Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-16 at 21:02

HEADLINES
US strikes Bandar Abbas as Iran escalates
Herzog envisions peace with Saudi Arabia
Israel extends military service to 32 months

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the current aerial picture over the region tonight, based on publicly available flight-tracking, shows a US Navy P-8A Poseidon, multiple US Air Force KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46A Pegasus aerial refueling aircraft, and an unidentified US Air Force aircraft orbiting over the United Arab Emirates. Officials emphasize this snapshot covers only part of the overall air picture, with many US military aircraft not visible on public trackers and additional forces almost certainly operating in the region. The broader exchanges continue, including reported US strikes on bridges near Bandar Abbas and Iranian missile and drone attacks targeting US assets in Bahrain, Iraq, and Kuwait. Separately, purport video has circulated showing Patriot air defense interceptors being launched during an Iranian missile and drone attack on Bahrain earlier tonight.

In Regional Impacts, President Isaac Herzog spoke in an interview with Saudi state media about his dream of peace between Israel and Saudi Arabia and the importance of rapprochement between Jerusalem and Mecca as a foundation for regional stability. He expressed respect for Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and said he hopes to meet Saudi leadership officially in due course. Herzog also praised the United States for its firm strikes against Iran, saying such actions convey that Iran must disengage if it hopes to end the war. Iran, for its part, launched strikes against several regional targets, including Bahrain, Kuwait, and Jordan. Separately, Kuwait’s army is actively responding to another Iranian drone and missile attack, underscoring the spillover effects of the broader confrontation in the region.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Republicans in the US House pressed ahead with a $95 billion budget plan to back President Trump’s priorities for a potential Iran conflict, farm assistance, and a sweeping overhaul of voting requirements. The package would allocate about $60 billion for defense, $13 billion for intelligence, $12 billion for agriculture, and $10 billion to enact the SAVE America Act over the next decade, with the aim of clearing the measure for a full House vote and a possible reconciliation path in the Senate. Democrats criticized the move as not addressing rising costs for gasoline, food, and other essentials that voters cite as top concerns, and it remains uncertain whether the reconciliation path can pass the Senate under current rules. In a separate development reflecting partisan dynamics around Middle East policy, Jewish Republican voters appear to be coalescing around Marco Rubio for 2028 as JD Vance’s standing wanes, a shift described as reflecting support for Rubio’s stance on Israel amid the current Iran-related posture.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Knesset late Thursday night approved a bill to extend mandatory military service to 32 months. The measure passed 43 in favor, 12 against, and one abstention, and it will apply to those enlisted in June 2029 with discharge planned for January 2032 under a temporary framework. The extension is being pursued as part of the coalition’s push before the Knesset recesses ahead of elections, with critics arguing it could encourage draft evasion amid the IDF’s manpower challenges. In discussions within the Foreign Affairs and Defense Committee, the IDF had urged extending service to meet security needs, reinforcing the government’s stated goals amid a contested security environment.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a Maine Senate candidate has shifted his stance on how to describe Israel’s actions in Gaza. Jordan Wood, who was contending for the Democratic nomination last year, now writes that the United States cannot continue to fund what he describes as “Israel’s genocide in Gaza,” calling the policy a moral atrocity and arguing funds should be directed to domestic priorities such as schools, healthcare, and childcare. The development comes as the slate to replace Graham Platner narrows; Platner left the race after accusations of sexual assault, and Wood has resurfaced in the abbreviated primary.

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/DefenderDome/22224
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22223
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902806
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22222
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902809
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902808
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902804
https://www.timesofisrael.com/contender-to-replace-graham-platner-as-senate-candidate-changes-mind-on-genocide/