Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-18 at 11:01

HEADLINES
Amnesty labels Gulf drone strikes war crimes
Netanyahu vows no pullout from Lebanon zone
Trump uses Iran deal to pressure Israel

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Amnesty International says the drone strikes on Bahrain and Saudi Arabia may constitute a war crime, publishing new evidence detailing the deaths and injuries. At least 28 people were killed and hundreds were injured after Iran launched unprovoked attacks on GCC countries, though information on the attacks was largely restricted by those states. Amnesty investigators looked at two countries attacked in March, which collectively killed four civilians and wounded at least 12. The researchers concluded that the Islamic regime likely used Shahed drones, a relatively cheap weapon able to travel about 2,000 kilometers at low altitude and capable of bypassing some air defenses. Between 2 a.m. and 3 a.m. on March 2, two drones struck the MT Stena Imperative oil tanker while it was in dry dock undergoing repairs at the Arab Shipbuilding and Repair Yard in Al Hidd, Bahrain. A Bangladeshi employee of the yard was among those affected.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed not to withdraw from the security zone in southern Lebanon until security is restored. Speaking during the re-inauguration ceremony for Route 60, Netanyahu said, “We will restore security to the north,” adding that maintaining the security strip requires that Israel not withdraw as long as its security needs require it. The IDF has described the security zone as about 10 kilometers inside Lebanese territory, and the military said the ceasefire does not mean a full withdrawal or a fixed timetable for leaving the area. The maritime security zone is described as a continuation of the land-based buffer, extending into the sea along a 280-degree course. Channel 12 reported that the expansion of the maritime zone signals continued commitment. In a related note, Ambassador Yechiel Leiter warned that Lebanon’s inclusion in the US-Iran memorandum could allow Tehran to protect Hezbollah.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Iran deal turns into global loyalty test as tension builds between Trump and Israel. US President Donald Trump arrived at the Group of Seven summit in France with a new US-Iran accord to sell, aiming to discipline a restless Israeli ally, and a message that he believes others would not have delivered. The week produced a diplomatic tone that sounded less like a standard summit communiqué and more like a rolling Trump production—part peace announcement, part grievance session, part loyalty test. The sharpest remarks were aimed at Prime Minister Netanyahu, whose latest strikes in Lebanon angered Washington as Trump sought to lock down an agreement with Tehran. Speaking in Évian-les-Bains, Trump said Netanyahu “has to be more responsible with respect to Lebanon,” calling the Beirut strike “vicious” and “too much.” He added, “Without us, without the United States, there would be no Israel,” and, “Without me, there would be no Israel, because no other president was willing to do what I did.”

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the High Court of Justice on Thursday asked the Knesset to consider voting for a third time for attorney Michael Rabello's appointment to state comptroller after the first two votes were disputed. Deputy Supreme Court Justice Noam Sohlberg said there is an undesirable cloud and that some votes are problematic on their face, noting that MPs acted contrary to the Knesset legal adviser's instructions when creating a new rule allowing filming. The court proposed a procedural remedy to redo the vote, and it will wait until Sunday for responses. Rabello, Netanyahu’s longtime personal attorney, was elected on June 3 after a dramatic two-round Knesset vote, with petitions arguing the election was tainted by a violation of the secret ballot.

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-899842
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899856
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rj3r9obffl
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899860
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899843