Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 06:01

HEADLINES
Iran US clash widens; Hormuz closed again
Hamas doc hints Israel may use nukes
Israel heads to elections as Knesset dissolves

The time is now 6:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, renewed US-Iran fighting drew Jordan and Bahrain deeper into the regional fallout over the weekend, as Iran launched another wave of missiles and drones toward US military facilities and countries hosting American forces following large-scale US strikes inside Iran. The latest escalation marked a significant expansion of the fighting that resumed on July 8 and 9, further undermining the memorandum of understanding Washington and Tehran signed on June 17. Iran again declared the Strait of Hormuz closed, while the United States said commercial traffic continued and carried out strikes against Iranian missile sites, naval assets, communications infrastructure, and other military targets. Iranian attacks and alerts were reported across Bahrain, Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, the United Arab Emirates, and Jordan. Tehran said it was striking US military infrastructure, although many of its claims about specific targets and damage could not be independently confirmed. The renewed confrontation followed an Iranian attack on a Cyprus-flagged container vessel in the Strait of Hormuz; the ship was seriously damaged. Separately, for the first time since Syria’s civil war began in 2011, a Turkish warship anchored off Latakia, marking a notable naval development in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Hamas documents reveal that Yahya Sinwar believed Israel might respond to the October 7 invasion with nuclear weapons against Gaza. A hand-written document dated August 24, 2022, was disclosed as part of ongoing releases of Hamas materials captured by the IDF. The document notes a six-to-ten hour window for achieving a surprise effect and warns that Israel would mount a powerful response, not ruling out the possibility of nuclear weapons. It includes the line that the enemy “will not hesitate to use all the means and weapons at its disposal.”

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Shin Bet has been directed to investigate the alleged leak of the start date of Operation Roaring Lion to an unnamed media outlet, following a recommendation from security officials and a cabinet discussion led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Shin Bet’s chief indicated the inquiry could proceed but identified challenges in tracing the leaker given how many people were privy to the secret, and officials said there is no need to obtain the attorney-general’s approval since the investigation targets defense establishment personnel rather than journalists. Netanyahu later directed the agency to proceed and to report findings.

Election season in Israel has officially begun, with the 25th Knesset set to dissolve on Friday, ending its four-year term. The government will continue to operate until a new administration is formed. July 19 marks 100 days before the election and is the last day for senior civil servants to resign if they plan to run for the 26th Knesset. Civil servants are restricted from running for the Knesset while in government service, and parties are moving toward primaries ahead of the general election. Among the political landscape, three prominent Israeli parties have confirmed they will hold primaries in advance of the vote.

Almost half of Israelis, 46 percent, and half of Jews, 50 percent, favor imposing more pressure to enlist Haredi (ultra-Orthodox) men into the IDF, according to a July poll by the Jewish People Policy Institute. About 31 percent support conscription only with the agreement of Haredi leadership, and 11 percent believe the effort should stop. Public opinion shows a sharp ideological split on the issue: right-wing respondents favor a compromise, while center-left and left groups tend toward sanctions. Among Haredi respondents themselves, 45 percent say conscription could be possible with leadership agreement, while 15 percent support sanctions. The poll also notes perceptions of anti-draft protests tied to judicial reform, with about one-third of respondents overall and 36 percent of Jews linking dissent to those protests.

MK Haim Biton was questioned by Lahav 433 as part of supplementary investigations into alleged misuse of public funds to finance a private Shas newspaper while he served as director-general of the Ma’ayan HaChinuch HaTorani network years ago. The inquiry, focusing on 2018 to 2021, centers on whether network funds supported the Shas-affiliated publication Avivim. The case is being handled by Lahav 433 and could be transferred to the state attorney and attorney general for a potential indictment. The matter remains ongoing.

In Uplifting News, Finland has built an underground city beneath Helsinki, with a sprawling network of about 5,500 shelters designed to safeguard nearly a million people in war or a nuclear strike. Most shelters are used in daily life as sports arenas, playgrounds, swimming pools, and even rehearsal spaces for metal bands, but can be rapidly converted into emergency shelters when needed.

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-902328
https://t.me/newssil/206495
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902323
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902325
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902333
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902297
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902320
https://t.me/newssil/206494