Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-23 at 12:02

HEADLINES
- Iranian terror network busted via proxy plot
- Trump weighs massive Iran strike Israel ready
- IRGC deploys to Yemen to bolster Houthis

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, Mossad and Shin Bet announced they busted a global Iranian terror network using a proxy-by-proxy tactic. They said the operation shows Iranian masterminds shifted from direct foreign recruitment to employing middle-men in an effort to better obscure Tehran’s involvement. There was a belief that some foreigners recruited through this network could slip into Israel to carry out terror attacks and assassinations. Four Iranian Intelligence Ministry officials named in the operation were Adala Bahazada Uhsari, Vahid Maatzumi, Mahmoud-Hussein Duki, and Hamid Qasami, who worked on recruiting middle-men such as Baback and Nadim. Those intermediaries then recruited Tarout Ozokor, a French-Muslim citizen who used the name “Philip,” who would put together his own operational terror cell. Philip’s role was to assemble his own operational terror cell.

In US Military Role, US President Donald Trump told Axios on Thursday he is close to deciding on whether to launch a new major combat operation against Iran, saying, “I am considering a massive attack. Bigger than ever before. I am close to making a decision. We are all set for it.” He added that Israel “would join in two minutes if I ask them to,” but warned there would be consequences to its joining and that the United States didn’t need any assistance. This is a developing story.

In Regional Impacts, Iraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi arrived in Iran to meet with President Masoud Pezeshkian, with discussions expected to cover regional security issues, trade, and energy supplies. Zaidi and Pezeshkian met officially at Saadabad Palace, receiving a formal welcome as they prepared to discuss files of common interest, bilateral cooperation, and efforts aimed at consolidating security and stability in the region. The visit comes more than a week after Zaidi’s meeting with the US president on July 14.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran flew Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps commanders, military advisers, and missile- and drone-related equipment to Yemen this month, according to four sources familiar with the matter. The transfer, on a flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, included between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, some senior commanders, and was diverted to Hodeidah after Sana’a’s airport came under attack. The sources said the personnel traveled to support Houthis, provide training on new missile systems, and that gold was also sent on the same aircraft to fund Houthi activities.

In Uplifting News, Many Christian Arabs proud to be part of Israeli society, ambassador to the Christian World says. Israel’s ambassador George Deek told The Jerusalem Post that Arab Christians enjoy a combination of freedom, opportunity, and belonging in Israeli society, contributing across medicine, law, diplomacy, academia, business, and public life. A May public-opinion survey by Tel Aviv University’s Konrad Adenauer Program for Jewish-Arab Cooperation found that 37.8% of Christian Arab respondents identified Israeli identity as the most important component of their personal identity, 33.4% cited Arab identity, 24.9% chose their Palestinian identity, and 3.9% selected Christian identity, underscoring a sense of belonging and participation in Israeli society.

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/defense-news/article-903466
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903482
https://t.me/newssil/207383
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skubunyrfg
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903454
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903465
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-903457