Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 20:02

HEADLINES
US Launches Eighth Night of Iran Strikes
Nascent Sanhedrin Challenges Buenos Aires Takanah
Shin Bet Foils Terror Plots Telegram Operation

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, the United States has launched a new wave of strikes against Iran, CENTCOM announced, marking the eighth consecutive night of attacks. The strikes are designed to further degrade Iran's ability to threaten commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and swiftly punish Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps forces who launched attacks against American service members in Jordan last night. The operations began at 6 p.m. Eastern Time, directed by President Donald Trump, according to CENTCOM. Iranian media reported a strike near Sirik in southern Iran, while CENTCOM noted attacks connected to the Jordan incident that left two US service members dead, one missing, and several others wounded; some wounded have been evacuated and discharged, and CENTCOM said identities of the fallen would be withheld for 24 hours after next of kin are identified. A Wall Street Journal report describes damage to multiple US manned and unmanned aircraft at Muwaffaq Salti Air Base in Jordan, where hundreds of US personnel and dozens of aircraft are stationed for strikes on Iran. The broader picture sees airstrikes across nearly every major Iranian province adjacent to the Strait of Hormuz and the Arabian Gulf, with Iran warning of retaliatory strikes in the near term and CENTCOM signaling the new wave will be more powerful than past rounds.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Nascent Sanhedrin is challenging a 1927 communal takanah enacted by the Syrian Jewish community in Buenos Aires that barred converts from joining established Jewish communities, a policy later adopted by Latin American communities and, over time, by others. Proponents say recognizing Orthodox Latin American converts could reopen aliyah channels long blocked for decades, potentially edging thousands of converts and their descendants closer to Israel. Critics point to the historical boundaries of communal status and identity, while advocates emphasize addressing long‑standing grievances surrounding conversion and belonging. Separately, Israeli authorities have arrested senior Health Work Committees officials as the Shin Bet reports foiling alleged terror plots and foreign influence campaigns targeting Israeli society. Security officials say foreign-run operations, including a Telegram channel identified as Bnei Eretz, sought to sway public opinion ahead of upcoming legislative elections, and authorities anticipate such campaigns may intensify as the electoral period approaches.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a debated pattern emerges as critics across the political spectrum engage with Israel. An opinion piece highlights how figures from different sides of the aisle, including Ro Khanna and Tucker Carlson, have found political value in criticizing Israel. The article recalls Khanna’s uncoordinated visit to Judea and Samaria without IDF coordination, which led to confrontations with local residents and prompted Khanna to address the incident publicly. The author suggests that such narratives contribute to a broader discourse in which debates about Israeli policy intersect with perceptions of Jewish identity and security, underlining the sensitivity of the topic in public life.

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-902889
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-renews-strikes-iran-after-two-military-personnel-were-killed-iranian-attack
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22279
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22278
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkfbkwkvmg
https://t.me/selena_updates/67355
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22277
https://t.me/DefenderDome/22276
https://www.jpost.com/aliyah/article-902708
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902884
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902491