Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-08 at 03:02

HEADLINES
US Strikes Iran as Ceasefire Frays
Israel Kills Hezbollah, Iran Says MOU Failing
Nvidia Expands Beersheva AI Center

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, American forces on Tuesday launched a new wave of strikes against Iran, targeting air defense systems, coastal surveillance, and missile and drone launch sites in the southern part of the country, officials said. The strikes are described as part of a tit-for-tat sequence that has unfolded during a fragile ceasefire established by the US-Iran Memorandum of Understanding. Iran’s Revolutionary Guards said they retaliated by targeting US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait. US Central Command characterized the Iranian response as unwarranted aggression that violates the ceasefire and endangers freedom of navigation. NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte described the latest attacks as “absolutely necessary,” arguing that when a ceasefire is violated the United States must respond forcefully. The broader picture remains tense as Washington weighs further steps, including the possible return of a naval blockade, after Washington struck more than 80 targets in Iran following tanker attacks in Hormuz and Tehran’s response continues to test the ceasefire.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces said they killed a Hezbollah terrorist during a search of a structure in the security zone where a reservist was severely injured last Thursday after a military dog was shot and killed. Border Police officers in the Jerusalem area detained a terrorist who brandished a knife and threw stones at security forces from Bethlehem and was arrested after posing a continuing threat. On Tuesday night, the IDF also reported gunfire near Kiryat Arba, near Hebron, with a bullet striking a building as troops conducted searches for possible threats. Iran’s messaging in the same block of reporting claimed that Hormuz arrangements were being violated and that continuing IDF strikes in Lebanon have made the memorandum of understanding ineffective.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth was expected to arrive in Israel for brief meetings with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, while he is in Ankara for the NATO summit. The backdrop includes overnight strikes against Iran in response to Tehran’s attacks on three commercial ships in the Hormuz area, with Iranian state media reporting injuries as CENTCOM described a “series of powerful strikes against Iran to impose heavy costs for targeting and attacking commercial shipping.” Iran’s Revolutionary Guards later claimed they targeted 85 US military sites in Bahrain and Kuwait in response to what they characterized as ceasefire violations, and Kuwait reported sirens from missiles and drones. The United States also announced the cancellation of sanctions relief on Iranian oil sales.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Nvidia inaugurated its expanded Beersheva R&D center in the Gav Yam High-Tech Park, a facility of about 3,000 square meters that is three times the size of the previous center and currently houses more than 150 employees, with hundreds more planned as Nvidia continues its expansion in Israel. The Beersheva site forms part of Nvidia’s network of R&D centers in Israel and supports hardware and software development for Nvidia’s AI infrastructure, with teams working on solutions to connect thousands of systems. Ireland’s parliament approved legislation banning the import of goods produced in Israeli communities in Judea and Samaria, prohibiting imports from Israeli residential, agricultural, and commercial enterprises located outside Israel’s internationally recognized borders.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-901822
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjzbxdjmgl
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/new-us-attacks-iran-were-absolutely-necessary-nato-chief-says
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901815
https://t.me/newssil/206140
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901816
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/article-901819
https://t.me/ILtoday/19515