Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 11:02

HEADLINES
Iran claims strike at US base Tanf
West Bank wildfires drive regional evacuations
New York mayor weighs Netanyahu arrest

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran claimed it attacked a United States special operations command center in Tanf, southern Syria, on July 17, but the United States said no troops were harmed and a Syrian military source reported no attack. Tanf’s garrison had been withdrawn earlier this year. The claim appears to follow a July 16 border incident in which Syrian security forces stopped a shipment of weapons to Hezbollah from Iraq, including a tanker truck with missiles and drones. Analysts say the move may be intended as a message to Syria and a means to keep weapons flowing to Hezbollah via Syria, a dynamic that existed before the Assad regime’s collapse and that the current Syrian government has publicly sought to curb by naming Hezbollah and highlighting Iraqi involvement. Separately, Professor Mohammad Mardandi, a member of Iran’s negotiating delegation, warned that if President Trump continues to strike civilian targets, the United Arab Emirates would be next in line.

In Regional Impacts, a broad set of events across the region centered on fires, evacuations, and new tensions. In the West Bank, two fast-moving wildfires spread from Samaria toward residential areas, burning about 13 homes and damaging several vehicles, including a fire truck. Police evacuated residents and closed part of Highway 55 as twenty-seven fire and rescue teams, aided by a helicopter and four firefighting aircraft, fought the blazes near Kedumim, with a second fire in Shimshit prompting further evacuations in the Jezreel Valley. No serious injuries were reported, though some residents needed treatment for smoke inhalation. Separately, residents in Gaza’s Zaitoun district and the Wadi Salqa area reported the yellow line advancing west, prompting dozens of families to abandon their homes. In northern Israel, additional wildfires reached Havat Gilad, triggering a full evacuation, while residents in Shimshit and Kfar Vradim were moved or told to shelter indoors as winds continued to feed the flames. In Jordan, videos circulated showing thick black smoke around Muwaffaq Salti Air Base after Iran carried out a medium to intermediate-range ballistic missile attack against the base, with imagery of the smoke illustrating the aftereffects.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani is weighing an order to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu should he visit New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September. Mamdani told The New York Times podcast host that Netanyahu “belongs in the Hague” and has been charged by the International Criminal Court, though Mamdani is uncertain he has the legal authority to detain him and says he will act only within what the law allows. He is in active discussions with New York City’s law department about legal authority and cautions against creating new laws. Netanyahu, for his part, said he is not concerned and accused his critics of political maneuvering.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece argues that Israel must reverse the 2005 Gaza withdrawal and resettle Gush Katif. The author contends Gaza is part of the Land of Israel and that rebuilding Jewish life there is the only way to compel Hamas to pay a lasting price for its actions. The piece recalls the 2005 expulsion of Gaza’s Jewish communities, noting the uprooting of more than 8,000 pioneers and the destruction of homes, synagogues, and greenhouses that previously supported Israel’s exports, framing the withdrawal as a historic error that must be corrected in light of recent events.

In Uplifting News, two pieces offer a lighter note. One essay argues that Israel is excelling in public diplomacy through its aid response to earthquake-devastated Venezuela, portraying a positive international image amid regional tensions. The other piece highlights Ein Haniya, a near-Jerusalem water outing now developed as a small national park. Just minutes from the city center, visitors can enjoy a restored spring-fed pool system, with clear water, shaded picnics, and layered history including Roman and Byzantine elements, making it one of the area’s standout easy-day excursions.

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-902875
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902744
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902873
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902872
https://www.jpost.com/travel/article-902871
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902711
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126781
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1dhi11feze
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22254
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126780