Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 00:02

HEADLINES
- Seventh straight US strikes on Iran
- Bahrain sirens as Iranian attack inbound
- Israeli court halts Likud vote amid protest

The time is now 12:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the US military said late Thursday it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran, carried out at President Donald Trump’s direction and marking a seventh consecutive night of attacks. US Central Command said forces used fighter aircraft, aerial drones and warships, along with other assets. The strikes targeted surveillance sites, military logistics infrastructure, underground weapons storage and maritime capabilities. Iran, in turn, struck US allies in the Gulf on Friday, as both sides targeted infrastructure while shipping in the Strait of Hormuz came under further assault. Iranian state media earlier reported damage to several bridges in the south, including in Bandar Khamir, and an airport was cited as hit in Iranshahr near the border with Pakistan. Authorities in a US ally, Kuwait, said disruptions affected a power generation and water desalination facility.

In Regional Impacts, Sirens are sounding in Bahrain as another Iranian attack wave is inbound.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Lod District Court issued an injunction on Thursday blocking a planned Likud vote after accepting a petition filed by the Social Forum affiliated with the National Labor Federation. The vote, which had been set to begin at noon, was intended to determine new rules for selecting the Likud’s candidate list ahead of the election for the 26th Knesset. Likud officials said the vote would not take place following the court order, and the party’s legal adviser requested that the convention vote be postponed while the legal proceedings continue. The Social Forum argued the Likud administration had acted in direct violation of a party court ruling by preventing the forum’s proposed election rules from being brought to a vote. The court issued a temporary order barring the Likud from holding the vote unless the forum’s proposal was also presented to delegates, in line with a Supreme Court ruling. The petition was filed by attorney Eric Twito.

In Uplifting News, the Jerusalem Film Festival will feature Native American storytelling with the film Gangland, directed by Vincent Grashaw. Grashaw found the screenplay online and worked with Native American advisers and actors to bring its world to life, including a story set on the fictional Thunderstone Reservation in the American Southwest, where a tribal police chief faces persistent challenges. Grashaw described the screenplay as authentic and lived-in, crediting guidance from Native advisers and performers to shape the film’s tone. Separately, Israeli cinema is balancing excitement with reflection as the festival runs through July 19, with screenings selling out and audiences welcoming films that grapple with the ongoing war. One documentary, Find Me, Okay?, explores the kidnapping and murder of Eden Yerushalmi, while the festival opened with Moshe Rosenthal’s Tell Me Everything, and audiences are reminded to seek shelter if a missile alert sounds.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-military-says-it-completed-latest-strikes-iran-marking-7th-consecutive-night
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22249
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902863
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-902775
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-902773
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/78337
https://t.me/hnaftali/23933