Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 10:01

HEADLINES
Iran claims attack on US base Tanf
Majdal Selam funeral for 45 Hezbollah militants
Ein Haniya park revived near Jerusalem

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 the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran said it attacked a United States special operations command center in Tanf, southern Syria, on July 17. The United States denied that troops were harmed, and a Syrian military source reported there was no attack. Tanf was once a small US garrison near the tri-border area of Iraq, Syria, and Jordan, but the base was withdrawn earlier this year. Iran’s claim appears aimed at sending a message and at keeping weapons flowing to Hezbollah via Syria. The report notes that on July 16 Syrian security forces stopped a shipment of weapons bound for Hezbollah at the border, including missiles in a tanker truck and small drones. Iran is described as likely trying to ensure continued weapons support to Hezbollah through Syria; before the Assad regime’s fall, this flow existed, and since then Syria’s new government has worked to curb Hezbollah smuggling and has publicly named Hezbollah, drawing attention to Iraq as a source of weapons.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, southern Lebanon also figures in this update with news from Majdal Selam. A funeral was held today in the village of Majdal Selam for 45 Hezbollah militants.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Why Israel must reverse the 2005 Gaza withdrawal, resettle Gush Katif, an opinion, argues that twenty-one years after the Gaza pullout Israel must replace retreat with rebuilding and ensure Gaza can never again become a terror base. The piece contends Gaza is part of the Land of Israel and rebuilding Jewish life there is the only way to compel Hamas to pay a concrete and lasting price for its crimes. It recalls the 2005 expulsion from Gush Katif and northern Samaria, noting that 21 thriving Jewish communities—home to more than 8,000 pioneers—were uprooted, their homes demolished, their synagogues abandoned and later desecrated, and their greenhouses handed over to Gaza’s future leadership. The author argues that the lessons of that chapter demand a new approach to Gaza to prevent future threats.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, War, boycotts, and shrinking budgets push Israeli culture to the brink analyzes how culture sectors cope in the post-Oct. 7 and post-Iran war environment. The piece notes the ongoing trauma and the daily demands of life—family, work, and bills—while asking how the cultural sphere can endure. It discusses the Jewish cultural tradition, the central role of literature and the arts in national life, and the pressures on culture purveyors as budgets tighten and government support becomes more constrained.

In Uplifting News, Hiking in the Holy Land: Ein Haniya, an easy water outing outside Jerusalem, highlights a restored national park just outside the capital. Fifteen minutes from central Jerusalem, a stone pool fed by a spring offers clear, cold water and scenic views of the Judean hills. Families gather for picnics and a carefree morning by the water. Ein Haniya, once overlooked near Ein Lavan, has been revitalized by the Parks Authority and transformed into a welcoming, easy outdoor destination, with ancient roots visible in the spring and surrounding structures, making it one of the area’s prettiest easy water outings near Jerusalem.

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-902873
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126775
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902711
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-902692
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-902871