Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-16 at 01:02

HEADLINES
Iran strikes Kuwait air base; Hormuz slows
Knesset OKs haredi draft pause; court halts
EU report ties Iran to rising antisemitism

The time is now 1:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps says it targeted a gathering of US soldiers at Ali Al Salem Air Base in Kuwait early Thursday, and it reported strikes on Kuwait’s early-warning radar systems there in a dual missile and drone attack, according to Iranian state media. Tehran’s outlets also said Bahrain and Jordan activated missile sirens during the night, with Jordanian media reporting eight Iranian missiles were intercepted. State media additionally said US military communications systems and fuel storage tanks at the Azraq military base in Jordan were targeted. Jordan’s army later said it shot down eight missiles launched from Iran overnight. On the diplomatic and maritime front, Wednesday marked the first day after the United States reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports, and ship traffic through the Strait of Hormuz fell, with seven vessels crossing that day compared with 13 the day before, according to tracking data. Officials have cautioned that hostilities intensified after Iran said on Saturday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz, and military operations have continued to disrupt shipping through the waterway.

In US Military Role, US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced mandatory annual testosterone screening for troops aged 30 and above as part of the annual health assessment, with the measure automatically applied to those 30 and older and an opt-in option for younger personnel. He said the aim is to address natural declines in testosterone with replacement therapy offered if levels fall below a defined benchmark, adding that the program is not about artificial enhancement and is intended to restore and protect service members’ natural capabilities and longevity. He argued the move would support psychological and mental readiness by addressing health markers early, framing it as a measure to bolster overall readiness rather than a health labeling exercise.

In Regional Impacts, wildfire smoke, dangerous heat and major flooding are affecting millions across the country, with authorities warning that these climate-related hazards are impacting daily life and safety in communities nationwide.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Vice President JD Vance told Joe Rogan that Jeffrey Epstein had ties to the “highest levels” of American intelligence and to the highest levels of Israeli intelligence, a claim he described as supported by his belief in Epstein’s connections. He asserted these links during the three-hour interview, while others, including former Israeli prime minister Naftali Bennett, have denied that Epstein worked for Israel or its intelligence services. The remarks, described by critics as aligning with conspiracy theories, came as Vance positioned himself in discussions about intelligence circles; no corroborating evidence has been presented publicly.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, editors and lawmakers weighed in on the haredi draft issue as Parliament nears its end-of-session tone. The Knesset passed a bill freezing arrests of haredi draft offenders for at least six months, with 58 voting in favor and 54 against, as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left the chamber before the vote concluded. The High Court later issued a provisional order suspending the law’s entry into force, signaling continued judicial involvement in the political confrontation over national service burdens and the treatment of ultra-Orthodox communities.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the European Union’s TE-SAT 2026 report ties Iran, its proxies, and criminal networks to multiple terrorist attacks and plots across Europe, warning that the Israel-Iran conflict has fueled a surge in extremism and antisemitism. The report cites 45 terrorist attacks in 21 member states last year, 22 of which were successful and resulted in six deaths, alongside 486 terrorism-related arrests—the highest in recent years. It also notes that antisemitic narratives have grown more common among extremist groups and that online propaganda and social media algorithms are accelerating radicalization and recruitment of supporters across Europe.

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-902659
https://t.me/newssil/206793
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902658
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57256
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902662
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902642
https://worldisraelnews.com/eu-accuses-iran-of-fueling-terrorism-and-antisemitism-across-europe/