Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-18 at 04:02

HEADLINES
Iranian Drone Assault Targets Hormuz Shipping
US Fast-Tracks 150 CCAs by 2030
IDF Reservist Killed in Hezbollah Bombing

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

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran reportedly continued launching drones against commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz after signing the memorandum of understanding with Washington. NBC News reports that Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have launched multiple drones against ships in the area every night since the announcement, with a US official saying American forces intercepted all drones before they posed a threat to vessels, crews or ships in the region. The report raises questions about how the emerging agreement will be implemented, particularly as a draft of the deal published by Al Arabiya stated that the United States would lift its maritime blockade on Iranian ports within 30 days of signing; in return, Iran would remove its blockade in the Strait of Hormuz.

In US Military Role, The US Air Force has awarded production contracts to General Atomics and Anduril Industries to build its first fleet of semi-autonomous Collaborative Combat Aircraft, moving the program from prototype to full-scale manufacturing. The department said the contracts cover the FQ-42 and FQ-44, and officials indicated the program is ahead of schedule, with plans to field more than 150 combat-ready CCAs by the end of the decade. Anduril noted the contract sets up a structure to buy additional lots of production FQ-44 aircraft across the coming years.

In Regional Impacts, Flights at all major Moscow airports have been temporarily suspended for safety reasons after a Ukrainian drone attack, with Russia’s aviation authority saying 180 Ukrainian drones were shot down over Moscow. This is a developing story.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a San Diego resident was arrested on charges including terrorism, sanctions evasion, wire fraud, money laundering, and making false statements for allegedly funneling hundreds of thousands of dollars to Hamas through campaigns claimed to provide humanitarian aid to Gaza residents. Prosecutors say Reda Mazen Rida Sabassi, 38, operated social media accounts, crowdfunding sites and a charity called Ikram - The Arab Charity Foundation Inc., soliciting donations worldwide, including from US citizens, while funds were intended to support Hamas. If convicted, he faces significant prison terms. Meanwhile, an IDF reservist was killed by a Hezbollah explosive device in southern Lebanon yesterday afternoon. Master Sergeant (Reserve) Alexander Filin, 29, from Haifa, a combat soldier with the 36th Division's headquarters, was among a group walking in the Litani River area near Taybeh when an explosive device detonated toward them, killing Filin and injuring seven others, including the deputy commander of the 36th Division, a colonel, and a commander of a reserve battalion. Earlier, five soldiers were injured in an attack by two suicide drones targeting a military force and an evacuation force, with one fighter seriously injured.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Hebrew-language report quotes US Vice President JD Vance: the agreement does not determine whether Israel will exit southern Lebanon, and Israel has the right to defend its people.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Histadrut HaMaof warned that halting funding for municipal LGBTQ+ coordinators could lead to layoffs and reduce services for vulnerable communities across the country. The union urged the government to halt the move and hold talks with workers’ representatives before any funding is cut. Separately, the official test hour of the Israeli government and its leader has begun, with a call to say no to this deal.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Rafael reveals a system described as "Iron Pestilence" to counter explosive drones. The system is being developed with SuperUAV and is expected to be integrated with other systems on military vehicles. The developers did not specify the development stage or when it might become operational.

In Uplifting News, firefighters rescued 25 people from a burning Netanya apartment building overnight, with 13 evacuated to hospital for treatment. The cause is under investigation as authorities review how the blaze started.

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://worldisraelnews.com/iran-reportedly-continued-launching-drones-after-signing-agreement/
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-899781
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899780
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899788
https://t.me/selena_updates/65835
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124843
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899794
https://t.me/hnaftali/23529
https://t.me/abualiexpress/124842
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899777