Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-20 at 10:02

HEADLINES
Iran's wounded supreme leader still giving orders
Two U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan strike
Lebanon security framework aims to disarm Hezbollah

The time is now 10:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israeli security officials say Iran’s new supreme leader remains inside the country after surviving an assassination attempt, but describe him as wounded and giving orders, yet weakened, concealed and increasingly dependent on Revolutionary Guard commander Ahmad Vahidi.

In Iranian Retaliation, dozens of US soldiers have been wounded in Iranian strikes in Jordan over the past week, though CENTCOM has disclosed only a limited number of cases. Helicopters were damaged, and CENTCOM says it withholds numbers to avoid aiding Iran in targeting further attacks. The report also notes that two US service members were killed in a Friday strike on Muwaffaq Salti Air Base.

In US Military Role, a Jerusalem Post roundup notes the latest updates, credited to host Shifra Jacobs and edited by Shir Perets and Lara Sukster Mosheyof, as part of its coverage of the regional security landscape.

In Regional Impacts, the United States says the security framework between Israel and Lebanon has entered its first operational phase in three villages—Froun, Srifa, and Zawtar al-Gharbiya—in southern Lebanon, conducted under the Military Coordination Group for Lebanon and aimed at disarming Hezbollah, expanding Lebanese government control, and paving the way for an Israeli withdrawal. Also, air raid sirens are again sounding in Bahrain.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia effective immediately, saying the move is in response to what they describe as an unjust siege and a broken four-year truce; the group said missiles were fired at Saudi Arabia last week in the escalation. Hamas named Khalil al-Hayya, a former wartime negotiator, as the new head of its political bureau, the first appointment to the post since Yahya Sinwar’s death in October 2024, with Hayya described as increasingly influential in Hamas leadership as others have been killed. Iran’s IRGC released a statement claiming it damaged aircraft at Jordan’s Aqaba Airport, asserting it had intelligence support from Jordanian sources and warning of further actions, in a broader message that also framed regional threats in terms of armed resistance.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, more than 112,000 registered Democrats are eligible to vote in internal primaries for the party’s Knesset slate ahead of the October 27 election, with the left-wing Democrats forming a core part of the opposition bloc aiming to replace Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The party, formed in 2024 by merging Labor and Meretz, selected Yair Golan to lead; by mid-day, about 63% of the 70,834 members had voted to determine the slate, which will be selected from 51 candidates and arranged to ensure gender parity through a zipper system.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Haredi leader Rabbi Dov Lando of Degel Hatorah attacked religious Zionists for waging wars not intended for Israel’s protection, prompting Prime Minister Netanyahu to defend soldiers and urge gratitude for their service. Degel Hatorah later warned Netanyahu not to attack the Torah scholars or the sanctity of their authority within the community.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel’s Foreign Ministry reports 45 antisemitic incidents against Israelis abroad since July 2025, a record level, including physical assaults, fights, spitting, verbal abuse, denial of service, and expulsion from hotels, cafes, and restaurants, alongside hundreds of other emergency-related cases such as missing persons, arrests, hospitalizations, rescue operations, and evacuations abroad.

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.ynetnews.com/article/hyjx4jieml
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-903058
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/jpost-headlines/article-903066
https://worldisraelnews.com/us-says-lebanese-army-begins-takeover-of-villages-held-by-idf/
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22325
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903077
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903070
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903069
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903068
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903064
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903086