Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-11 at 21:02

HEADLINES
Israel Warned US of Iranian Trump Plot
Iran Closes Hormuz Strikes Vessel
Haim Ramon Praises Smotrich Annexation

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, US Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee told Fox News on Saturday that Israel had warned the United States about a specific Iranian assassination plan against President Donald Trump. Huckabee said there was no sign of a "peaceful part" of the Iranian regime and that what the Iranians have been saying and doing for 47 years reflects a longstanding, hostile stance toward America. He noted that some officials, quoted by The Wall Street Journal, worried that Israel’s disclosure might pull the United States back into war with Iran, suggesting Israel presented a single piece of information that could push Trump toward renewed bombing; Israel’s Embassy in Washington denied the claim, saying intelligence was shared as part of a partnership with no ulterior motive. Earlier on Saturday, Trump responded to the alleged plot.

In US Military Role, Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz again after striking a vessel on an unapproved route, with CENTCOM saying the strait would remain closed until further notice and that the United States was degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships. The strikes were directed at Iranian targets including air surveillance radars, missile and drone storage facilities, missile and drone launch sites, surface surveillance radars, and surface-to-air missile launchers. Explosions were reported near Chabahar, on Qeshm Island, and in Bandar Abbas, Sirik, Bushehr, and Asaluyeh, according to Iranian state media. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth commented on CENTCOM’s actions, and a separate report notes that the United States launched a broader round of strikes against Iranian targets in response to recent developments.

In Regional Impacts, Iran attacked a ship in the Strait of Hormuz and declared the waterway closed until further notice, with the IRGC saying the vessel entered an unauthorized route and that all ships would be barred until US interference ends; efforts to salvage a US-Iran memorandum continue, while Israel signals no chance of a lasting deal and prepares for escalation. Reuters reported that Iran later said the Strait was closed after a vessel traveled on an unapproved route and was struck, warning that any retaliation would be met with a severe response. The Iranian Navy said the vessel was struck after it had jeopardized maritime security by switching off its systems, and it urged that the strait remain closed until the end of US interference in the region. US officials have pressed Iran to publicly state it will stop attacks on ships and to keep lanes open; President Trump said the United States and Iran had some form of agreement in play.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, former justice minister Haim Ramon praised Bezalel Smotrich for his actions in Judea and Samaria, saying Smotrich deserves at least 15 seats if he shared Ramon’s worldview. Ramon, speaking on the Gatekeeper podcast with journalist Nissim Sofer during a discussion of the political system and electoral landscape, argued that the current government carried out the most far-reaching annexation measures in Judea and Samaria since 1967 and credited Smotrich for advancing those measures, indicating that Smotrich’s leadership should be rewarded with substantial representation.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an opinion piece urges Ilhan Omar to prove Gaza genocide claims or stop making them, arguing that tangible evidence is necessary to support the allegations and labeling the claim as dishonest and harmful. A separate opinion piece discusses Jewish success in AI, noting Jewish over-representation in intellectual achievement and exploring how cultural emphasis on education and debate, along with historical discrimination, may shape this trend as the debate over antisemitism in high-tech circles continues.

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-902178
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902180
https://t.me/selena_updates/67013
https://t.me/selena_updates/67012
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1fgn8enme
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/iran-declares-strait-hormuz-closed-unauthorised-vessel-hit
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902181
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902006
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902011