Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-22 at 12:02

HEADLINES
Iran nuclear threat grows after war
Trump vows strikes on Iranian bridges
Hamas tightens Gaza grip with muktars

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former Israel Navy commander Eliezer "Chaney" Marom told 103FM that Iran’s resolve to pursue a nuclear weapon has grown since the war, and that only regime change could prevent Tehran from obtaining a bomb. He said producing a nuclear bomb is a complex undertaking and that intelligence assessments, including those of the IAEA, indicated Iran was weeks away from completing the process when the war began. Marom warned against complacency, saying Iran’s motivation to acquire nuclear weapons has risen dramatically after the conflict, and that Tehran has drawn the conclusion that possessing such weapons would have changed the outcome of the war.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump threatened to hit Iranian bridges and power plants in retaliation for every time Iran fires on a ship in the Strait of Hormuz. He said the United States will “bomb and destroy one bridge or power plant, including those located next to, or in, the capital city of Tehran,” and that this would occur “from this point forward” for any attack by Iran, regardless of the weapon used. The comments came as he was en route to Dover Air Force Base to receive the four US soldiers killed by Iran in Jordan, and he reiterated the determination that Iran must not have nuclear weapons.

In Regional Impacts, Airports Authority Chairman Yiftach Ron-Tal said there will be no flight cancellations at Ben-Gurion Airport and that the skies will remain open despite the security situation, noting about 90,000 passengers per day and ongoing coordination with the security establishment. He added that officials are working to avoid flight cancellations, even as officials warned that additional US Air Force refueling planes could constrain capacity and force delays; public briefings urged travelers to be prepared for possible cancellations. An emergency meeting at Ben-Gurion was held earlier this week, led by Transportation Minister Miri Regev. Separately, Hamas is described as tightening its grip on Gaza by promoting loyalists within clan structures and appointing local administrators known as muktars to key positions, in a bid to strengthen its position as discussions of a technocratic handover proceed, with reports that Hamas has dissolved the emergency committee while establishing a temporary governing body and appointing leadership to head it.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, several tankers changed course in the Red Sea after warnings by Yemen’s Houthis, who have declared a naval blockade against Saudi Arabia and opened a potential new front in the broader confrontation with Iran. Ship-tracking data showed two tankers signaling the Suez Canal as their new destination, with others pausing their routes, as the European Union’s Aspides naval force advised ships with links to Israel, the United States, or Saudi Arabia to avoid Red Sea routes until tensions ease. In a related development, there has been a notable increase in controlled explosions conducted by the IDF in areas under its control in southern Lebanon, with blasts reported in multiple locations including Baraachit, Hadatha, Beit Yahoun, Kfar Tibnit, Houla, Ali al-Taher, and Wadi al-Salouqi. Local reports also indicate Israeli forces have advanced toward the Doubeih area and the western outskirts of Meis al-Jabal, reaching near Doubeih Castle and Wadi al-Salouqi, while conducting home searches, placing Israeli flags inside the castle, and patrolling with quad vehicles.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Defense Minister Israel Katz has launched a broad challenge to IDF Central Command Chief Major General Avi Bluth, signaling a hard line against Jewish extremist violence in the West Bank and opposing further limits on administrative detention after previously blocking such measures. The public confrontation comes as extremist violence remains among the most contentious security issues, with Katz arguing for tighter controls even as Bluth has been a leading figure in Palestinian terror suppression and settlement-related activity through domestic legal channels. In a separate matter, the government informed the High Court that it cannot complete legislation establishing an October 7 inquiry committee due to scheduling constraints and intends to complete the law after the elections, a move described as avoiding judicial intervention while the inquiry remains a central election dispute. Additionally, Israel has begun excavating trenches around a high-security wing at Ketziot Prison in the Negev Desert as part of National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir’s plan to use Nile crocodiles as an additional security barrier for high-risk inmates, including convicted terrorists; the project carries a budget of 21 million shekels for channels and crocodile care, enabled by a reclassification of the Nile crocodile for security use by the Environmental Protection Ministry.

In Israeli Economy and Business, the IDF is weighing the purchase of a maritime patrol and multi-role aircraft designed to detect submarines, specifically the Boeing P-8 Poseidon. The aircraft, based on a converted commercial jet and operated by several countries, carries a nine-member crew and has an operational range of about 2,200 kilometers in maritime environments, with in-flight refueling to extend its reach. It would complement the Israeli Air Force’s existing Oron platform and would provide cross-branch support and advanced sensors for anti-submarine operations as Turkey’s submarine fleet expands, prompting consideration of broader regional defense needs.

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-903325
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https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903313
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903336
https://t.me/selena_updates/67551
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903340
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903339
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hkqq280vmg
https://t.me/selena_updates/67550
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903332