Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-01 at 09:02

HEADLINES
Israel says it struck Iran preemptively twice
India UAE Greece Cyprus form broader alliance
New group Xori Hiwa sparks Kurdish clashes

The time is now 9:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Defense Minister Israel Katz told a memorial for fallen Second Lebanon War soldiers that the October 7 massacre showed Israel must not wait for threats to reach its doorstep. He said Israel had twice struck Iran with proactive preemptive attacks, crushing the nuclear program it was advancing and removing an existential threat from the citizens of Israel. Katz asserted that Iran’s leaders, headed by Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, led the plan to destroy Israel, and that Israel severely damaged Iran’s capabilities and set them back by years, with the possibility of a third strike if necessary. He added that the IDF’s current military goal in Lebanon is not to return the situation to what it was, but to change the reality and bring security to residents of the north, as it has in the south. Katz also discussed the recent Israel-Lebanon-US trilateral agreement and reaffirmed the policy for defending Israel’s borders, led by Prime Minister Netanyahu and by him as defense minister.

In Regional Impacts, Israel should seek a regional alliance that knits together ties with Greece, Cyprus and India, a vision outlined by the Ministry of Defense Director General Major General (Reserve) Amir Baram at the Herzliya Conference. Baram spoke of a broader alliance stretching from India through the UAE to Greece and Cyprus, underpinned by a new US-Israel security memorandum of understanding built on shared interests and values. The plan emphasizes military-to-military cooperation, exercises and defense exports, and notes warming ties with Greece and Cyprus as a long-running feature of Israel’s foreign policy. Separately, clashes have escalated in Iran’s western Kurdish region between Kurdish opposition groups and IRGC forces. Reports indicate a new group called Xori Hiwa claimed an attack, while Rudaw cited four fighters from the East Kurdistan Defense Units, described as the armed wing of the Free Life Party of Kurdistan, being killed in clashes and warning of retaliation, underscoring the volatile dynamics among Kurdish actors in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told The Jerusalem Post that Washington remains committed to preventing Iran’s nuclear ambitions and sees no meaningful shift in Tehran’s attitude. He said President Trump’s stance that Iran will never obtain a nuclear weapon remains intact and that Iran will not be able to pose a continued threat to Israel and the United States. Huckabee also suggested that the administration hopes for a peaceful agreement that would steer Iran away from its ambitions, while warning that pressure would continue if necessary. In a separate view, an opinion piece describes how the three-way US-Israel-Lebanon deal has clarified the evolving approach to Hezbollah. The text notes a ceasefire framework and a 60-day window to negotiate a fuller agreement on Iran’s nuclear program, emphasizing that neither Israel nor Hezbollah negotiated the MoU and that Israel has chosen to abide by its terms while preserving the right to defend itself.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Azerbaijan’s chief rabbi has urged the Knesset not to advance recognition of the Armenian Genocide, writing to Ofir Katz, chairman of the Likud faction, after the government’s vote to formally recognize the genocide. Rabbi Shneur Segal, head of the Ashkenazi Jewish Community of Azerbaijan, said the Jewish community in Azerbaijan enjoys security, respect and full religious freedom, and he stressed that recognizing the genocide could affect them. He highlighted that Jews in Baku walk the streets with a kippah without fear, underscoring the depth of friendship and mutual respect between Azerbaijan and the Jewish community.

In Uplifting News, Uri Geller spoke with The Jerusalem Post about countering a curse during the 2026 World Cup, saying his positive thinking and energy could shield players from harm. He recounted that Ghanaian witch doctor Nana Kwaku Bonsam claimed to have cursed him and that he sought to protect England’s Harry Kane from injury so the forward could continue in the tournament. Geller attributed his approach to positive intention and energy, stressing that his aim was to safeguard Kane from injury so he could keep playing.

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/israel-news/defense-news/article-901080
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901094
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-901083
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-901095
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900802
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-901092
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-901064