Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-09-04 at 16:01

HEADLINES
Trump threatens strike on Iran's Pickaxe Mountain
US sanctions Golden Global bank subsidiaries
Saudi JDAM-ER and AGT-1500 engine deals approved

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump said the United States may hit Iran's Pickaxe Mountain very soon. Pickaxe Mountain sits near Iran's heavily damaged Natanz uranium enrichment facility and is a heavily fortified site that hosts two deeply buried tunnel complexes. This is a developing story.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US Treasury announced new Iran-related sanctions on a Turkish investment bank and two subsidiaries, placing them on the Specially Designated Nationals list and cutting them off from the dollar-based financial system. The items targeted are Golden Global Yatirim Bankasi Anonim Sirketi, Golden Global Portfoy Yonetimi Anonim Sirketi, and Golden Global Varlik Kiralama Anonim Sirketi, with a general license issued to wind down transactions. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said the action is code for you are out of business, signaling that more sanctions may come as the effort to pressure Tehran continues. Separately, the State Department approved the potential sale of Joint Direct Attack Munitions-Extend Range to Saudi Arabia for about $5 billion, with Boeing named as principal contractor, and approved a possible sale of AGT-1500 engines to Saudi Arabia for roughly $750 million, Honeywell listed as the principal contractor.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Yesh Atid MK Michal Shir announced she is leaving the party and will not seek reelection, posting the decision on X/Twitter and expressing confidence in Yair Lapid, her colleagues, and the need for significant change. The announcement follows a broader wave of exits from the party, and a Friday poll projected Yesh Atid’s alliance with B’Yachad at about 15 seats. Separately, Hadash’s Jafar Farah stepped down from the Knesset list amid sexual harassment allegations, saying the move, coordinated with party and Joint List institutions, was to thwart attempts to undermine the coalition, while denying the accusations and saying his health was a factor. He had been the second on Hadash’s slate and indicated plans to remain active in public life. A separate opinion piece argues for a new generation of leaders in Israel, calling for younger, unsullied figures to assume leadership in elections perhaps in 2028 or 2030, balancing experience with fresh ideas and warning against cynical, divisive rhetoric.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, four Israeli athletes were removed from the City of Derry Triathlon in Northern Ireland amid pressures related to the Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions movement. Organizers said the event would not include any athletes representing Israel due to safety and representation concerns, with the North West Triathlon Club stating it could not support Israeli participants, arguing the stance reflects concerns about representing the State of Israel on the international sporting stage while Palestinians continue to suffer.

In Uplifting News, as the 25th anniversary of 9/11 nears, this week’s haftarah from Isaiah 61:10-63:9 offers a perspective on destruction, rebuilding, and memory, urging resilience and renewal in the face of tragedy and reminding readers of the enduring hope for Zion and Jerusalem. The week’s reflections also consider Moses’s message to a nation at a crossroads after long hardship, emphasizing that surviving tragedy is only the beginning and that a people must decide what they stand for as they move forward.

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-907610
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-907466
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-907460
https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-907609
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-907608
https://www.jpost.com/israel-election-2026/article-907607
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-907600
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-907478
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/09/us-approves-potential-sale-joint-direct-attack-munitions-extend-range-saudi