Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-09 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Netanyahu vows Iran won’t have nukes
Khamenei burial fuels Trump revenge chants
IDF strikes Gaza, kills two militants

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told the graduation ceremony for the IDF's 192nd pilot course at Hatzerim Air Force Base that Iran will not have a nuclear weapon, with or without a deal. He cited two successful operations against Iran and said, if we had not acted, Iran would have armed itself with nuclear weapons. He described the Iranian regime as a terrorist threat that has suffered a severe blow and stated the policy remains that Iran will not have nuclear weapons, with or without a deal. He emphasized the military is prepared for any scenario and that preserving air superiority is a foundational pillar of national security, adding that Israel is pursuing weapons independence and equipping pilots with advanced tools. Netanyahu also referenced joint actions with the United States that he said averted a threat of immediate annihilation and a danger to the Western world.

In Iranian Retaliation, mourners in Mashhad chanted slogans demanding revenge on US President Donald Trump as the body of former Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei arrived for burial. Trucks carrying Khamenei and his family were brought to Mashhad for a private ceremony at the Shrine of Imam Reza. The burial, described as personal, is to be conducted with family participation, while Khamenei’s son Mojtaba remains out of public view after reports of disfigurement in the strike that killed his father; other sons were expected to assist. The week of funeral events in Iran and Iraq coincides with renewed tensions with the United States, and the procession moved slowly through crowded streets toward the shrine, flanked by clerics and waving banners.

In US Military Role, Israeli officials say Israel is not expected to be drawn into the current round of US-Iran fighting, though the military remains prepared for any eventuality. The prevailing assumption is that Iran does not plan to drag Israel into the conflict, and no near-term Iranian strikes are expected. That said, officials cautioned that changes could occur if the United States asks Israel to join strikes against Iran. Separately, a recent Iranian attack prompted sirens in Jordan, with missiles intercepted over Jordan’s territory near the Azraq Air Base housing US forces. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps said the strikes targeted US assets in the Gulf, and Iran’s air force is flying jets to secure the skies over the funeral procession of the former supreme leader.

In Regional Impacts, the IDF carried out airstrikes in Gaza on Wednesday, killing Rashid Al-Qadhi, a commander in Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s weapons production array in the southern Gaza Strip, and Abdullah Baha al-Din Razak Al-Souti, a Hamas military wing sniper operative in northern Gaza. The operations marked another round of Israeli actions in the Gaza barrier as tensions in the region continue to flare.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Israel’s Ambassador to the United Nations, Danny Danon, has called for the full release of communications between UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the Secretary-General’s Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramilla Patten, to expose the influence behind Patten’s decision to include Israel on the UN blacklist. The UN later added Israeli entities to the list of those accused of sexual violence in conflict zones. Danon condemned Patten’s conduct, saying she caved to the secretary-general, defended the report, and declined to verify evidence, arguing that verification was not her office’s responsibility. The discussion occurred amid broader tension over the list and its implications for Israel.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Haredi parties Shas and United Torah Judaism reached an agreement with Prime Minister Netanyahu’s coalition to amend the controversial Torah study bill, aiming to allow the bill to advance in the Knesset House Committee ahead of its final second and third readings after coalition objections to wording. Prosecutors and lawmakers had warned that certain phrasing could grant benefits to Haredim who evade military service, such as scholarships, similar to those for IDF reservists, so the law will be limited to a declarative statement that Torah study is a fundamental value in the heritage. Separately, the Knesset’s Constitution Committee approved the bill for a second and third reading, with final approval in the plenary anticipated next week.

In Uplifting News, Pink Friday on Wall Street notes Nicki Minaj joining Donald Trump for a White House lunch as Trump Accounts launch. The program offers government-funded investment accounts of $1,000 for citizens born between 2025 and 2028, providing a new savings vehicle alongside existing college and retirement accounts. President Trump opened the New York Stock Exchange bell from the White House to mark the program’s launch and hosted supporters, including Minaj, who pledged between $150,000 and $300,000 to support the children of her fans. Trump described Minaj as a strong supporter, calling her “probably the president’s number one fan.”

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-902052
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902045
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902049
https://t.me/selena_updates/66922
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902046
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902047
https://t.me/newssil/206316
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-901775