Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-21 at 14:02

HEADLINES
Tangsiri assassination deepens Israeli Iranian clash
Trump threatens Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site
Ben-Gvir demands Baharav-Miara ouster

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israeli naval intelligence and operations officials say that on March 26 the IDF announced the assassination of Iranian Naval Chief Alireza Tangsiri in Bandar Abbas, part of efforts to strike key Iranian naval cruise missile production sites and submarine-related facilities. At the time, some described the killing and the navy’s role as pivotal to Iran agreeing to ceasefire terms in early April. Details of how Tangsiri was killed have long been shrouded, and many remain classified. For the first time, The Jerusalem Post reports that, prior to March 26, the United States and Israel had already attempted to assassinate Tangsiri on several occasions. The process began with Israeli naval intelligence and operations directorates conducting targeted research to map Iran’s naval officials and their patterns of operation. The navy’s operations directorate then placed specific individuals, including Tangsiri, in a target bank for IDF intelligence and air force units, and IDF intelligence used those initial leads to guide subsequent actions.

In Regional Impacts, US President Donald Trump has threatened to attack a site linked to Iran’s nuclear program known as Pickaxe Mountain, speaking in a July 13 interview on the Hugh Hewitt Show. The threat underscores rising tensions as Tehran and Washington exchange fire in the Gulf and hinder efforts to end the conflict. Pickaxe Mountain sits about 220 kilometers south of Tehran and roughly two kilometers from the Natanz nuclear complex. The Natanz site previously housed uranium enrichment plants and was targeted in past hostilities. The tunnel facility at Pickaxe Mountain has not been targeted in those wars, according to the Institute for Science and International Security, and the peak rises to about 1,600 meters above sea level.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Otzma Yehudit chairman and National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir called for Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara’s immediate dismissal as a condition for his party to join the next government, arguing her tenure is incompatible with coalition cooperation after a series of disputes over authority, police policy, senior appointments, and various government decisions. Baharav-Miara maintains her role is to ensure government decisions are made in accordance with the law. Democrats Party leader Yair Golan outlined plans to advance legislation barring politicians with criminal records from serving as prime minister or in the next government, arguing for a fundamental change to the political system. Israel First Party founder Sharren Haskel launched a campaign to recruit right-wing figures for a broad Zionist government, saying she would consider joining a government with parties from across the aisle, including potentially Netanyahu’s coalition, and highlighting moves involving prominent right-wing figures such as Yuli Edelstein. Analysts note that Netanyahu’s strategy of extending concessions to haredi partners has become a political liability, as voters express frustration over the draft exemption issue and a recent recording alleging incitement linked to the haredi community intensifies scrutiny of the coalition. In a separate development, a widely shared AI-generated video depicting a figure resembling former chief of staff Gadi Eisenkot’s son sparked controversy after Netanyahu posted footage showing Eisenkot approaching a young man and then embracing Mansour Abbas, prompting questions about political messaging and the manipulation of imagery.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Dun & Bradstreet’s Duns 100 has published Israel’s first comprehensive ranking of defense-industry firms, listing 60 companies across six categories: defense integrators, defense manufacturing, unmanned and autonomous systems, homeland security, intelligence and cyber, and tactical and ground equipment. Of the 60 firms, 23 are in defense manufacturing and 19 in unmanned and autonomous systems, underscoring the central role of technology and innovation in the sector. Leading names include Elbit Systems, Plasan Sasa, Aeronautics, Magal, Cellebrite, and Israel Weapon Industries, with additional noted players such as D-Fend Solutions, ThirdEye Systems, Parazero Technologies, High Lander Aviation, Controp Precision Technologies, Bagira, Smart Shooter, and MeproLight shaping the defense-tech landscape.

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-903217
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903221
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903225
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903224
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903222
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903220
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s17i00manfx
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-903226