Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-23 at 21:02

HEADLINES
Israel declares full readiness for Iran clash
Iran rejects US ceasefire proposal
Oil tops $100 as Houthis threaten shipping

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 Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Israeli Defense Forces say it is in a state of full readiness for a return to combat with Iran, with IDF Arabic-language spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Ella Waweya telling N12 that “we do not wait for missiles to fall or for the enemy to knock on our door before getting ready,” and that October 7th taught that containment, waiting for a first strike, or relying on passive deterrence are no longer acceptable. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any attack on Israel would draw a devastating response, and a high-level security meeting of officials responsible for offensive capabilities, air defenses, military intelligence, and civilian preparedness discussed readiness but did not disclose new measures. Separately, satellite imagery reviewed by the Wall Street Journal shows Iran rebuilding infrastructure damaged in its war with the United States and Israel, including bridges and missile bases, at a pace that sustains its ability to strike. The images include evidence of a previously damaged access road to a missile base near Kangavar being rebuilt with a newly paved entrance, and reconstruction underway at Bandar Anzali port tied to the IRGC, as well as at an IRGC command center and a shipyard.

In Iranian Retaliation, Kuwaiti air defenses were activated as Iran targeted the Al-Salem airbase in Kuwait, with Tasnim News Agency reporting that Patriot air defense systems were engaged and that the Abdali border crossing was subjected to drone activity. Iran reportedly rejected the latest US ceasefire proposal delivered by Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi, as explosions were reported in Ahvaz, Omidiyeh, Bandar Abbas, and Qeshm following new US strikes; Iranian officials told The New York Times they are not interested in a temporary deal that does not address the final status of the Strait of Hormuz. The New York Times later reported that Iran rejected a ceasefire proposal carried to Tehran by the same Iraqi prime minister.

In US Military Role, US Central Command announced the 13th consecutive night of strikes against targets in Iran began at 6:45 p.m. ET, with the stated aim of holding Iran accountable and diminishing threats from the IRGC to commercial shipping. Iranian air defenses were activated in Tehran to counter a “hostile threat,” and Iranian state media reported explosions near Mesen on the southern coast of Qeshm and near Larak and Hengam, as well as in Ahvaz and west of Bandar Abbas, with Iranian outlets claiming an American Tomahawk missile was intercepted. Separately, the US Department of War lowered the official total number of American servicemembers killed in the Iran War from 18 to 14, removing four servicemembers killed during the most recent round of hostilities in the Middle East; three military officials cited to The New York Times said the change reflected timing relative to President Trump’s ceasefire declaration in April.

In Regional Impacts, oil markets moved above $100 a barrel for the first time since May after Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis opened a new front by targeting Saudi oil vessels in the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, sending Brent futures to 100.69 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate to 92.19, with analysts warning the sector faces heightened supply risks as tanker traffic remains constrained through key chokepoints. Video circulated online showing an unidentified object, possibly a surveillance drone or other aircraft, in flames over Iran’s Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, two men, one visibly Jewish, were stabbed outside an Orthodox Jewish synagogue on Manhattan’s Upper West Side, with witnesses reporting the suspect yelled “Allahu Akbar.” Authorities say the NYPD’s investigation considers mental health factors and is evaluating the incident as a potential hate crime, while Mayor Zohran Mamdani expressed relief that the victims are in stable condition. Separately, the US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission dropped a subpoena demanding a list of Jewish employees and students at the University of Pennsylvania as part of its antisemitism probe; Penn said none of the requested personal information had been disclosed and remains committed to addressing discrimination, though the investigation by the EEOC could continue through other channels.

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-903525
https://www.timesofisrael.com/satellite-images-show-iran-rapidly-rebuilding-sites-hit-by-us-and-israeli-strikes/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903528
https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-24-2026/
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22417
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903526
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22416
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22414
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903523
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22415
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903527
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903524