Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-20 at 03:02

HEADLINES
Iran Attacks Bushehr Targets Muwaffaq Salti Base
US Returns MQ-4C Triton Expands Ops
Iran Claims Tankers Exploded Air Defenses Low

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iranian media report attacks in Bushehr. Reports from Iranian outlets say attacks occurred in Bushehr, while Jordanian officials say Iran carried out a strike on the Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.

In US Military Role, After a week of absence the MQ-4C Triton, one of the Navy’s most costly ISR aircraft at about 200 million dollars per unit, was returned to the area. The unmanned high-altitude aircraft is designed for intelligence gathering over land and sea. The drone had been missing out of the area for fears of being shot down, but officials say there is now an urgent need for intelligence collection, signaling a possible expansion of operations.

In Regional Impacts, Iran claims tankers exploded as US warns air defenses are running low. A US official says Washington is preparing for a broader war but lacks sufficient air defenses and long-range munitions, as Iran reports strikes across the country and says two oil tankers were disabled in the Strait of Hormuz. Separately, Israeli forces entered the Palestinian village of Deir Jarir in Samaria early this morning to protect a group of Israeli civilians searching for livestock that had been stolen from them by Palestinian thieves. Locals hurled stones and cinderblocks at the soldiers, who returned fire. Two Palestinians were reportedly killed in the clash.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US still open to diplomatic solution with Iran if attacks in Strait of Hormuz end, Rubio says. Rubio also stated that there is a growing split in Iran between the more militant extremists who continue to attack the US and other countries and those who are concerned with Iran’s economy. If the moderates prevail and the regime agrees to a deal they would live by, that would be a positive development, he said. He argued that Iran’s economy is strained in part because funds are funneled to proxy terror groups, and that sanctions relief or oil access feed into that dynamic.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Over 70 mayors and council leaders filed a petition condemning the haredi draft exemption bill. The petition says studying Torah is valuable but so is defending the land, and adds that many residents can study Torah and serve the state in the IDF and security forces. It warns the legislation weakens national resilience and social cohesion. Signatories include leaders from multiple cities. Separately, police arrested several Tax Authority employees on suspicion of accepting bribes, allegedly involving around 80 million shekels in illegal tax refunds; suspects include former workers and one serving as an assessment team coordinator. In another development, State Employees Union Chairman Ofir Alkalay said inspectors will not return to Bnei Brak without security; after a meeting with the city’s mayor, the Tax Authority said operations would resume, though union officials voiced doubts about the assurances.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Anti-Israel Influencer Lily Jay Hinson Faces Scamming Allegations, as ABC News Australia reported an investigation into donors to her foundation and backlash online included harsh claims about her stance and alleged charity misuses. In Britain, the narrative war over Oct. 7 began almost before Israel had counted its dead, with crowds in London and other UK cities celebrating what was described as “resistance.” Since then, much of Britain’s anti-Israel discourse has shifted from denial to inversion, casting Israel as the villain and pressuring Jews to condemn Zionism, a development seen by many as a warning about Western antisemitism.

In Uplifting News, It’s a boy! JD Vance and wife Usha celebrate birth of fourth child. Their son, Alec Neel Vance, was born on Sunday at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center in Bethesda, Maryland. Vance said both mother and baby are healthy and that their other children are excited to meet their new brother.

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
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