Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 16:01

HEADLINES
- Damaged ships cripple Hormuz amid violations
- Sinwar warns Israel nuclear strike
- Houthis hit Sanaa airport as deterrence crumbles

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, local sources report that a number of ships that violated the rules were damaged in the Strait of Hormuz.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a leaked handwritten message from Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar suggests he believed Israel might use a nuclear weapon in response to the October 7 invasion, risking his own demise to bring about Israel’s destruction; analysts say the document highlights the fanaticism driving Hamas leadership and challenges in predicting behavior in the region. Separately, Saudi Arabia said its defenses intercepted ballistic missiles fired toward the southern region by Yemen’s Houthi movement after the Houthis accused Riyadh of striking an airport they control, with no casualties reported. The Houthis also claimed strikes on Sana’a International Airport, and analysts view the rapid retaliation as evidence of growing confidence and a broader erosion of deterrence in the Gulf.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Democratic senators led by Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Pentagon to disclose within a week the findings from a military investigation into the February 28 strike at a girls’ school in Iran, which Iranian officials have cited as a war crime. The lawmakers want the unclassified accounting, a congressional briefing, and a plan to prevent a recurrence, noting that an initial internal assessment reported that US forces were likely responsible for the fatal strike, which Iran says killed hundreds of students and teachers. The Pentagon said the investigation was ongoing and no updates were available.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, officials and observers continued to dissect the Ro Khanna incident in the West Bank, with both the IDF and Khanna’s team releasing information and video that suggest the situation was complex and less alarming than initial reports, though it underscored the challenges Israel faces in areas with lingering tensions. The Knesset meanwhile passed the Torah Study Basic Law after weeks of coalition tensions, enshrining Torah study as a fundamental value but drawing criticism that it could encourage draft evasion and alter the status of yeshiva students amid the military manpower shortfall. With elections now set for October 27, Israelis abroad face a narrow window to vote, as absentee options remain limited under Israeli law. Opposition leaders, including Yair Lapid, promised to repair Israel after the ballot, pledging to repeal parts of the coalition’s legislative blitz and to establish a state commission of inquiry into government handling of the October 7 Hamas attacks.

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://t.me/newssil/206549
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902398
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902397
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hk410hmnzl
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902410
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902409
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902405
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902402
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902400