Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-23 at 19:02

HEADLINES
- Israel readies for Iran strike this weekend
- Iranian strikes pound US bases, evidence surfaces
- US taps frozen assets for Iran damages

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

In Operation Lion's Roar, a Likud lawmaker indicated that an attack against Iran is approaching, perhaps even as early as this weekend. During a Channel 14 News interview, MK Moshe Saada said, "We all know that we are approaching an attack on Iran, perhaps even as early as this weekend," as tensions between the United States and Iran rise. Channel 14 later framed the remarks as a slip of the tongue, though colleagues noted Saada has in recent days suggested that military action could occur within days. The Prime Minister's Office reportedly reacted with fury, taking the comments seriously.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Jerusalem is weighing multiple scenarios as Trump threatens an unprecedented attack and Western intelligence cautions Tehran may strike first. Officials are preparing for possibilities ranging from an Iranian surprise attack and joint US-Israeli action to one outcome that could keep Israel outside the fighting. Israeli intelligence agencies said they disrupted an Iranian effort to establish an assassination cell inside Israel by recruiting operatives through foreign intermediaries to mask Tehran’s involvement, with France-based recruiter Tharwat Ozkour, alias "Philip," identified as central to the operation; Ozkour traveled to Iran and met with officials to receive operational guidance. Defense Minister Israel Katz warned that any attack on Israel would be met with a crushing blow, a message delivered after a high-level security consultation that included the IDF Chief of Staff, the Defense Ministry director-general, and other senior officials. Western intelligence assessments have suggested Tehran may seek to draw Israel into a confrontation or act first, underscoring the sensitivity around any escalation.

In Iranian Retaliation, new imagery of Iranian strikes shows damage to US bases, radar systems, and other facilities across the region. A visual investigation by The New York Times found damage at nine sites linked to the United States over the past two weeks, indicating a precision targeting capability despite recent strikes on the regime. A US military official told the Times that nearly a dozen US service members injured in July attacks were flown to a US military hospital in Germany for treatment. Defense Department officials declined to comment on satellite imagery for operational security reasons.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump announced that any future damages to ships, cargo, or related maritime assets caused by Iran in the Strait of Hormuz will be compensated using frozen Iranian funds. The statement reiterates the administration's plan to leverage frozen Iranian assets in offsetting potential losses from such incidents.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, opposition lawmakers are weighing moves ahead of the elections. Opposition MK Efrat Rayten of The Democrats warned that any restrictions imposed by the Transportation Ministry that hinder Israelis from returning to the country before the elections will be challenged in the High Court of Justice. In a letter to the Minister of Transportation, and to officials from the Civil Aviation Authority and Airports Authority, Rayten argued that the election process cannot be torpedoed and that authorities should be prepared for surge demand. Separately, Yoaz Hendel and Chili Tropper lead a new alliance, Zionist Home-The Reservists, which says it will not rule out joining a government led by Prime Minister Netanyahu, but will prioritize advancing its core principles over political calculations. The alliance says it is not bound to any camp and seeks a broad Zionist government if circumstances permit.

In Uplifting News, Israeli scientists have discovered a unique immune system in sea anemones. Researchers from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, in collaboration with the University of North Carolina at Charlotte, identified a new CARD protein named CARDIB in the starlet sea anemone Nematostella vectensis, which helps prevent unnecessary immune responses by binding to the viral sensor. The finding challenges the long-held view that all animals share a single ancestral antiviral system and suggests that evolution produced different molecular solutions to combat viruses. The study notes that this discovery could inform efforts to protect coral reefs facing environmental threats.

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-903509
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b1syqyxhzl
https://worldisraelnews.com/mossad-shin-bet-foil-iranian-assassination-plot-targeting-senior-israeli-officials/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-903499
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903433
https://t.me/selena_updates/67616
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903450
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-903510
https://www.timesofisrael.com/israeli-scientists-say-theyve-discovered-a-unique-immune-system-in-sea-anemones/