Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-03 at 09:01

HEADLINES
US Withdraws Most Nigeria Forces, Keeps Intelligence
Diplomatic Shift: Israel-Lebanon-US Trilateral Iran MoU
1,000 Days Since Hamas Massacre, Tribunal Rising

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

In US Military Role, the United States has withdrawn most of the forces it deployed for a recent operation against Islamic State terrorists in Nigeria and is now providing intelligence support at Abuja's request,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. That followed a US strike on Christmas Day against the terrorists ordered by US President Donald Trump, who said they had been targeting Christians in the African country. Addressing a conference of African defense chiefs in Angola on Thursday, AFRICOM Commander General Dagvin Anderson described May's joint US-Nigerian 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 "We have withdrawn much of our forces that were just there for that operation, but are continuing the partnership that Nigeria has asked for to help continue with the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. Anderson said the operation, in Nigeria's Lake Chad Basin region, demonstrated Washington's approach of providing specialized capabilities.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, true peace would require disarming and dismantling Hamas, Hezbollah, and, above all, their sponsor, Iran, according to a perspective piece describing a recent diplomatic shift. The piece notes a “Trilateral Framework” agreement signed between Israel, Lebanon, and the US last Friday that shook the border framework but did not open the gate, referencing the historic Good Fence along the Israel-Lebanon border and its symbolism from its 1976 establishment, the long-locked barrier, and the consequences of prior policy shifts. It also mentions a Memorandum of Understanding signed last month between the US and Iran, with the involvement of Pakistani and Qatari partners. Separately, reports from Yemen say fighter jets were spotted in Yemeni skies, with Houthi air-defense systems firing at them.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Isaac Herzog visited the US Ambassador to Israel, Mike Huckabee, at the US Embassy in Jerusalem to honor the United States’ 250th Independence Day and delivered a message to President Donald Trump. Herzog thanked the American president for his steadfast commitment to Israel's security and urged continued leadership toward peace and security in the region. Huckabee described the visit as a special moment, and Herzog said he was moved to be at the embassy to offer a goodwill message from the Israeli people. He called the US birthday celebration a moment to honor the American spirit and indicated Israel’s appreciation for the partnership with the United States.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, 1,000 days have passed since Hamas’ October 7 massacre in which 1,164 people were killed and 251 taken hostage, with the state building a dedicated military tribunal at Atarot in northern Jerusalem and enacting a special law funded at over a billion shekels to prosecute hundreds of defendants across multiple locations. Prosecutors will face the challenge of handling a vast and developing evidence record, a large witness pool, classified materials, and security considerations, as the first trials are not expected to begin before 2028, effectively creating a temporary justice system for a broad, multi-site case. In a separate case, 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; Arieli said activists from the Democrats Party were targeted, describing the attack as part of a government- and divisiveness-fueled climate. Additionally, Ben-Gurion Airport police arrested a well-known Israeli TV celebrity on suspicion of driving a Tesla with an invalid license; the license had been made valid after a ruling by Ashdod's traffic court, and the star was detained for questioning for driving while disqualified before being released to five days of house arrest with a court summons.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Israel's tech workforce remains among the most expensive globally, with 400,000 tech employees contributing to costs that are 2.4 times higher than those in Poland, Lithuania, Romania, and Ukraine. A study by the Israel Growth Forum found that the cost of an Israeli tech worker is now 1.02 times the cost of a US counterpart, a shift from 85% of US pay in May 2025. The finding comes as the shekel strengthens against the dollar, given that capital is largely raised in dollars while local wages are paid in shekels. The study examined data from 10,000 employees across seven growth companies within the forum’s member group, though company names were not disclosed.

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/international/article-901336
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901204
https://t.me/hnaftali/23718
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901337
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901283
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901340
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901334
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-901339