Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 10:02

HEADLINES
Ahmadinejad under house arrest over Israeli ties
Trump touts Hormuz guarding for payment
UK designates IRGC and HAYI terrorists

The time is now 10:01 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 years-long covert operation by Israel to recruit Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and, at one stage, to consider installing him as Iran’s leader. It notes an unusual episode in early 2024 when a senior Hungarian official asked Gergely Deli, rector of the Ludovika University of Public Service in Budapest, to invite Ahmadinejad to a climate conference, which the rector says was presented as cover for secret talks between Ahmadinejad and Israeli intelligence officials.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said the United States will probably take over the Strait of Hormuz and should be reimbursed for guarding it, calling the strait the guardian angel of the route. He said the United States would guard it and be paid, noting that negotiations in Washington lasted 11 hours and that Iran launched a drone at a ship about an hour after the talks concluded. He added that the two countries had agreed to everything during that meeting, framing the issue as part of a broader confrontation with Iran.

In Regional Impacts, regional instability remains a concern as Gulf states stay on alert for possible Iranian attacks, a point highlighted in a Jerusalem Post roundup of top stories.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Yemeni forces struck the runway of the Houthi-controlled Sana’a International Airport to prevent an Iranian plane from landing, the Yemeni Defense Ministry confirmed. Earlier anti-Houthi media reports in Yemen indicated that Saudi Arabia’s Air Force was responsible for the strikes. The Yemeni Defense Ministry also warned that its patience has run out and it would respond to any Iranian and Houthi violations of Yemen’s airspace.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Lindsey Graham’s death leaves a void in US support for Israel and Ukraine. Two days before his death, the longtime senator visited Kyiv to discuss Russian sanctions, Ukraine’s air-defense needs, and future American support. He had traveled to Ukraine frequently since 2022, and his passing is being seen in Jerusalem as the end of a political relationship that had underpinned close ties with Israel. President Trump paid tribute to Graham as one of the greatest people and senators, underscoring the bipartisan impact of his leadership.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, chaos within Likud: Primary battle deepens as party court questions leadership's conduct. The Likud Constitution Committee was set to convene as petitions pressed the court to delay the vote on primary rules; petitions challenged the draft rules and the eligibility of New Hope members to participate, and another called for reviving the 2022 rules as alternatives. The court urged the party’s legal adviser to respond by 3 p.m. and left open the possibility of an emergency hearing. The proceedings occur as Netanyahu seeks to navigate internal opposition to changes in the primary process.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Likud panel set to vote on changing primary system, expanding Netanyahu’s control over party list. Netanyahu has held meetings with Katz ahead of the vote and is pressing to bridge disagreements over the primary system. The vote, set for Monday at the King David Hotel in Jerusalem, has faced postponements amid opposition from senior figures, including Katz and Bitan, who have questioned the changes and the party’s internal dynamics. Some lawmakers reported calls from associates of Netanyahu urging them to withdraw from the primaries in exchange for positions, fueling further debate over internal party control.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UK government designates IRGC, HAYI as terror groups after attacks on Jewish community. Ministers fast-tracked the National (State Threats) Bill 2026, expanding proscription to include state-backed groups. The IRGC, the Islamic Movement of Companions of the Right (IMCR, also known as HAYI), and the GRU Volunteer Corps (GRU VC) will be listed, making it a crime to invite support for them, express supportive views, or assist their activities in the UK. The designation follows a wave of attacks linked to these groups in the UK and Europe.

In Uplifting News, ZAKA deploys team to aid Venezuela in search-and-rescue, distribute supplies, assess land. Israel’s volunteer emergency response organization sent an international team to Venezuela on June 29 to conduct search-and-rescue missions with Venezuelan authorities, distribute tents, medicine, and non-perishable food, and bring specialist physicians to assist overwhelmed hospitals. Engineers evaluated damaged buildings for safety and assisted plans to establish a new residential area for earthquake-displaced families, working alongside the Venezuelan government and local partners.

In Uplifting News, Join us for our weekly prayer meeting beginning shortly. The post invites participation in a weekly prayer gathering, with details shared for online attendance.

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://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/78288
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902349
https://t.me/newssil/206516
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22144