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

HEADLINES
Iran sanctions relief funds drones missiles
Hezbollah drone attack kills four IDF soldiers
IRGC Iraq cells launch drones at Gulf

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Senator Tom Cotton warned on Fox News that parts of the Iran deal, such as removing sanctions on Iran's oil exports, would earn the regime around 200 million dollars a day. That's a lot of money, Cotton said, and he argued the regime would not spend it on daycares or hospitals but on rebuilding drone stockpiles, missiles, and funding Hamas and Hezbollah. He described Iran as a revolutionary terrorist regime for 47 years and credited President Trump with weakening Iran, while expressing concerns about aspects of the memorandum of understanding, including access to up to 100 billion dollars in frozen funds and potential tolls on the Strait of Hormuz, saying more explanation is needed.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Avigdor Liberman and Itamar Ben-Gvir urged a hard line after Hezbollah drones killed four IDF soldiers, with Liberman calling for strikes on Beirut’s Dahiyeh and warning that for every injury to Israeli soldiers a heavy price must be paid; Ben-Gvir added that all of Lebanon must burn and stressed the duty to protect Israeli citizens and soldiers. Separately, IDF details disclosed by a colonel heading the Nahalat Binyamin unit described Nasrallah as not spending his days underground, noting that 83 bombs were dropped in the operation against Nasrallah and the same number on his successor two weeks later, illustrating the scale and planning behind strike campaigns across the region. In another development, Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have established covert Iraqi cells to attack Gulf neighbors, with three or four cells of about 10 fighters each launching at least seven drone attacks from desert areas near Basra and Samawa against targets in Kuwait, Saudi Arabia, and the United Arab Emirates between April 20 and May 17, reporting directly to the IRGC and operating outside the Islamic Resistance in Iraq network.

In Uplifting News, Parashat Hukat opens with teachings on the laws of ritual impurity and purity, highlighting that death represents the absence of life and that returning to a state of purity involves immersion in a mikveh filled with living waters drawn from natural rainwater; the message from the Sages is that genuine values require commitment and effort, and staying connected to those values should not depend on convenience. Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and the United States vary by location, with windows ranging from about 7:07 p.m. to 8:12 p.m. for lighting and Shabbat ends spanning roughly 8:30 p.m. to 9:21 p.m., reflecting diverse communities’ practices. Also featured is the last interview of Lieutenant Colonel Dor Gedalia Ben Simhon, commander of the 52nd Battalion who was killed in southern Lebanon, in which he told ynet last month that the IDF was carrying out major operations to protect northern residents and that those actions “will be discussed in the future.”

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-899927
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899930
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899928
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899926
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-899924
https://t.me/newssil/204695
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-899929
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-899931
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1vu6dzzge