Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-23 at 13:02

HEADLINES
Global Iranian proxy network busted via middlemen
Trump says massive Iran strike imminent
IRGC officers train Houthis on missiles

The time is now 1:01 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 said they have busted a global Iranian terror network using a proxy-by-proxy tactic. The agencies described a shift by Iran’s Intelligence Ministry to recruit through middlemen rather than directly from Tehran in an effort to blunt blowback and conceal origins. The operation exposed a network aimed at recruiting foreigners to carry out terror against Israel or Jews worldwide. Four Iranian Intelligence Ministry officials were named as involved: Adala Bahazada Uhsari, Vahid Maatzumi, Mahmoud-Hussein Duki, and Hamid Qasami. The plan also centered on middlemen such as Baba Mahu-Zadeh Haji Jafan, known as Baback, and Ahmat Nadim Yigit, known as Nadim. Those intermediaries were used to recruit Tarout Ozokor, a French-Muslim who used the alias Tarout Ozokor and took the name Philip to assemble his own operational cell.

In US Military Role, US President Donald Trump said in an Axios interview that he is close to launching a massive attack on Iran, bigger than any prior operation, and that a decision is near. He said, “We are all set for it.” He added that Israel would join within two minutes if asked, but there would be consequences to its joining and the United States would not seek outside help. He described his relationship with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as very good, and he said Iran wants to negotiate but has not shown enough willingness to accept new terms. Two regional sources corroborated that the Iranian leadership has not been helpful in negotiations.

In Regional Impacts, the new British Defense Secretary Wes Streeting said that Israel has fallen short of the UK’s military standards during its Gaza war, arguing that as a friend and ally Israel should be held to the same standards the UK applies to itself. Streeting told reporters at the Farnborough International Airshow that the standard he fears Israel has not met is the one applied to Britain. He also acknowledged his previous comment that Israel is committing war crimes. Colonel Richard Kemp, a staunch ally of Israel, disputed Streeting’s assessment, saying Israel exceeded what any other army could do in Gaza and that characterizations about minimizing harm to non-combatants were not supported by his first-hand view.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran flew IRGC 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 Mahan Air flight from Tehran to Yemen on July 13, reportedly involved between 10 and 21 IRGC personnel, including senior commanders, and was diverted to the Red Sea port of Hodeidah after Sana’a’s airport came under attack. The delegation traveled to support Houthi operations and provide training on new missile systems, with reports that gold was also sent to fund Houthis.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US Senate blocked a Democratic-led resolution aiming to stop the Iran war until hostilities are authorized by Congress, with the vote 49 to 47 not to advance the war powers measure.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir of Otzma Yehudit visited the Temple Mount on Thursday to mark Tisha B’Av, accompanied by Development Minister Yitzhak Wasserlauf. Ben-Gvir said Jews praying there felt they were the rightful owners of the site and noted “tremendous progress” on the Temple Mount. The status quo allows Israel to oversee security while the Jordanian-backed Islamic Waqf administers the site; non-Muslims may visit during limited hours but may not pray. The visit occurred as crowds observed the day of mourning for the destruction of the First and Second Temples.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Canada recorded 788 hate crimes targeting Jews in 2025, representing about 70.7% of the 1,115 religion-based hate crimes in the country, according to Statistics Canada data released by the national office. By contrast, 2021 figures showed 492 anti-Jewish hate crimes, about 56% of religion-based hate crimes and around 14.7% of all hate crimes. Advocates stressed that Jews remain among the most targeted minority groups and urged continued reporting and accountability.

In Uplifting News, many Christian Arabs are proud to be part of Israeli society, according to Israel’s ambassador to the Christian World, George Deek. He cited a May Tel Aviv University survey showing that 37.8% of Christian Arab respondents identified Israeli identity as the most important component of their personal identity, 33.4% chose Arab identity, 24.9% chose Palestinian identity, and 3.9% chose Christian identity. Deek said Israel has created a society where Arab Christians can preserve their faith and identity while participating fully in national life, with Christians able to worship freely, receive a strong education, build successful careers, and serve in medicine, law, diplomacy, academia, business, and 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/israel-news/defense-news/article-903466
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903482
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-903461
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903465
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/us-senate-blocks-resolution-curbing-trumps-iran-war-powers
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903472
https://worldisraelnews.com/16-7-of-canadian-hate-crimes-in-2025-targeted-jews-1-of-country-per-state-data/
https://www.jpost.com/christianworld/article-903457