Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-02 at 06:01

HEADLINES
Iran Drones Hit KDPI Base in Degala
US Currency Shipments Resume to Iraq
Syria Urged to Confront Hezbollah in Lebanon

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, after days of clashes between the Kurdish Free Life Party and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the Iranian regime is widening strikes against Kurdish opposition groups. Two drones targeted a base belonging to the Kurdistan Democratic Party of Iran in Erbil's Degala sub-district late Wednesday, according to the Kurdish media outlet Rudaw. It appears Iran is aiming to hit KDPI to prevent it from joining clashes alongside PJAK. The large and armed PJAK is believed to have bases in rural areas, and Iran seems to be pursuing a strategy of defeating one group at a time. Rudaw reports the Kurdistan Region has endured at least 865 drones and missiles since late February as the totals rise. KDPI told Rudaw that two drones struck its base in Degala, and that at the time no Peshmerga were present, which is why there were no casualties. The KDPI is described as a centrist and nationalist Kurdish Iranian opposition group that has faced Iranian targeting for decades, including the assassination of its leaders years ago. The attack comes as Iran continues to target headquarters of Kurdish groups along the frontier. Separately, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Ghalibaf, the lead negotiator in talks with the Trump administration, insists the Islamic Republic will not abandon seeking revenge for the slaying of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei, who was killed in a US-Israeli airstrike.

In Regional Impacts, the transfer of American currency to Iraq has resumed after a suspension intended to pressure Baghdad to distance itself from Iran, a New York Times report said. The PM's spokesperson Haider al-Aboudi told the Times that dollar shipments to Iraq have resumed and that the problem has been resolved, while an Iraqi official noted that the Trump administration's suspension of funding and cooperation with Iraq’s security services remains in effect. The report referenced aides to Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi. The NYT account also cited a Kurdish official who tied the measures to concerns over the smuggling of American currency by Iran-backed Iraqi militias. The newspaper reached out to the US State Department for comment, but no response was provided. Al-Zaidi has been leading a broad anti-corruption crackdown that has involved detentions of politicians and officials across the political spectrum.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Syria's foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani traveled to Beirut on Thursday to meet Lebanese government leaders, including President Michel Aoun and then the parliament speaker Nabih Berri, an ally of Hezbollah. The visit follows a US suggestion, voiced by President Donald Trump, that Syria should take a more active role against Hezbollah in Lebanon. Syria’s government under former president Bashar al-Assad’s successor has presented itself as a US ally after the 2024 leadership change and has largely stayed out of the broader regional confrontation among the US, Israel and Iran. Trump said he had urged Sharaa to confront Hezbollah, and he argued that Syria might be better suited to address the group. Reuters reported in March that the United States had encouraged Syria to consider such action, though Damascus has denied any immediate deployment in Lebanon.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, analysis asks whether Prime Minister Netanyahu’s strength-first approach can guide Israel through the new Middle East. Netanyahu has long framed security and power as essential to Israel’s survival, a theme he reiterated as he warned that Israel must stay strong in a shifting region. Some observers question whether sheer strength will be enough as Iran’s axis and its proxies face pressure and as regional alignments shift. In remarks to soldiers in Lebanon, the prime minister stressed that Israel will remain firm in the south as long as Hezbollah is armed, and he noted that wars are not over. That sentiment frames his view that Israel must stay prepared for ongoing challenges while pursuing strategic security objectives in the years ahead.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Kobi Richter has spent a lifetime reinventing industries, rising from one of Israel’s most decorated Israeli Air Force pilots to building global companies like Orbotech and Medinol. Now he says the country’s greatest innovation will come not from artificial intelligence or medicine alone, but from bringing together people who have yet to participate in Israel’s innovation economy, broadening the base of talent and ideas contributing to growth.

In Uplifting News, a life story that goes beyond Entebbe centers on Doron Almog revisiting war, family and loss fifty years after the Entebbe rescue. Almog, who was then a commander of the Paratroopers Reconnaissance Unit, reflects on the lessons his son Eran taught him about humanity, dignity and shared responsibility. The interview begins with the motto engraved at the entrance of the military boarding school in Haifa, “walk humbly,” drawn from the Book of Micah, as Almog discusses a career that led him to lead and to serve as chairman of The Jewish Agency. The 50th anniversary of the spectacular rescue of 105 hostages from Entebbe anchors a meditation on sacrifice, steadfastness and the bonds that hold soldiers and families together.

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/iran-news/article-901200
https://t.me/ILtoday/19456
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901194
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901203
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901201
https://www.ynetnews.com/magazine/article/h1u1xk77fl
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901191