Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-20 at 07:01

HEADLINES
Bulgarian MPs weigh US tankers at Bezmer
Lebanon to verify Hezbollah zones under US
Hamas attacks Gaza aid demands NIS 24500

The time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, Bulgaria will seek parliamentary approval on Monday for up to eight US tanker aircraft to be stationed at the Bezmer military facility to support the US military's operations in the Middle East, Prime Minister Rumen Radev said at an annual conference of Bulgarian Ambassadors in Sofia. The government move follows controversy earlier this year when the planes were moved to Sofia’s civilian airport without parliamentary approval and subsequently left, with Radev noting the aim is to base aircraft at a military airfield. Bezmer sits about 260 kilometers southeast of Sofia. Separately, President Donald Trump said Iran has been “very badly damaged” after nine nights of US airstrikes, arguing the campaign has degraded much of Iran’s military capacity while Iran retains some missiles, drones and weapons-making ability. He said the United States has gained the upper hand in the confrontation over the Strait of Hormuz, and that strikes were carried out partly in response to American service members’ deaths in Jordan and Iraq, with US Central Command saying the latest strikes were conducted in that context.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a pilot program is expected to begin soon in southern Lebanon under which Lebanese Armed Forces troops will enter designated areas to verify they have been cleared of Hezbollah operatives and weapons, according to two sources familiar with the matter. An Israeli official said after last week’s Rome talks with Lebanese representatives that the two designated pilot zones had been agreed, and the operation would be conducted under US supervision to demonstrate Lebanon’s sovereignty. Separately, Hamas has attacked food distribution points in the Gaza Strip, hijacked aid and threatened civilians as part of broader clashes, with reports that militants demanded compensation for ammunition spent, roughly NIS 24,500, before releasing or detaining civilians. Additional accounts suggested Hamas was concealing goods inside aid trucks and other commercial shipments to raise funds, with methods of concealment not fully clear.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Iranian Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baghaei said mediators are actively pursuing ways to prevent tension from escalating, while Iran asserts it will continue to defend its interests alongside diplomacy. He described diplomacy and defense as essential and reiterated Iran’s determination to respond to what it called American aggression, while denying ambiguity in the memorandum of understanding between Iran and the United States. The message emphasizes that talks are ongoing even as Iran maintains a readiness to combine diplomatic and defensive actions to protect national interests.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Attorney-General’s Office told the High Court that significant gaps remain regarding police independence from ministerial influence, and that the recent binding framework intended to safeguard that independence has not yet restrained Prime Minister Netanyahu’s ally, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, from commenting on investigations, weighing in on police operations, and influencing appointments. The filing said efforts to constrain interference through measures short of removing Ben-Gvir have fallen short, and negotiations over more detailed procedures have left fundamental disagreements unresolved. Ben-Gvir responded by publicly brushing off the critique and signaling continued challenge to the framework designed to protect professional, apolitical policing.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, administrators at the Australian National University have acknowledged failing Jewish students and staff during a prolonged anti-Israel protest encampment on the Canberra campus in 2024. Interim Vice-Chancellor Rebekah Brown testified before Australia’s Royal Commission on Antisemitism and Social Cohesion, apologizing on behalf of the university and affirming that Jewish members have an absolute right to feel safe, respected and heard on campus. Brown, who led the university during the encampment, pledged to improve the university’s response as she remains in office, following 110 days of demonstrations that drew scrutiny from officials and community leaders.

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/bulgaria-ask-parliament-allow-us-tanker-aircraft-be-stationed-military-base
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-says-iran-has-very-little-left-after-ninth-night-of-us-strikes/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903033
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903025
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903043
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903032
https://worldisraelnews.com/australian-university-failed-its-jewish-students-top-officials-admit/