Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-03 at 08:02

HEADLINES
Iran vows vengeance for slain Ali Khamenei
US withdraws most Nigeria ISIS forces
Iran Oman Hormuz traffic pact sparks tensions

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 Iranian Retaliation, Iranian Commander-in-Chief Amir Hatami vows the Islamic Republic will avenge Israel's slaying of former Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In US Military Role, the United States has withdrawn most of the forces it deployed for the operation against Islamic State terrorists in Nigeria and is now providing intelligence support at Abuja's request, the head of US Africa Command said. In May, US and Nigerian forces conducted military operations in northeastern Nigeria that killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the second-in-command of ISIS globally. AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson described May's joint operation as a model for future security cooperation in Africa. "We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the intelligence sharing," Anderson told journalists during a US State Department-hosted briefing after the conference. The operation, in Nigeria's Lake Chad Basin region, demonstrated Washington's approach of providing specialized capabilities.

In Regional Impacts, Iran and Oman have come to an agreement regarding the regulation of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, based on Article V of the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced during a meeting with Chinese officials on Friday. "The Israelis are undoubtedly seeking to disrupt the Iran-US Memorandum of Understanding," Ghalibaf added, "but the deterrent power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region will prevent them from starting a war again." Ghalibaf also resolved that the United States would not be allowed to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz. "The Americans pursue a unilateral policy globally," he explained, "and to reduce tensions and prevent their spread, close coordination in the political and economic arenas between Iran and China is of great importance." Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, He Wei, responded by committing to further strengthening ties between Iran and China. "The friendship between China and Iran is a long-standing friendship, and we will further develop the relations between the two countries," he pledged. He Wei pledged to strengthen Iran-China ties this year.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, My Word: Mending fences in good faith - opinion. The opinion piece argues that true peace won't be achieved without disarming and dismantling Hamas, Hezbollah, and, above all, Iran. It notes a "Trilateral Framework" agreement signed between Israel, Lebanon, and the US last Friday that shook the border landscape but did not open the gate. The piece recalls the Good Fence along the Israel-Lebanon border, its symbolism, and the 2000 withdrawal under prime minister Ehud Barak that changed the border dynamic. It also references the Memorandum of Understanding signed last month between the US and Iran, with help from Pakistan and Qatar, as part of the broader regional diplomacy being discussed.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, 'Mazal tov America!': Herzog shares congratulatory message with US amb. Huckabee ahead of July 4. President Isaac Herzog visited US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee at the US Embassy in Jerusalem to mark America's 250th Independence Day. The surprise visit was announced by Herzog in a post on X, accompanied by a congratulatory message to US President Donald Trump and the American people. In his post, Huckabee called Herzog’s visit a special moment. In his letter to Trump, Herzog thanked the American president for his steadfast commitment to Israel's security and for leading with the aim of peace and security in the region. “I’m extremely moved and happy to be here at the American embassy in Jerusalem, to congratulate the president, Congress, the leadership, and the people of the United States of America,” Herzog said in the video shared on X. “I brought a special message of goodwill from me and the people of Israel to the president of the United States of America.” America's 250th birthday celebration is a moment to honor the American spirit, Herzog noted, adding that it is time for Israel to express its appreciation for the US leadership.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Israel Police arrest two following attack on Tel Aviv deputy mayor, activist group. Tel Aviv District Police arrested two suspects near Tikva Market in south Tel Aviv on suspicion of involvement in an assault against activists, including Tel Aviv Deputy Mayor Chen Arieli, police confirmed. A number of people gathered around the activists, who had set up a stand, and physically and verbally attacked them, police noted. Arieli, who was at the stand with youth activists from the Democrats Party, wrote that the attackers beat them, spat on them, and insulted them. She said the incident is the result of a government she says divides and sows hatred. In unity government push, Netanyahu bets Israel's political boycott is beginning to crack. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has been conducting a campaign around broad coalition-building, arguing the political boycott against him is losing its rationale. He appeared in a live Hebrew-language interview on Channel 14, where the audience repeatedly chanted his name. This is notable given his many English-language interviews since October 7; the Channel 14 appearance, hosted by Yinon Magal, marks an unusually visible Hebrew-language engagement as election considerations loom.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel's tech employees cost more than US counterparts. Israel's 400,000 tech workers have long been expensive by global standards, second only to Silicon Valley in some measures. A study by the Israel Growth Forum found that the cost of an Israeli tech worker has surpassed the cost of a US counterpart for the first time, rising to about 1.02 times the US level, influenced in part by the shekel’s strength against the dollar. The study analyzed data from 10,000 employees at seven growth companies. The shift comes after a period when Israeli salaries were roughly 85% of US levels in the prior year. Meanwhile, Meta Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg acknowledged at an internal town hall that AI agent progress has slowed relative to expectations, even as the company plans as much as $145 billion in AI infrastructure this year. He described the restructuring as imperfect and said further layoffs were not anticipated this year, even as executives recalibrate to fund AI-driven efficiency gains.

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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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901337
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901340
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901282
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-901339
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-901338