Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-03 at 06:01

HEADLINES
IDF honors Pernot in US defense alliance
Iran Oman pact regulates Hormuz traffic
Duvdevan arrests eight Palestinians in Mukhmas

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 US Military Role, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir awarded US Air Defense Battery Captain Nathan John Pernot and several other battery commanders with an IDF Certificate of Appreciation during Thursday's situational assessment, the military confirmed on Friday. The award was presented in the presence of other members of the IDF's General Staff. The Certificate of Appreciation was awarded by the IDF in recognition of the commander, his soldiers, and the entire US air defense contingent deployed in Israel throughout the war for their service and significant contribution, the IDF said in a Friday morning statement. It noted that over the past few years, the IDF and US Army have "demonstrated a level of partnership, professionalism, and innovation unmatched in modern warfare." The partnership, the IDF added, made a unique contribution to Israel's defense. Also during Thursday's assessment, Zamir marked 1,000 days since the October 7 massacre. "Today marks 1,000 days since the outbreak of the longest war in our history, a war that began with a grave failure and the worst tragedy in the history of the State of Israel. Iran continues to be the primary focus of our preparedness. We are currently..."

In Regional Impacts, Iran and Oman have reached an agreement regarding the regulation of traffic in the Strait of Hormuz, based on Article V of the Memorandum of Understanding with the United States, Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf announced during a meeting with Chinese officials on Friday. "The Israelis are undoubtedly seeking to disrupt the Iran-US MoU," Ghalibaf added, "but the deterrent power of the Islamic Republic of Iran in the region will prevent them from starting a war again." Ghalibaf also resolved that the United States would not be allowed to interfere in the management of the Strait of Hormuz. "The Americans pursue a unilateral policy globally," he explained, "and to reduce tensions and prevent their spread, close coordination in the political and economic arenas between Iran and China is of great importance." Vice Chairman of the Standing Committee of China's National People's Congress, He Wei, responded by committing to further strengthening ties between Iran and China. "The friendship between China and Iran is a long-standing friendship, and we will further develop the relations between the two countries," he pledged. "This year marks the..." Iran’s opposition, diaspora must remain united during protest week - comment On July 4, Americans will mark 250 years since their declaration of independence from Great Britain. On the same day, Iranians across the world are being urged to gather outside US embassies as part of Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi’s Global Week of Action for a Free Iran, running from July 4 to July 9. The campaign also marks six months since the January protests against the Islamic Republic, which saw an estimated 40,000 people massacred by the Iranian regime’s security services. Meanwhile, in Tehran, the Islamic Republic is preparing to begin the long-delayed funeral ceremonies for former supreme leader Ali Khamenei. The processions, like America's birthday and Pahlavi's call for protests, are scheduled to begin in Tehran on July 4, continue through Qom, Najaf, and Karbala, and end with his burial in Mashhad on July 9. This is the image the Islamic Republic wishes to project throughout the week, while distracting Iranians from the rest of the world. That of a state in mourning, and a nation gathered around the coffin of the man who ruled it for decades. If the regime wants to use Khamenei’s funeral to present unity, Iranians abroad must use the same week to show that unity belongs to the people, not to the Islamic Republic.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the IDF's Duvdevan unit, acting on intelligence from the Shin Bet (Israel Security Agency), arrested eight Palestinians suspected of chasing and assaulting Israeli civilians during Thursday's incident in the West Bank village of Mukhmas, the military and Shin Bet announced in a Friday morning joint statement. All eight were transferred to security forces for further processing. Duvdevan is a commando unit responsible for the military's undercover counterterrorism operations in the West Bank. Separately, Israel Police on Thursday arrested a resident of the West Bank town of Tarqumiyah suspected of being involved in the criminally motivated kidnapping of an IDF soldier. On Thursday, Maariv reported that several Israeli Breslov hassidim had allegedly fled to a Palestinian village in an attempt to outrun the Israel Police, after police attempted to pull over their vehicle after it was observed driving erratically. After fleeing to Mukhmas, the hassidim contacted Israeli security forces, saying that a group of Palestinians had surrounded their vehicle and were throwing stones at them. The IDF and Shin Bet responded by dispatching commandos and a combat helicopter, fearing a kidnapping attempt. They located the vehicle and rescued the group, later ruling out any possibility of a security-related incident.

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/article-901324
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-901329
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-901327
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901317