Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-21 at 17:01

HEADLINES
- US plans Iran strikes; Israel on edge
- Hamas Europe attack plan; arrests across nations
- Herzog warns on 2026 election integrity threats

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Israeli officials believe President Donald Trump is preparing to significantly escalate the American campaign against Iran, with plans to strike Iranian strategic infrastructure and senior regime figures. The assessment suggests Tehran could retaliate directly against Israel in response. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu held a six-hour security consultation with ministers and senior defense officials to review the evolving situation, and an Israeli official said Netanyahu briefly spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio during the meeting. In Washington, US Central Command has entered its 11th consecutive day of strikes against Iran, with a source familiar with the operation telling The Jerusalem Post that CENTCOM has hit roughly 1,000 targets across Iran over the past 10 days. Separately, Trump, in a meeting with Lebanese President Joseph Aoun, called Tehran desperate to hold talks and warned that the United States will be hitting the Pickaxe Mountain area near Iran’s Natanz uranium enrichment site. In the same timeframe, the US military identified Sergeant Michael Emmanuel Swinton, a 30-year-old from Fayetteville, North Carolina, as its soldier killed disarming an Iranian drone in Iraq during a controlled detonation at an air base in Irbil; investigators are examining the incident. Israeli officials caution that, while the conditions for Israel to join a broader campaign have not been met, the ongoing escalation could draw Jerusalem into the fight, with coordination between Washington and Jerusalem growing closer and the Israeli Defense Forces on very high alert. Arab-language reports circulated of noticeable movement by American fighter aircraft over the Middle East skies, underscoring the current tension in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, German prosecutors say Hamas planned an attack in Europe timed to the October 7 anniversary, illustrating the broader reach of the group’s threat. Since autumn 2025, investigators have secured the arrests of nine Hamas suspects as part of the probe, which uncovered an alleged plan for an attack around the second anniversary of the October 7 assault on Israel. A pre-recorded video found with one suspect claimed responsibility, and authorities say weapons and ammunition have been moved since at least the summer of 2025. Arrests have taken place in Germany, with additional actions in the United Kingdom, Cyprus, and Denmark, and prosecutors provided a transcript of the remarks to The Jerusalem Post. In southern Lebanon, reports indicate bombardment of buildings in the village of Majdal Zoun, and explosions connected to terrorist infrastructure were reported in the region, signaling ongoing regional instability tied to the Iran-influenced proxy network.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, President Isaac Herzog said Shin Bet warned him of threats to the integrity of Israel’s 2026 elections, both internal and external, urging the public to remember that elections are not a civil war. He called on law enforcement authorities to act decisively against those threats and asked citizens to stay vigilant about the content they consume and broadcast, emphasizing that a sharp division in society must not endanger the democratic process. Otzma Yehudit chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir issued a letter to Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu demanding the immediate removal of Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara as a condition for his party to join the next government, arguing her tenure conflicts with coalition goals and criticizing her authority over police policy and appointments. Baharav-Miara has maintained that her role is to ensure government decisions comply with the law and established procedures. Meanwhile, Democrats Party leader Yair Golan announced a platform focused on fundamental change, including legislation to bar politicians with criminal indictments from serving as prime minister or in the next government, insisting there be zero criminal defendants in the executive branch.

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/article-903231
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57486
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/07/21/us-escalation-against-iran-could-draw-israel-into-joining-campaign/
https://t.me/newssil/207227
https://worldisraelnews.com/german-prosecutor-says-hamas-planned-october-7-anniversary-attack-in-europe/
https://t.me/newssil/207226
https://t.me/newssil/207225
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/article-903224