Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-21 at 15:02

HEADLINES
Pickaxe Mountain threat sharpens Israel Iran clash
US widens Iran strikes eyes Pickaxe Mountain
Erbil drone downed after consulate blasts

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

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the threat of striking Iran’s underground facility known as Pickaxe Mountain underscores rising tensions as Tehran and Washington exchange fire in the Gulf. President Donald Trump has said he would take out Pickaxe Mountain, telling Iranians to be ready during a July 13 appearance on the Hugh Hewitt Show: “We're going to take out Pickaxe Mountain. Tell the Iranians to be ready.” The site sits about 220 kilometers south of Tehran and roughly 2 kilometers from the Natanz uranium enrichment complex. Natanz has housed enrichment plants, which were targeted in prior conflicts, and the tunnel facility at Pickaxe Mountain had not been hit in those wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security. The peak rises to about 1,600 meters above sea level, and the threat comes as the broader confrontation in the region continues to escalate, complicating efforts to end the conflict.

In US Military Role, Israeli officials say US President Donald Trump is moving toward a meaningful expansion of the American campaign against Iran, a move that could provoke Tehran to retaliate directly against Israel. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu convened a six-hour security consultation with senior ministers and defense officials to assess the evolving situation, and at one point he spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The United States Central Command has entered its 11th straight day of strikes against Iran, with a source telling The Jerusalem Post that CENTCOM has hit about 1,000 targets across Iran in the past ten days. Trump has described Tehran as desperate to resume talks, while insisting the United States will target the Pickaxe Mountain area near Natanz as part of any broader campaign.

In Regional Impacts, Reuters reports that after explosions near the US Consulate in Erbil, Iraq, two explosive-laden drones were shot down in the locality, according to sources familiar with the matter. The report notes the two drones were intercepted following the reported blasts near the consulate, emphasizing ongoing regional spillover from the widening confrontation.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog urged restraint and unity as Israel heads toward its 2026 elections, calling on the public to vote responsibly. He said authorities must guard the integrity of the electoral process in the face of internal and external threats and asked law enforcement to stand firm against such threats. Herzog warned that social media poses new dangers and urged citizens to be thoughtful and careful in what they share and consume, stressing that the country’s divisions must not undermine democracy. Separately, Otzma Yehudit’s Itamar Ben-Gvir pressed for Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara’s removal as a precondition for his party to join the next coalition, arguing that her authority limits the government’s ability to act. Baharav-Miara has defended her role as ensuring government decisions comply with the law. In a separate move, Israel First Party founder Sharren Haskel is campaigning to recruit right-wing figures for a “broad Zionist government,” signaling openness to collaboration with figures across the political spectrum and even potentially with Prime Minister Netanyahu after the elections. Haskel described building a broad coalition as essential to putting the state’s interests ahead of factional concerns, while also noting discussions with former Likud figures and possible alignment with other actors on the right. Analysts note Netanyahu’s strategy of courting haredi parties may backfire, as growing discontent over draft exemptions threatens to become a political liability for the prime minister, especially amid recent comments from a Lithuanian haredi leader criticizing conscription among Religious Zionists and highlighting the costs of coalition concessions.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Evangelical Christian Zionist Laurie Cardoza-Moore urged President Trump to distance himself from Vice President JD Vance’s recent Israel-related remarks. Cardoza-Moore warned that Vance’s comments risk legitimizing antisemitic conspiracy theories and could damage relations with Israel among evangelical supporters in the United States. She described herself and her backers as Zionist, noting their Christian faith and their support for Israel, and urged Trump to disavow Vance’s statements about Israel, Iran, and supposed Israeli influence in American politics, following Vance’s remarks on Joe Rogan’s podcast about a “very discreet, extremely well-funded campaign” seeking to derail negotiations with Iran.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Dun & Bradstreet’s Duns 100 has published Israel’s first comprehensive ranking of defense-industry companies, mapping 60 firms across six categories: defense integrators, defense manufacturing, unmanned and autonomous systems, homeland security, intelligence and cyber, and tactical and ground equipment. Of the 60 ranked companies, 23 fall under defense industry and manufacturing, and 19 are in unmanned and autonomous systems, underscoring the sector’s central role in the country’s defense-tech ecosystem. Leading names across categories include Elbit Systems, Plasan Sasa, Aeronautics, Magal, Cellebrite, and Israel Weapon Industries, with other notable firms such as D-Fend Solutions, ThirdEye Systems, Parazero Technologies, High Lander Aviation, Controp Precision Technologies, Bagira, Smart Shooter, and MeproLight highlighted for their contributions to autonomy, unmanned platforms, and related technologies. The rankings reflect a widening defense-tech landscape as global conflicts push nations to advance new capabilities.

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/iran-news/article-903221
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903231
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22370
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903229
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903225
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903222
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903220
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-903218
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-903226