Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-13 at 17:01

HEADLINES
Qatar halts gas Iran vows no strikes
Hezbollah tunnels map northern Israeli towns
US Iran deal muddied by payment demand

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Qatar sent 'secret deal' to Iran in order to avoid strikes on energy infrastructure, a report says. The Washington Post reported that Qatar proposed to halt gas production in exchange for Iran's pledge not to strike Qatari energy infrastructure, a move aimed at shielding Ras Laffan’s gas complex from attacks. The deal, described by officials as a way to raise global energy prices to pressure the United States and Israel to end the war, relied on intelligence about communications among unnamed Iranian officials. An official quoted in the report said it illustrates “how hedging works behind the scenes with Gulf states and their communications with Iran,” and a regional security officer suggested Qatar sought to avoid damage that could take a decade to recover.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF discovers maps of northern Israeli communities in Beaufort Ridge tunnels. The Israeli military’s 36th Division is continuing to clear tunnels beneath Beaufort Ridge, and troops found maps outlining northern Israel communities near Lebanon within one of the tunnel routes. The Hezbollah underground complex is described as designed for long-term use with living quarters, plumbing, electrical systems and defensive arrays intended to target Israeli troops and civilians. The network is said to accommodate hundreds of operatives across multiple rooms. In related operations, the IDF struck two Hezbollah cells operating from an underground route in southern Lebanon and recovered weapons, including Kalashnikov rifles, plus other weapons and launch positions that were destroyed along the route. The IDF said it had also hit more than 70 Hezbollah infrastructure sites in the last 24 hours. Israel is preparing for the possibility that the pending US-Iran agreement could prompt calls to halt deeper IDF ground attacks in Lebanon; security sources cited by KAN News said the army would pause its deeper operations but not withdraw from the security zone, with withdrawal terms to be discussed in Washington in June. The IDF has limited activity in Beirut due to the pending deal, and Hezbollah is reported to have agreed not to fire on northern Israeli communities, though the Prime Minister’s Office called such reports “fake news.” Separately, an opinion piece contends the IRGC is not defending Iran but exporting the Islamic revolution, arguing the IRGC is the regime and operates as a transnational movement funded by Iran’s wealth to push a global insurgency, with the Constitution framing the military’s mission as advancing jihad to extend God’s law globally. An accompanying Watch report notes that Hezbollah tunnels under Beaufort Ridge were built to raid northern Israeli communities, with forces finding Iran-funded underground routes, weapons and launch sites in southern Lebanon amid concerns tied to a potential US-Iran deal involving Hezbollah. In another development, Friday night a Hezbollah rocket, possibly launched from the Ghaziyeh area, struck the Christian village of Aaddousiyyeh in southern Lebanon, causing fires and damage to infrastructure.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Iran adds new demand as confusion grows over deal signing. Signals about the US-Iran memorandum of understanding are inconsistent: Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said a signing ceremony is expected Sunday, held virtually with participants in Islamabad, while Iran’s Foreign Ministry said no signing ceremony is planned and no Iranian delegation will travel to Geneva or nearby in the coming days. The contradictions raise questions about the true state of negotiations and the level of consensus between the parties. Iran also introduced a new sticking point, with Foreign Ministry spokesman Ismail Baghaei saying Tehran intends to collect payment for services it provides in the Strait of Hormuz under the terms of any agreement, a position echoed by Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who stressed that these services would be compensated under the deal.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Former Israeli consul general: Netanyahu 'not natural partner' in Trump's push for Mideast peace. Yaki Dayan, Israel’s former consul general in Los Angeles, said Trump’s approach to Iran signals a shift toward world peace, potentially expanding the Abraham Accords, but added that Netanyahu does not appear to be a natural partner for this path. Dayan suggested that Trump’s vision emphasizes not just constraining Iranian enrichment but diluting it, which he called a problem, and warned that plans to lift the economic siege within 60 days could complicate the Israeli position. He also noted clashes of interest between the US and Israel on Hezbollah in Lebanon, acknowledging that there are cases where their goals align yet others where they diverge.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Dave Matthews alienates longtime Jewish fans with comments on Israel, Gaza - opinion. An opinion piece discusses a controversy surrounding comments by Dave Matthews and the reactions of Jewish fans in relation to Israel and Gaza, framing the debate around expressions of concern and the complexities of standing with or against policy positions in a volatile regional context. The author reflects on the tension between calls for peace and ongoing violence, illustrating how public statements can become flashpoints in heated discourse.

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-899263
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899269
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899270
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899120
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hj8bhnibfl
https://t.me/selena_updates/65639
https://worldisraelnews.com/iran-adds-new-demand-as-confusion-grows-over-deal-signing/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899265
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-898940