Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 09:02

HEADLINES
Ahmadinejad under house arrest, Israel recruited him
US strikes Iran; Hormuz tensions spike
UK bans IRGC, tightens state terrorism powers

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 Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence arm after Iranian authorities uncovered a significant portion of his contacts with Israel, The New York Times reported, citing four senior Iranian officials. The report describes a covert operation by Israel aimed at recruiting Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and, at a later stage, even planning to install him as Iran’s leader following the regime’s overthrow. It notes that in early 2024 a senior Hungarian official asked the rector of a Budapest university to invite Ahmadinejad to a conference on climate change, which the rector said was intended as cover for secret talks between Ahmadinejad and Israeli intelligence officials. He agreed, believing that if two enemies talked, it could yield advantages for both sides.

In US Military Role, explosions were heard around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, Mehr News Agency reported on Monday afternoon, citing local sources. The report suggested the blasts could be the result of clashes in the strait. Earlier in the day, the US military announced that American forces had completed a wave of strikes against Iran in the early hours, part of an effort to degrade Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. The US statement said dozens of targets across multiple cities were hit, including air-defense systems, radar sites, small boats and missile and drone capabilities. In response, Iran reportedly launched attacks against US military infrastructure in the region, triggering sirens in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait.

In Regional Impacts, President Donald Trump said the United States will probably take over the Strait of Hormuz and should be reimbursed for guarding the waterway, telling Fox News that “we’re going to keep the strait, and we’ll probably run it. We’ll become the guardian of the strait.” He argued the United States should be compensated for protecting the passage, noting that energy markets have felt the impact of Iran’s actions and related disruptions. Tehran has said that passage remains suspended after an incident involving an unauthorized transit, with permits to be issued once stability is restored. The broader picture is a gulf region on edge, as Gulf states remain on alert for further Iranian actions and the conflict continues to affect regional stability.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Senator Lindsey Graham’s death leaves a void in US support for Israel and Ukraine, removing a longtime advocate of strong security ties and a frequent traveler to allied capitals. In Kyiv two days before his passing, Graham discussed Russian sanctions, Ukraine’s air-defense needs, and the future of American backing for these priorities. His absence removes one of the Senate’s most visible voices in favor of robust US military commitments to Israel and Ukraine and sustained pressure on Iran, shaping how policy may be debated in the months ahead.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Saudi Arabia struck the runway at the Houthi-controlled Sana’a International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, Yemeni media reported, as the Yemeni Defense Ministry warned that its patience had run out and vowed to respond to any Iranian and Houthi violations of Yemen’s airspace. Residents in Sana’a reported airstrikes near the airport as warplanes flew over the city, and the Yemeni Information Minister said the Houthis had detained an International Committee of the Red Cross aircraft, holding its pilot and co-pilot at Sana’a airport. In a separate development, reports described ongoing Saudi attacks on Yemen, underscoring the widening regional tensions linked to Iran’s network of influence.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, chaos within Likud deepens as the party’s court-advised review of leadership conduct converges with a broader fight over the party’s primary rules. With petitions seeking to delay the vote on primary rules, the party’s legal committee ordered responses and left open the possibility of an emergency hearing, as petitions challenged the draft rules and the inclusion of New Hope members in the ballot. Netanyahu has held meetings with Haim Katz as he works to bridge disagreements, and some lawmakers report calls from Netanyahu associates urging them to withdraw from the primaries in exchange for positions, a pattern that has fed talk of internal strife and strategic maneuvering ahead of the vote. Separately, the Likud Constitution Committee is set to vote on changes to the primary system that could give Netanyahu authority to determine the highest-ranked slots on the party list, with Netanyahu expected to attend and others pushing back on the changes.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the UK government has proscribed Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps after attacks on the Jewish community and Iranian dissidents, fast-tracking the National (State Threats) Bill to extend terrorism powers to state-backed groups. The new law makes it a crime to invite support for the IRGC, express support for it, assist its activities related to the UK, or accept benefits from it, with penalties up to 14 years in prison. Proponents say the move disrupts networks around designated groups, while opponents caution about potential collateral impact on discourse and advocacy in diaspora communities.

In Uplifting News, ZAKA deployed an international response team to Venezuela following a direct request from Venezuelan authorities for aid. The team conducted search-and-rescue missions inside collapsed structures, distributed tents, medicine, and non-perishable food, and brought specialist physicians to assist overwhelmed hospitals. ZAKA engineers also evaluated building safety for residents’ return and helped identify land for a potential new residential neighborhood for families displaced by the twin earthquakes that affected the region.

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/article-902364
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902359
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-902357
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902358
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902350
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902356
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902354
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902352
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902344
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/trump-says-us-should-control-strait-hormuz-and-get-paid-it
https://t.me/hnaftali/23884