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

HEADLINES
Iran Strikes Gulf Bases Warns US
US Strikes Iran Hits 90 Targets
Erdogan Pushes F-35 Sale to Turkey

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s parliament speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the United States will face consequences, as the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for strikes on Gulf states, targeting two US bases in Bahrain and two in Kuwait. Bahrain’s interior ministry reported sirens sounding a second time, and state media attributed those alerts to Iranian missiles. Kuwait said its air defenses were confronting rocket and drone attacks, and Qatar sent a brief mobile alert with an all-clear about ten minutes later. Ghalibaf said the strikes were in response to American attacks on southern Iran earlier in the day, insisting that “America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free” and signaling that the Strait of Hormuz would only open with Iranian arrangements, not American ones.

In US Military Role, the United States conducted a second straight wave of strikes on Iran, hitting more than 90 military targets including air defenses, missile and drone sites, naval assets, and coastal infrastructure along Iran’s coastline, in retaliation for Iran’s targeting of commercial shipping. Iran’s IRGC claimed responsibility for strikes on US bases in Bahrain and Kuwait and warned that further American attacks would trigger a broader regional response. Bahrain reported repeated air-raid sirens, with state media linking them to Iranian missiles, while Kuwait activated its air defenses against rockets and drones. Israel’s leadership held emergency security consultations, and the United States redeployed aerial refueling aircraft to the region. A separate US Central Command release described the latest strikes as targeting 90 sites, including military logistics infrastructure, missile and drone storage sites, air defense systems, coastal defense surveillance installations, and unspecified naval targets.

In Regional Impacts, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan dismissed objections from Israel and Greece to a possible US sale of F-35 fighter jets to Turkey, saying those concerns have no place in his world. He noted that Donald Trump’s administration had hinted at a positive approach toward delivering the jets, after sanctions were lifted in connection with Turkey’s 2019 purchase of Russian missile defense systems. Erdogan also accused Israel of a disinformation campaign over the deal and suggested that, once the F-35s are delivered, the world will see that America kept its promise.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an editorial argued that President Donald Trump must not abandon his promise to the Iranian people as the Tehran deal appears to be collapsing, noting that Iranians have faced widespread hardship and that their hopes extended beyond silence or regret. The piece discusses the broader questions surrounding the US–Iran memorandum of understanding and the impact on oil markets, shipping, and regional security, while acknowledging that Israel seeks to preserve Tehran’s nuclear program, missile capacity, and regional leverage. Rahm Emanuel, the former US ambassador to Japan and former White House chief of staff, told Tel Aviv University that Democrats who support Israel can still lead the White House in 2028, provided the party reconsiders the current “status quo” and allows more critical discourse about Israel policy. Separately, President Trump, speaking from Air Force One, suggested that Iran wants a deal but questioned whether the other side would honor it, describing the interlocutors as “crazy” at times and implying uncertainty about their trustworthiness.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog told graduates of the National Security College that Israel’s security and law enforcement bodies are loyal to the sovereign and to the Israeli people and laws, not to any single person or political camp. His remarks followed David Zini’s explanation for accepting Prime Minister Netanyahu’s offer to lead the Shin Bet, with Zini saying loyalty to the elected echelon overrides personal opinion. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir addressed the ceremony, outlining the security challenges facing Israel and the need to expand the IDF’s ranks. Netanyahu also pressed for changes within Likud, proposing to reserve slots 2, 4, 6, and 8 on the party’s Knesset slate, giving him control of half the top ten and drawing criticism that the move could sideline current lawmakers and weaken the party primary. In a separate local update, the family of Givati officer Nirel Zini, who was murdered and beheaded on October 7, reported finding nine teeth and possible human bones in Kfar Aza, though earlier remains found there were identified as belonging to a terrorist.

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-901944
https://worldisraelnews.com/middle-east-on-edge-as-us-pounds-iran-tehran-strikes-gulf-bases/
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22065
https://www.timesofisrael.com/erdogan-derides-israeli-and-greek-concerns-over-potential-us-sale-of-f-35s-to-turkey/
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-901921
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-901947
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/78222
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901945
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1ta11o27fl
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1dosz3xfe