Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-11 at 00:01

HEADLINES
US conducts self-defense strikes on Iran again
UNHCR Global displacement falls returns surge
Democrats torn on Israel after Platner win

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, for the second straight night, the US military conducted self-defense strikes against Iran shortly after midnight Tehran time, with CENTCOM saying targets included military surveillance capabilities, communication systems, and air defense sites across Iran, and that the strikes were completed about four hours after they began. The action follows President Donald Trump’s warning that more attacks could follow if no peace deal is secured, and comes as Iran has threatened to target ships traversing the Strait of Hormuz. Iranian media reported explosions across the south near the Strait of Hormuz and new hits on Qeshm, Kargan and Sirik, part of an ongoing exchange that has tested a fragile ceasefire reached in early April. CENTCOM emphasized the strikes were in response to Iran’s warranted aggression. Later, CENTCOM said no American warship was damaged, contrary to Iran’s statements of damage.

In Regional Impacts, UNHCR said that the number of people displaced worldwide by conflict and persecution fell in 2025 for the first time in a decade, but levels of refugees facing long-term displacement remain unacceptably high. Last year, 5.4 million people fled their homes, bringing the total number of refugees or people in refugee-like situations worldwide to 41.6 million, including 6 million Palestinian refugees. At the same time, about 14.7 million refugees and internally displaced people returned home, a 50% increase on the previous year and the second-highest figure recorded since 1965. Most returns were to six countries: the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, Syria, Afghanistan, Ukraine and Myanmar. However, many returned to difficult conditions marked by limited access to basic services, infrastructure damage and ongoing insecurity, raising concerns over the sustainability and safety of their return. About 2.9 million Afghans returned in 2025, including 1.9 million refugees—five times higher than the previous year—driven mainly by stricter policies.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Platner's primary victory shows just how deep the Democrats' fracture goes, as his Maine victory highlights a widening split between the party and its Jewish voters over Israel policy. Platner won the Democratic State primary after his initial opponent, Gov. Janet Mills, dropped out amid momentum for the outsider candidate. He will face Republican incumbent Susan Collins in November. Platner, a progressive populist who has mobilized support around economic concerns for the middle class, is virulently anti-Israel in his stance, aligning with critics who oppose Prime Minister Netanyahu’s approach to defending the country against Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran. His first online ad, released in August, promised that he would never seek or receive the endorsement of the AIPAC lobby.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, US Jewish leaders throw support behind bipartisan House antisemitism bill, which would increase Nonprofit Security Grant Program funding to $1 billion, extend funding to Jewish organizations, and allow additional funds to be directed toward law enforcement. It would mandate that the Department of Education appoint a dedicated antisemitism coordinator and force social media platforms to explain their handling of online antisemitism. Eric Fingerhut, the CEO and president of the Jewish Federations of North America, said the bill recognizes the security crisis facing Jewish communities and cited the March car-ramming attack on Temple Israel in Detroit as an example of the need for stronger protections.

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.timesofisrael.com/us-launches-strikes-for-second-straight-night-in-bid-to-force-iran-to-agree-on-deal/
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/77792
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/unhcr-says-fewer-people-displaced-worldwide-2025-long-term-refugee-crisis
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-898993
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-899037