claims attack

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Defense Minister Israel Katz told a memorial ceremony for the fallen soldiers of the Second Lebanon War that the October 7 massacre showed Israel must not wait for threats to reach its doors. He said Israel had twice carried out proactive preemptive attacks on Iran, claiming that the nuclear program it was advancing was crushed and that an existential threat to the citizens of Israel was removed. Katz said Iran’s leadership, headed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, was thwarted, its capabilities were severely damaged, and its proxies across the region were dealt significant blows, with the possibility of a third strike if necessary. He added that the IDF’s current goal in Lebanon is not to restore the previous situation but to change the reality and bring security to the north, as it has done in the south, and he cited the Israel-Lebanon-US trilateral agreement as part of the border-defence policy led by Prime Minister Netanyahu and by him as defence minister, together.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran warns of an immediate, powerful response after Defense Minister Katz described the Iranian supreme leader as “a dead man.” A message circulating online asserted that “the terms of the Islamabad MoU are crystal clear and public for all to see,” and claimed that the United States is committed to muzzling its pets in Tel Aviv, warning that any threat against Iran’s people or leadership will be met with an immediate powerful response.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Kurdish clashes have intensified in western Iran’s Kurdish region over the past three days between Kurdish Iranian opposition groups and elements of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Reporting indicates attacks targeting Kurds believed to have collaborated with the regime, and a new Kurdish armed group named Xori Hiwa (Sun of Hope) claimed responsibility for one attack. Rudaw cites a report that four fighters from an Iranian Kurdish group were killed in clashes with the IRGC in Iran’s West Azerbaijan province, with threats to retaliate. The East Kurdistan Defense Units, described as the armed wing of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan, are mentioned in the reporting, underscoring the complexity of Kurdish opposition dynamics.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Azerbaijan’s chief rabbi asks the Knesset to reconsider recognition of the Armenian Genocide, exclusive, arguing that such a move could affect the Jewish community in Azerbaijan. Rabbi Shneur Segal, chief rabbi of the Ashkenazi Jewish Community of Azerbaijan, wrote that Jews in Baku can walk openly with visible symbols and that the Azerbaijani people hold a deep friendship and respect for the Jewish community. Separately, the High Court of Justice temporarily froze attorney Michael Rabello’s entry into office as state comptroller while petitions challenging the Knesset vote are resolved. The interim order was issued days before he was to begin his term, with the court noting the need to complete the legal process. Rabello was elected on June 3 after a disputed two-round vote; the second round produced a 61-57 result after the first round fell short of the majority, amid petitions from opposition parties. In another development, Prime Minister Netanyahu said Gaza no longer poses a military threat to Israelis, but Hamas must still be removed as the ruling power.

In Israeli Economy and Business, defense startup Esh-Tech has raised 18 million dollars in a funding round led by Kinetica Partners as it moves from development toward large-scale production of its DroneLight counter-drone system. The round includes investors Mahari, Renaton Capital, Q Fund, 2i Ventures, Hinkley, FFG, and several angel backers, with support from the Israel Innovation Authority. The funding comes as Hezbollah’s drone activity has intensified along the northern border, highlighting the need for faster, cheaper countermeasures. Esh-Tech’s system aims to deliver a timely response to FPV and other drones, addressing evolving threats as fighting along the north has resumed this year.

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-901080
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/syspo00zqml
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-901083
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-901092
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901070
https://t.me/ILtoday/19447
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-901091