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

HEADLINES
- Iran strikes Jordan; Israeli flight turns back
- Rail link Tehran Mashhad halted amid funeral
- Ninety targets hit as US strikes Iran

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a flight from Ethiopia to Tel Aviv was forced to turn back after Iran launched strikes at Jordan. The report notes a charged debate over recruitment among veterans, and references a weapon described as fast as 560 kilometers per hour aimed at drone swarms. It also mentions disruptions to rail travel with stations closed and lines split, signaling the next phase against Iran as being viewed as more dangerous. A few hours after threats from former president Donald Trump, the United States carried out strikes on Iran, and Iran answered with fire in the Gulf.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iranian passenger trains on the Tehran to Mashhad line were temporarily suspended following a reported US strike on a railway bridge connecting the two cities. State broadcaster IRIB said passenger services were disrupted and passengers were stranded, with repair teams working to restore the route and arrangements made to transport passengers to Mashhad by road. The disruption came as mourners traveled to Mashhad for the burial of Iran’s former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, and Iranian state media reported that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps framed the strike as an attempt to overshadow the funeral.

In US Military Role, crowds gathered around Ali Khamenei’s coffin as the funeral procession reached Mashhad for its final stage, with the body due to be laid to rest at Imam Reza Shrine. The night prior saw extensive strikes, with about 90 additional targets hit in Iran tied to threats to the Strait of Hormuz, following about 80 targets hit the previous night. Targets included air defense systems, radars, missile and drone storage sites, and military logistics along the coastline. Iran’s Health Ministry cited at least 14 killed and 78 wounded over the two days of strikes. Separately, railway bridges between Tehran and Mashhad were hit, halting traffic on that line.

In Regional Impacts, activists from the right-wing HaBashan Pioneers continued efforts to promote civilian settlement in the security zone inside Syria under IDF control, climbing into the Mount Hermon area and spending the night beyond the official border before vowing to stay until a foothold is established. They notified IDF soldiers of their presence but kept their exact location private, arguing that renewed settlement could help prevent future security deterioration. In Jordan, sirens were heard as Iran said it targeted US military sites in Qatar, Kuwait, and Bahrain after American strikes on Iran, a development that further strains the ceasefire. An accompanying note reports an attack on a railway bridge near the village of Ak-Klaa in Golestan.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanon’s authorities granted bail to famed singer and militant Fadel Shaker after a decade on the run, with Shaker surrendering last October following 12 years in hiding at Ein el-Hilweh, Lebanon’s largest Palestinian refugee camp. He faced charges of belonging to an armed group, financing militant factions, and money laundering, and had been sentenced in absentia to 22 years. Bail was set at 500 million Lebanese pounds. Shaker testified that he faced threats from Hezbollah and supporters of Bashar al-Assad, and Lebanese authorities noted that the group he is linked to opposed Iranian influence and the Assad regime.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a row over incitement erupted as MK Naama Lazimi accused MK Nissim Vaturi of “serious incitement to violence” for describing her as fit for Hamas elections in Gaza, calling for an immediate criminal investigation to be opened by the attorney general. Lazimi described Vaturi’s remarks as blood libel and said they could put public representatives at risk, urging action to prevent further escalation. In a separate development, President Isaac Herzog, Central Elections Committee chairman Justice Noam Sohlberg, and Shin Bet head David Zini warned that foreign digital influence and internal actors are trying to undermine Israel’s upcoming vote, stressing that elections must be conducted in a secure and lawful manner. A former senior Shin Bet official pushed back on accusations about Zini, defending his handling of the situation and emphasizing the need to restore trust between security services and political leadership. An additional report notes that some units of the IDF faced morale and provisioning challenges at outposts, highlighting concerns over conditions at Nahal Oz.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, NGO Monitor released a comprehensive report alleging that anti-Israel protests sweeping the United Kingdom since October were organized by a globally connected network of NGOs linked to IRGC propaganda, Islamist narratives, and efforts to promote Israel elimination. The findings argue that roughly 80 percent of UK protests were orchestrated by NGOs, with several campaigns circumventing transparency laws through US-based charitable funding vehicles. The report also identifies that at least 11 of 40 major post‑October protests in the UK have ties to extremist organizations or officials who have engaged with extremist actors, including the Iranian regime and its Revolutionary Guard Corps, Hamas, Hezbollah, the PFLP, and the Muslim Brotherhood.

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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342609
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901966
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyg6hgaxfx
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126234
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-901990
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901988
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901986
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342605
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342604
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902004