Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-24 at 21:01

HEADLINES
Trump Hosts Weapons Makers to Expand Production
Caracas Hit by 7.5 Quake Tsunami Threat
IDF Soldier Found Handcuffed in Tarqumiyah

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump is set to host munitions makers at the White House on Wednesday as his administration pushes to expand weapons production after military operations in Iran and other conflicts drew down stockpiles. The United States has supplied large quantities of weapons to allies while also using munitions in its own operations, raising concerns about inventories of key air-defense and precision-guided weapons and increasing pressure on contractors to boost output. The gathering would mark the second White House event with chief executives from major defense firms, alongside Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. The Pentagon has recently awarded Lockheed Martin an undefinitized contract worth up to $35 billion to ramp up production of THAAD interceptors, part of a push to replenish missile defense stockpiles and speed up output. Pentagon negotiators are pressing contractors to accelerate production, with tentative production agreements in place as part of the push to replenish stockpiles and boost output.

In Regional Impacts, a 7.1-magnitude earthquake struck west of Caracas, the US Geological Survey said, causing damage, power outages and evacuations as tremors were also felt in Colombia and a tsunami threat was issued for parts of the Caribbean. Immense damage has been caused to buildings across Venezuela’s capital of Caracas, following what now appears to have been a double-event 7.2 and 7.5 magnitude earthquake back-to-back near the coast in Northern Venezuela. Accord to the United States Geological Survey, the massive 7.5 magnitude earthquake was felt by millions across a wide range of Venezuelan territory, with projected injuries and deaths in the thousands and landslides triggered by the quake. Severe disruptions and damage have now been reported at Simon Bolivar International Airport in Venezuela, following the 7.5 magnitude earthquake.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an IDF soldier was found handcuffed in the West Bank town of Tarqumiyah. A preliminary investigation found the soldier was unarmed and had entered the West Bank with criminal intentions; the soldier, a resident of southern Israel serving in the IDF, was taken to the Hebron police station, and the Military Police Criminal Investigation Division is investigating. This is a developing story. President Donald Trump branded Mamdani-backed Israel critics as “communists” after NYC primaries, noting victories for candidates including Brad Lander, Claire Valdez, and Darializa Avila Chevalier, while Eli Northrup defeated Stephanie Ruskay; Trump also framed Mamdani’s influence in sharp terms amid ongoing debates over Israel policy in New York politics. The New York Democratic primaries were seen as a significant moment for the party’s left wing, with Mamdani-backed candidates winning at several levels and signaling shifts in the Jewish political landscape, even as some pro-Israel candidates emerged to challenge the new arrangement; observers caution that the results reflect a changing balance of power within the city’s Jewish political communities.

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-900438
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/r1knegqfzg
https://t.me/selena_updates/66187
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21707
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-900437
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-900435
https://www.timesofisrael.com/5-takeaways-from-the-ny-primaries-shifting-jewish-power-centers-king-mamdani-and-more/