Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-15 at 05:02

HEADLINES
82-year-old Katz dies from Iranian missile
US escalates Iran strikes threaten infrastructure
Arkia expands Tel Aviv New York service

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, a man wounded by an Iranian ballistic missile in April during Operation Roaring Lion has died after more than three months in hospital. Michael Katz, 82, was in an apartment building directly hit by a missile and later spent over three months in the hospital before succumbing to his wounds. The same missile strike also killed four of Katz's neighbors, all from the same family. "On that terrible Sunday, my life was shattered by an Iranian missile strike," Katz's wife, Nina, said. "I was given the gift of a new life, and for that I am grateful to the Creator - and on the other hand, from this day forward, I will live my new life as half a human being after 55 years of marriage. It will not be easy, and I will forever miss the perfection that my beloved Michael gave to our life together, to our children and to our grandchildren. Michael was a great person to be around, a man with great joie de vivre who loved life and knew how to enjoy it. Everyone who met him fell in love with him immediately. He will be missed not only by us, but also by all his acquaintances." Haifa's mayor also mourned Katz's death, praising his dedication to the state through his work at Ra...

In US Military Role, US forces continue strikes on Iranian military targets, as President Trump threatens to destroy the country’s infrastructure if Tehran refuses to resume negotiations. The United States restored its naval blockade of Iranian ports and launched another wave of strikes along the country’s southern coast. In a Fox News interview, Trump said American operations would intensify over the coming days and could widen to infrastructure targets next week. “Next week it gets really bad for them,” he said, adding that power plants and bridges would be targeted “unless they get to the table and negotiate.” Trump said US negotiators had remained in contact with Iranian representatives and had delivered a blunt message: “You better make a deal.” He said the United States was initially concentrating on Iran’s remaining military capabilities and would reserve attacks on the energy sector for a later stage.

In Regional Impacts, Syria's al-Sharaa tells Trump Israel blocking regional stability by refusing to withdraw - report. Syria's President Ahmad al-Sharaa told Trump that Israel was preventing stability in Syria during a discussion with US President Donald Trump, Lebanese outlet Al-Akhbar reported. The report quotes al-Sharaa saying Israel refused to include the word "withdrawal" in any agreement and halted negotiations when the issue was raised; as long as Israel refuses to withdraw, why sign an agreement with it? He reportedly told Trump that Hezbollah cannot be disarmed until Israel withdraws from Lebanon, and that forcing disarmament could plunge the region into chaos — something Israel supposedly wants. Erdogan echoed these sentiments, telling Trump that Israel is the primary cause of instability and undermines any process to contain Iran’s allies; he stressed that withdrawal should be completed before year’s end and not be tied to Israel’s elections.

Israelis fear flight cancellations amidst escalating security concerns with Iran, Israir CEO Uri Sirkis explained in an interview. The concern arises from delays in removing the US aircraft parked at Ben-Gurion Airport, with Sirkis noting a shortage of parking spaces and the ban on Israeli airlines flying to Dubai due to the risk of flying near Iran. He said the US aircraft do not pose a problem for Israel and suggested they park at Israeli Air Force bases to free space for passenger flights. The shortage of parking spaces has been ongoing for months, and Sirkis emphasized that the Transport Ministry’s decision to restrict the number of American tanker aircraft at the airport was the right move. He also noted Israir recently received two wide-body aircraft intended for long-haul flights.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF sentences soldier to five years after spying for Iran, sending images of interceptions. An IDF soldier convicted of spying for Iranian forces throughout 2025 was sentenced to five years in prison by a military court. The soldier was accused of passing information to Iranian agents in exchange for money, including videos of interceptions of Iranian missiles during the war. He reportedly received several Telegram messages offering payment for footage and photographs of sensitive security information. Among the videos were two of rockets being intercepted, filmed during Operation Rising Lion, as well as footage found online showing missiles hitting Israel. The soldier admitted he had been in contact with a foreign agent and was arrested by security forces. The court noted that he had not shared IDF information or footage obtained in his military role. In addition to the prison term, he was fined 1,000 shekels and demoted to private.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Netanyahu will fly to DC on Saturday to attend Lindsey Graham's funeral, meet with President Trump. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is set to fly to Washington, DC, on Saturday night and stay through Tuesday to attend the memorial service for Senator Lindsey Graham. He is also expected to meet with President Donald Trump, though the scheduling is not official yet. This would be Netanyahu’s first official trip to Washington since the war with Iran, his last visit having been in February. The trip follows a recent phone call congratulating Trump on the 4th of July, and the leaders agreed to meet soon; the central purpose of the trip is Graham’s funeral.

כל אחד והקצב שלו ☝️ : ארה"ב, סין ואירופה 3 תגובות. A Hebrew-language item appears in this block with a title that translates roughly as "Each at his own pace: US, China and Europe three responses," describing three comments about the pace of actions by the United States, China and Europe.

In Arkia to add new Dreamliner flights, Airbus A330 to Tel Aviv-New York route, Israeli Economy and Business. Arkia Airlines announced plans to expand and upgrade its Tel Aviv–New York route in response to strong demand, adding flights in August and September and introducing a new wide-body aircraft to the route. The airline will add flights on Mondays and Wednesdays between Tel Aviv and New York’s John F. Kennedy International Airport during the two months, operated with a Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner from Neos. The aircraft will carry 345 passengers in economy and premium cabins and offer paid Wi‑Fi throughout the flight. Beginning September 11, Arkia will deploy a Hi Fly-operated Airbus A330-300 on the route, replacing one of the aircraft currently serving it. The A330 will have 249 seats, including 46 in business class and 203 in economy, and an Israeli crew will be present on every flight. Arkia said the move, along with the higher capacity, reflects increased demand and aims to strengthen its premium offering on the flagship route to the United States.

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/article-902552
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-threatens-to-knock-out-all-iranian-power-plants-and-bridges-as-us-continues-strikes/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902557
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902549
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-902553
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902555
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126571
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902558