Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-25 at 13:01

HEADLINES
Forty-Nation Naval Force Secures Hormuz Strait
Houthis Escalate Attacks on Saudi Shipping
Trump Furious Over Saudi Nuclear Deal

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the United States and the United Kingdom are weighing a 40-nation naval force to secure the Strait of Hormuz, with British officials warning the waterway is "about to ignite" and the United States reportedly limiting interceptions to conserve dwindling missile-defense stocks. A separate report indicates the United States is mulling sending special forces into Iran to seize or destroy nuclear material, with The New York Post saying thousands of troops, special forces and bomb-disposal teams could be needed to enter fortified sites, secure escape routes and remove or destroy Tehran’s enriched nuclear material.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen are escalating attacks on Saudi Arabia, and the Saudi-led coalition has answered with strikes on missile sites, weapons depots and targets threatening Red Sea shipping. The Saudis fear Iran may open an air bridge to Sana’a and transport weapons and advisors, while the Houthis have warned they will attack Saudi ships transiting Bab el-Mandeb if the blockade continues, a stance echoed by Houthi authorities and spokespersons in Al-Masirah and statements attributed to Mahdi al-Mashat, the group’s chairman.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Trump said to fume at energy secretary for announcing Saudi nuclear deal without his okay. CNN reports that the president was furious after the civilian nuclear deal with Saudi Arabia was announced without his approval, and that he tied the deal to normalization with Israel. The White House said the energy secretary did not inform the president beforehand and that there had been no direct conversations with Netanyahu about the deal; The Wall Street Journal had reported the deal was nearing completion, while conservatives criticized it publicly. The deal would involve US companies providing nuclear energy to Saudi Arabia and could allow enrichment on Saudi soil, a prospect that alarmed nuclear proliferation experts, and Trump later referenced his post on Truth Social.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Palestinian man attacks off-duty soldier and steals his gun in West Bank; IDF searching area, the investigation indicates the incident in Susiya involved stone-throwing in the southern Hebron Hills, with a weapon stolen from a soldier after an assault on him and a farmer, before the attacker fled. Security and armed forces have been deployed to the area, and an MDA team treated a 25-year-old man who sustained serious injuries; conditions remain unclear. Ellen Monique Chits, a 56-year-old Dutch Christian whose grandfather and great-grandparents were recognized as Righteous Among the Nations, is fighting for Israeli permanent residency after the Interior Ministry rejected her application, with her attorney arguing the decision conflicts with a procedure and a January 2026 court ruling extending eligibility to grandchildren of the Righteous regardless of age. Chits has visited Israel repeatedly, currently lives in Haifa and studies Hebrew at the University of Haifa; she is connected to the Kerkhof family, who saved Jews during the Nazi era. IDF arrests over 70 terror suspects in a West Bank operation following a deadly shooting near Gilad Farm that killed two Israelis, including an IDF officer; the operation, conducted by multiple brigades and security units, included arrests at hundreds of locations and targeted Hamas-affiliated suspects pursuing bomb attacks.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Danon calls Mamdani a clown, warns anti-Israel rhetoric is a dangerous game. UN envoy Danny Danon condemned New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s anti-Israel rhetoric and threats to arrest Netanyahu as baseless, calling the actions a dangerous distraction amid broader tensions after an attack on Jews on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Mamdani’s statements about arresting Netanyahu were described as unfounded, with Danon characterizing the rhetoric as a dangerous display intended to grab attention.

In Uplifting News, Moldova beyond the crowds: Jewish heritage, wine and Transnistria offers a sense of place beyond the usual stops. Moldova blends deep Jewish history, cave monasteries, busy markets and celebrated wine culture, while the adjacent region of Transnistria provides a window into Soviet nostalgia. Travelers are drawn to the vast Jewish cemetery complex outside Chișinău, which serves as an open-air museum with ornate and modest headstones, including the graves of pogrom victims and a preserved prayer hall slated for stabilization with support from the US Embassy, along with a genizah holding Torah scrolls damaged during the pogrom. The site sits near the capital as part of a broader tapestry of history, culture and hospitality that lingers beyond the typical tourist routes.

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/b1eohpzrml
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1qm38fbmg
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903606
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-said-to-fume-at-energy-secretary-for-announcing-saudi-nuclear-deal-without-his-okay/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903609
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903603
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903604
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-903605
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-903602