Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-25 at 15:01

HEADLINES
Zelensky Alleges Russia Aids Iranian Strikes
Trump Keeps Iran Strike Option Ready
UN Chief in Damascus for Reconstruction Talks

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, Zelensky says Russian satellites continue helping Iran direct strikes in the Middle East, renewing intelligence-based claims that Moscow’s surveillance of Gulf states and US bases closely tracks Iranian attacks and that the coordination remains active.

In US Military Role, sources say President Donald Trump has not yet made a final decision on launching a major strike against Iran, telling reporters that “we’re locked and loaded” about the possibility of escalation while diplomacy with Tehran continues and the administration keeps the military option ready. Trump has reiterated that Iran cannot possess a nuclear weapon. The day produced no new strikes. In Israel, a government proposal was submitted to extend the Home Front Command’s special status until August 11 amid concerns of a potential Iranian attack.

In Regional Impacts, UN Secretary-General António Guterres arrived in Damascus for a visit Damascus sees as transformative for reconstruction and renewed international ties. Syria recently signed a pipeline deal linking Iraq to the port of Baniyas, and Damascus said discussions with the UN focused on reconstruction, recovery, and sovereignty as it seeks deeper cooperation with the international community.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iraqi Major General Anwar al-Nasrawi ordered the removal of photographs of Iranian leaders and figures linked to Iran-backed armed groups from public display in Karbala, and prohibited installing new posters throughout the holy city. Two members of Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Forces were arrested after posing for photographs in front of a poster of former Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a Wall Street Journal report says Israel spends about $50 million on an American influence campaign using AI-generated messages, conservative media, online influencers, and campaign staff to shape American opinion on Israel, Iran, and regional security. The piece argues the problem is not the investment but that existential national-security responsibilities should not be outsourced to advertising agencies and political consultants. A separate opinion piece urges that every Israeli abroad is an ambassador for the country, recounting personal experiences traveling in Greece and stressing the responsibility of representing Israel abroad.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, UN envoy Danny Danon denounced New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s anti-Israel rhetoric and warned that calls to arrest Netanyahu are baseless and a dangerous game, noting an attack on Jews on Manhattan’s Upper West Side as context for the concerns.

In Uplifting News, a kidney donationlinked story highlights a remarkable human connection as Yonatan Rom donated a kidney to Reuven Tam in an Israeli paired kidney exchange. The two families’ ties go back to a 24-year-old crisis when Tam’s brother, Eyal Tam, the emergency response squad commander, stopped a terrorist attack that affected Rom. “Your brother saved my life 24 years ago, and today I am saving yours with my kidney,” Rom told Tam. In a separate note of resilience, Sally Reidman—founder and president of Reidman College of Complementary and Integrative Medicine—was honored with the Bonei Zion Prize in 2023 for leading Israel’s largest institute of its kind, serving more than 4,000 students across five vocational fields and multiple campuses.

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/bk0zvfmsfe
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903612
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903608
https://t.me/selena_updates/67692
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903402
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903444
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-903605
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903607
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-903515