Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-12 at 03:02

HEADLINES
Qatar ex-emir dies as Iran strikes widen
Senator Lindsey Graham dies, US-Israel bond tested
IDF releases 2006 Lebanon War orders

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 Iranian Retaliation, Qatar’s former emir Sheikh Hamad bin Khalifa Al Thani has died at age 74, the Amiri Diwan said on Sunday. The nation’s top government body noted his long influence in transforming Qatar from its Bedouin roots into a regional power, including guiding the country’s bid to host the 2022 World Cup. In the same context, the IRGC said it struck and disabled a second vessel in the Strait of Hormuz and targeted the US strategic air base at Al Udeid in Qatar with ballistic missiles.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf used a post on X to declare that “the era of one-sided deals is OVER. We told you: keep your word or pay the price. Reality is knocking.” His message came as Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps announced a heavy attack on US aircraft carrier support and refueling platforms in the port of Duqm, Oman, as part of its response to what it calls US military aggression. The US Central Command later said it conducted a third round of strikes this week across Iran, hitting roughly 140 Iranian targets including missile and drone sites, naval capabilities, ammunition storage facilities, communications networks, and coastal surveillance locations. The strikes were framed as a response to earlier actions in the conflict.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, twenty years on, the IDF published two previously classified documents from the start of the 2006 Second Lebanon War to mark the anniversary. The general staff order, titled Operation Just Remission, authorized the launch of IDF operations in Lebanon and in the Gaza Strip, while a mid-war order directed expanding operations in southern Lebanon to the Litani River. The 34-day war followed a Hezbollah assault on northern Israel on July 12, 2006, including the kidnapping of two soldiers, Eldad Regev and Ehud Goldwasser, and a barrage of rocket fire that killed civilians and wounded others. The documents also detail the IDF’s air force preparations to strike targets in Lebanon and the readiness for Hezbollah to mount additional attacks on the North.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the death of Senator Lindsey Graham, 71, removes a longtime ally of Israel and a steadfast backer of the US-Israel relationship. A four-term Republican from South Carolina, Graham was known for his hardline stance in support of Israel and his evolution into a close ally of President Trump. His family announced his passing after a brief, sudden illness; he had recently traveled to Kyiv to meet President Zelensky and promote a bipartisan sanctions measure targeting oil and natural gas purchases from Russia. His office noted the family’s request for privacy during this difficult period, as colleagues and supporters reflect on his role in advancing the US-Israel alliance.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, residents of Bnei Brak reported in recent minutes receiving emergency alerts from the Home Front Command, with officials checking the situation. Separately, in Jerusalem’s Nahalat neighborhood, a disturbance led to the death of a young man named Shalom Rezi in a vacation apartment. Police said six suspects were arrested in connection with the incident, which followed an evening of gathering among four young people that ended in a violent clash and a fatal stabbing, with another young man injured.

In Uplifting News, Nourishing the North: JNF-USA’s culinary school opens with a mission beyond food. The GCI by JNF building in Israel’s North is described not only as a place to learn cooking and cuisine but also as a site for education about food, nutrition, agriculture, taste, aesthetics, and resilience. The project envisions cooking therapy sessions for regional kids, offering a path to processing trauma and rebuilding community through food and shared experience.

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/article-902193
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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902189
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902196
https://worldisraelnews.com/senator-lindsey-graham-pro-israel-stalwart-and-trump-ally-dead-at-71/
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/8336
https://t.me/hnaftali/23868
https://t.me/newssil/206404
https://t.me/newssil/206403
https://www.jpost.com/food-recipes/article-901989