Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-17 at 10:01

HEADLINES
Israel kills Hamas commander Hamdan in Gaza
Iran strikes Syria in retaliation near al-Tanf
Kuwait seeks Pakistani troops amid Iran threat

The time is now 10:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, the Israeli military and Shin Bet announced the elimination of Anas Mahmoud Ahmed Hamdan, a Hamas Company Commander who helped lead the captivity of Israeli hostages in the Gaza Strip and coordinated their transfer and return under hostage release deals. Hamdan also oversaw propaganda for Hamas’ Khan Yunis Brigade and had long served as a close aide to senior Hamas commanders, including Mohammed Deif and Rafaa Salameh. During the war he was directly involved in holding Israeli hostages and in documenting them at release ceremonies. Before the war he was involved in the captivity of Avera Mengistu. Recently he trained Hamas militants and worked to advance attacks against IDF troops and Israeli civilians.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran said it struck eastern Syria on Friday in what state media described as retaliation for the killing of Iranian soldiers in Iranshahr, with Revolutionary Guards saying they attacked a US special operations command centre at al-Tanf in Syria. A Syrian military source told Reuters the strike occurred near Tanf but did not hit the base itself, and there were no reported casualties or material damage; Reuters could not independently verify the claim. The United States had withdrawn from the al-Tanf base earlier. In a separate development, satellite imagery purportedly shows a munitions storage warehouse complex at the US Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar destroyed in an Iranian attack.

In Regional Impacts, Kuwait is reported to have asked Pakistan for troops, drones and fighter jets as Iran threat grows. Early-stage negotiations would link military cooperation to Kuwaiti energy supplies and investment, but Islamabad is wary of deploying combat forces as tensions between the United States and Iran threaten to complicate the talks.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said last night that "we are winning in Iran, you will see the fruits of the work soon," a remark carried in Hebrew-language coverage.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a suspected car ramming near the Tarqumiyah crossing, north of Hebron, was attempted by a driver who fled into the West Bank. IDF forces are searching the area for the perpetrator. An earlier incident in July near Beit Ummar led to the capture of a suspect described as a Bedouin citizen of Israel, who was transferred to police; no injuries were reported.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a commentary argues that historical denialism shapes discourse in the region, citing a government minister's remarks that the October 7 massacre is among the most difficult events Israel has faced and contrasting that with wars in which casualties were mostly soldiers rather than civilians.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Gary Torgow is profiled as a leader who has lined up funding for Jewish day schools from two governments. He is described as soft-spoken, effective at connecting donors and communities, and willing to move important initiatives for the Jewish people, often without fanfare, as revealed in his first interview with The Jerusalem Post.

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://t.me/selena_updates/67277
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/iran-strikes-eastern-syria-first-such-attack-during-current-war
https://t.me/selena_updates/67268
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkf11y3dnzx
https://t.me/newssil/206925
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902834
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902790
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902835