Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-12 at 17:02

HEADLINES
Israel Watches Iran as Gulf Tensions Rise
Survivors Say Warnings Ignored at Kuwait Strike
Saudi-Israel Normalization Prize Amid Iran War

The time is now 5:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israel is closely following developments in Iran amid expected escalation. Following Iranian claims it killed six US soldiers in Kuwait, the conflict in the Gulf is likely to escalate overnight. An Israeli source said, “For now we are outside it, but that could change.” Energy prices are climbing again as world fears all-out war.

In Iranian Retaliation, survivors of Iran's March attack on a US base in Kuwait say leadership ignored warnings. The accounts describe a drone strike that killed six US soldiers on March 1 at Port Shuaiba after intelligence warned the site was a probable target, warnings that soldiers say were not heeded. The investigation, based on 17 people including survivors, notes Brigadier General Clint Barnes left the base after the strike while soldiers under his command stayed. The report describes feelings of guilt and betrayal among those who survived, and it says wounded soldiers felt the US military’s medical system failed them.

In US Military Role, the IDF coordinated with the US military on several possible scenarios as the war with Iran escalates, including one in which the US tightens its response and Israel joins the strikes. A senior security official says tensions within Iran’s leadership are delaying negotiations and complicating a framework with the US. The senior official describes a pragmatic camp, including Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, as rational and seeking an agreement, while a hardline camp led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi has hardened its stance. The official says the “chess players with patience” believe President Trump does not want to return to fighting, certainly not before the midterm elections, and that Israel’s defense establishment shares this view. Separately, reports note that President Trump posted footage of a B-2 bomber and a B-1 bomber.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Ambassador Leiter says the IDF will remain in Lebanon if Hezbollah refuses to leave pilot zones. He added that President Trump “has been consistent” and that Israel would join the Americans in their current campaign if requested. Leiter said Hezbollah has no business in Lebanon and that Israel and Lebanon are on the same page. The withdrawal would occur only if Hezbollah is dismantled and the Lebanese Armed Forces are receptive, with the framework not delayed and the withdrawal contingent on the trilateral arrangement.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Graham aimed to reach Israel-Saudi normalization before the end of the year as a prize for the Iran war. Axios reports that the late US Senator Lindsey Graham believed normalization could be the “big prize” of the war, leveraging a broader realignment of Arab states with Israel if the crisis in the Strait of Hormuz was brought under control. The deal, he argued, would hinge on securing enough Democratic votes for two-thirds Congress approval and on the next Israeli government being willing to meet Saudi normalization demands, with the possibility of an overwhelming military operation to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy failed.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Shin Bet Chief Zini had his first meeting with Opposition leader Yair Lapid since taking the post, amid allegations of excessive loyalty to Prime Minister Netanyahu. Zini, who took office in October 2025 after a career in the IDF, discussed Shin Bet operations and threats on different fronts. It remained unclear whether the meeting was meant to dampen criticism or to demonstrate bipartisanship toward the opposition.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Alan Dershowitz said that Jews who voted for New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani are “idiots” for backing a candidate who runs contrary to their identity, adding that Mamdani should be the mayor of Tehran. The remarks came during an appearance with Rudy Giuliani, highlighting a charged exchange over Jewish political choices.

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.ynetnews.com/article/s1knadbvzg
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902283
https://t.me/newssil/206472
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902286
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902282
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkovzi11nfg
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902275
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902278
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902232