Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-19 at 02:02

HEADLINES
- Pentagon seeks $80B for Iran war costs
- Israel shells Hezbollah near Nabatieh, civilians flee
- Haifa court halts Holocaust artifacts auction

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the Pentagon is seeking about eighty billion dollars to cover costs from the Iran war and other non-war related bills, the Wall Street Journal reported citing people familiar with the matter. Deputy Defense Secretary Stephen Feinberg told lawmakers of the cost in phone calls earlier this week. A full supplemental request, which will include money for the Pentagon as well as non-defense priorities such as farm and disaster relief, could be sent to lawmakers in the coming days. Lawmakers have been pressing for a comprehensive figure as the four-month-old campaign against Iran continues. The Iran war has cost around twenty-five billion dollars to date, a Pentagon official told Reuters in April, though the total cost remains an open question.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas’s documents show a calculated deception effort that began long before the October 7 attack, with a September 2022 note addressing the need to build a strategic deception plan for a surprise attack and a September 25, 2023 document describing calibrated border pressure and the use of Jewish festivals as tactical opportunities. An editorial accompanying the reporting argues Israel must respond with morality, discipline, and an equally strategic approach. Separately, as the United States presses ahead with a deal concerning Iran, Israel has intensified its stance in southern Lebanon, with the IDF firing heavy artillery and conducting airstrikes against Hezbollah targets across the Nabatieh district. Hezbollah claims new attacks while Israel says it is striking terrorists after repeated ceasefire violations, and civilians are fleeing the area in significant numbers. Overnight clashes near Nabatieh and Ali al-Taher involved Hezbollah firing ATGMs and rockets, with Israeli forces responding with artillery and air strikes that targeted Hezbollah infrastructure, including a motorcycle strike.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Jewish groups are pushing back against the new memorandum of understanding brokered between President Trump and Iran, with the Republican Jewish Coalition telling followers to “trust President Trump” and praising the MoU as offering economic stability and potential new pathways to greater peace. They caution that a final deal must avoid sunset clauses on Iran’s nuclear program. Some groups that opposed Obama’s deal are now backing Trump’s framework. An editor’s note observes a shift in the relationship, noting frustration that the United States moved ahead with a deal with the Iranian regime while Israel felt sidelined in discussions, with various Israeli leaders voicing concerns about the deal and the broader posture toward Israel.

In Uplifting News, the Haifa Magistrates Court issued an immediate restraining order blocking the auctioning of Holocaust artifacts, including original yellow stars and liberation certificates, after Yad Ezer La-Haver filed the petition against an Israeli auction house. The association operates the Holocaust Museum in Haifa and runs a shelter for Holocaust survivors, and the judge accepted that private sale could remove items from public view and harm Holocaust research and commemoration. This follows a prior effort by the organization to prevent the sale of Holocaust items in Germany. In Milwaukee, Salah Sarsour, president of the Islamic Society of Milwaukee, was released from ICE detention after a federal judge’s order. The judge noted a substantial First Amendment retaliation claim that could render detention unlawful. Sarsour, a Palestinian-American and longtime resident, said he would continue speaking for Palestine and humanity, and he spoke about his relief at being reunited with his family after detention.

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/international/article-899916
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899867
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkh11118zzfl
https://t.me/selena_updates/65899
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-899920
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-899876
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899732
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899919