Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-07 at 05:01

HEADLINES
Iran warns US no final deal yet
Damascus blasts injure 18 near Macron hotel
IDF doubts LAF can crush Hezbollah sites

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's foreign minister Abbas Araghchi posted on X on Tuesday that negotiations on a final deal will not commence if threats by the United States continue. He cited Paragraph 13 of the Memorandum of Understanding, saying signatories must first implement a ceasefire, lift the blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, waive sanctions, and unfreeze restricted assets, and that negotiations on the final deal would proceed only on the other paragraphs. He urged the United States to honor its signature. Araghchi's post also cited unity among Iranians to honor Grand Ayatollah Khamenei and said that neither the people nor Iran's armed forces are swayed by threats. The warning followed a Monday interview in which US President Donald Trump said, "We're going to make a deal, or we're going to finish the job."

In Regional Impacts, blasts rocked Damascus on Tuesday near the hotel where French President Emmanuel Macron was due to stay during a visit. Security sources said an explosive device planted on a vehicle near Macron's hotel triggered the blasts, which occurred as Macron had left the area moments earlier. The authorities said 18 people were injured, including four police officers. Reuters video showed flames and smoke from a trash can after a second blast appeared near an ambulance, and Macron's Elysee Palace said he did not hear the explosion. The attacks took place in a busy area between the tourism ministry and the national museum across from the Four Seasons. Macron's trip has been framed as a signal of Damascus's rising regional status, with Syria's President Ahmed al-Sharaa also expected to travel to Turkey for meetings on the sidelines of the NATO summit in the coming days. Macron traveled to Syria on July 6, in what France described as a commitment to support a sovereign, pluralist Syria at peace with its neighbors.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF Northern Command officials say they doubt the Lebanese Armed Forces will effectively destroy Hezbollah infrastructure once the framework agreed by Jerusalem and Beirut is activated. They note a high share of Shiite soldiers in the LAF who may sympathize with Hezbollah, making a thorough cleanup unlikely in their view. Until the LAF launches the pilot program, the IDF will not withdraw from any point in southern Lebanon. The plan assigns the LAF the task of removing explosives, collecting weapons and equipment, and destroying Hezbollah and Iranian positions built over two decades, with the date for the operation expected to be set in the coming weeks.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice warned the government that elected officials must follow the law, and public employees who refuse to comply with court rulings could face civil lawsuits. The message came in a response regarding the Second Authority for Television and Radio. The court said that, regardless of political context, compliance with judicial decisions is a fundamental condition for the rule of law in a democratic state. The panel cited a 2008 ruling on the duty to comply with court decisions and emphasized the distinction between a private citizen who ignores a ruling and a state authority that does so.

In Uplifting News, the Jerusalem Municipality announced that the annual Maccabiah Night Run will close major roads to traffic beginning at 5:00 p.m. and continuing until around 11:00 p.m. Affected thoroughfares include Ruppin, Rabin, Ben Zvi, Hazaz, Lorch, Fichman, Tchernichovsky, Shai Agnon, Ha-Rav Herzog, Shota Rustaveli, Museums Boulevard, Elyashar, Brodetski, and Balfour. Traffic jams are expected on arteries leading to the closed routes, and parking will be restricted on Ben Zvi and Ruppin from Monday 8:00 p.m. to Tuesday midnight. The night run offers 5-kilometer, 10-kilometer, and half-marathon options and will pass by landmarks such as the Knesset, the Jerusalem Science Museum, Hebrew University, the Rose Garden, and Givat Ram Stadium, with music and light displays.

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-901679
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901697
https://t.me/newssil/206066
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901680
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1z3sx9qme
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901686
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901682
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/sports/article-901702