Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 20:02

HEADLINES
Iran missiles strike tankers in Hormuz casualties
Trump restarts hostilities with Iran 60 days
Houthis hit Sanaa airport signaling broader war

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, the UAE Defence Ministry said two national tankers were targeted by two Iranian cruise missiles in the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others, including four seriously. It said six of the wounded were Indian nationals and two were Ukrainian nationals. The Ministry said fires on both ships, the Mombasa and the Al Bahiyah, were brought under control and condemned the attack as a serious breach of international law, adding that the UAE retains its full right to respond and take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security and that it is on high alert. Bahrain’s interior ministry also reported sirens sounding in Bahrain on Tuesday morning. Separately, the United Kingdom Maritime Trade Operations agency said a tanker northeast of Qalhat in Oman was struck by an unknown projectile, with the update providing few details.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump has sent Congress formal notification that hostilities against Iran resumed on July 7, a move his administration says opens a new 60-day window to use military force in the region without further congressional approval. He said the action was taken to protect Americans and the United States’ national security and foreign policy interests. The letter, dated July 10, also references a previously extended ceasefire and outlines US efforts since February 28, including attacks alongside Israel in response to strikes on shipping transiting the Strait of Hormuz and mentions a memorandum of understanding signed with Iran on June 17 that Iran is said to have violated by attacking commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump said the United States is reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and will ensure the Strait remains open. CENTCOM later announced the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, with explosions reported in Kish Island, Sirik Island, Qeshm Island, Bushehr, Bandar Abbas, and Omidiyeh, as part of efforts to limit Tehran’s ability to carry out attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. In remarks about the broader conflict, reports said the United States and Iran traded fire around the Strait of Hormuz for a third straight night, with American strikes on southern Iran and Gulf islands and Iranian missiles targeting tankers in Oman’s waters; Trump warned Tehran over a target known as Pickaxe Mountain and said a deal had collapsed while noting he and Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu “get along great.” In comments at the White House, Trump also said the United States was attacking Iran’s capabilities related to the Strait of Hormuz and indicated that a negotiated settlement had not been ruled out, even suggesting Iran could have drones in Cuba. Separately, a bipartisan group of Democratic senators led by Kirsten Gillibrand urged the Pentagon to disclose within a week the findings from a military investigation into a February 28 strike at a girls’ school in Minab, Iran, which US officials have said was likely the result of US forces’ actions; the letter calls for an unclassified accounting and a plan to prevent recurrence, while a Pentagon official said the investigation remains ongoing.

In Regional Impacts, oil markets moved higher on renewed US–Iran strikes and fears over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz. Brent crude rose to about $78.40 per barrel, up 3.14%, and West Texas Intermediate traded around $73.58, up 3.04%, after earlier gains exceeding 4%. Market analysts cited the strategic importance of Hormuz, where roughly 20% of global oil and gas flows pass in peacetime, as a factor behind the risk premium and disruption concerns. The US Central Command said its operations aimed to limit Iran’s ability to threaten Hormuz, with the strikes targeting Iranian air defenses and coastal facilities. A Reuters/Ipsos poll noted four in five Americans expect the US war with Iran to endure for an extended period, with 79% expressing that view and 18% expecting a rapid end; 37% of respondents approved of US strikes against Iran, in a survey of 1,019 adults conducted as fighting intensified and the administration declared a blockade of Iranian shipping.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, analysts assess that the Houthis, backed by Iran, appear intent on reopening a broader confrontation with Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claimed Riyadh targeted Sana’a airport, marking a second such incident in two weeks, and said they could retaliate if Saudi Arabia blocks flights from Iran. The group has signaled willingness to open an air bridge to Iran and potentially import weapons, raising the risk of a renewed escalation after a period of lower activity. The Houthis have also carried out attacks against Israel in the past and have increased strikes in 2025 as part of a broader contest with regional adversaries.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a television poll showed former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot with a substantial lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as preferred prime minister, with Eisenkot supported by 43% of voters versus 34% for Netanyahu, though the anti-Netanyahu bloc remains short of a parliamentary majority without Arab party support. The survey indicated the pro- and anti-Netanyahu blocs remain roughly in the same positions as in prior months, with the anti-Netanyahu bloc projected to hold about 59 seats to 51 for the pro-Netanyahu bloc and 10 for Arab parties in the 120-seat Knesset. Separately, the IDF detained Israeli civilians in the Golan Heights after attempted crossings into Syria, with the group’s actions tied to a wider protest campaign by the HaBashan Pioneers movement. Some 100 activists had previously crossed into the Syrian side of Mount Hermon on July 5 and were detained; the activists described the detentions as overly forceful, while the IDF warned that illegal border crossings are dangerous and prohibited and that law enforcement will handle future incidents. A separate analysis on the Ro Khanna visit suggested that, while initial reports of a confrontation were intense, new video and information point to a more nuanced picture of the incident and its broader implications for Israeli-US interactions.

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-902418
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902417
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902415
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/trump-sends-congress-formal-notice-iran-conflict-has-resumed
https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-shows-eisenkot-with-significant-lead-over-netanyahu-for-pm-knesset-blocs-static/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902414
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rklcmrgeml
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/trump-says-us-attacking-iran-capabilities-related-strait-hormuz
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/americans-expect-prolonged-us-iran-war-ceasefire-falters-reutersipsos-poll-finds
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902412
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902410
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902409