Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-12 at 05:02

HEADLINES
Missile fragments devastate Carmel white lily nursery
Israel strikes Hezbollah Gaza tunnels West Bank
Gulf leaders urge Trump cancel Iran strikes

The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, missile interception fragments that fell during the night between Sunday and Monday struck the white lily plot at Seeds from Zion nursery in Carmel, causing damage to a long-running preservation project. The Simantov family described the damage as an ongoing, unfolding assessment, with the family noting, “We still don’t know how many bulbs were destroyed. It could be hundreds, it could be thousands. Only in months or even years will we know the full extent of the damage.” The initiative began in 2004 during the Carmel tunnels excavation, when bulbs uncovered during engineering works were moved to the Seeds from Zion site with approval from the Nature and Parks Authority to save the rare plant. Using tissue cultures, thousands of new bulbs were produced, some released back into the Carmel wild and others kept at the nursery for propagation and conservation. Zion Simantov recalled that there were only a few dozen bulbs at the start, and today there are tens of thousands, making this site one of the country’s remaining sources of the original Carmel white lily, not a commercial variety, but the real natural plant that returns from here to its Carmel habitat.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli Defense Forces announced operations on three fronts over the past week to counter threats from Hezbollah in southern Lebanon, from Gaza, and from the West Bank, while also targeting smuggling along Israel’s eastern and western borders. In southern Lebanon, the Israeli Air Force struck roughly 310 Hezbollah sites and ground forces conducted operations to dismantle infrastructure and remove threats, with the IDF saying around 80 militants were killed. In the Gaza Strip, forces continued work to dismantle terror tunnels, with over 20 terrorists killed, including three senior Islamic Jihad operatives and the head of a Hamas funds transfer network and his deputy. In the West Bank, counterterrorism efforts led to the capture of more than 50 suspects wanted for inciting terrorism, advancing terror activities, and possessing and trading weaponry, and authorities confiscated 250,000 shekels intended for terrorism, as well as a lathe used to manufacture weapons, a drone, and other military equipment.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Gulf and South Asian leaders pressed US President Donald Trump to call off planned strikes against Iran after his post about a potential attack. Reports say Qatar’s Emir Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, United Arab Emirates President Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, and Pakistani defense chief Asim Munir urged Trump to pursue a negotiated deal, arguing their influence over Tehran could shape a breakthrough. A Trump administration official told Politico that their assurances of a deal helped persuade the President to back away from planned strikes. Trump later posted on Truth Social that discussions with the Islamic Republic of Iran had reached the highest level of Iranian leadership and were approved, leading him to cancel the scheduled strikes. He added that discussions and final points had been approved by all parties involved. Separately, a Hebrew-language post quoted Trump saying, “We finished the war with Iran. They agreed never to have a nuclear [weapon],” though the post’s attribution could not be independently verified through official channels.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, MK Tally Gotliv of Likud pushed back against predictions that she would be ousted and against reports that Prime Minister Netanyahu planned to cancel the Likud primaries. In an interview on 103FM, she argued that primaries will proceed and accused the host of diminishing the leadership circle around the Prime Minister. “There will be primaries. No court will help; primaries are the pride of the Likud party,” she said, adding that Netanyahu “really bothers you” and that she believes the Prime Minister wants her in his circle. Separately, a Maariv poll showed Likud at 22 seats, down three from the previous week, while the coalition bloc held 50 seats. The opposition bloc stood at 60 seats, with Arab parties totaling 10 seats. Yeshar! and Together each held about 20 seats, reflecting a three-way contest for the largest party as broad parliamentary dynamics shift amid the Iran一分钟 war and related legislation.

In Uplifting News, preparations for Tel Aviv Pride Parade are underway with roads being closed along the route ahead of the event. The parade is planned to begin around 11 a.m. on Shalag Street near Gordon Beach, tracing the promenade to Charles Clore Park. Israel Police will deploy more than 1,000 officers, including undercover and Border Police, with support from volunteers and special units, including air and maritime units. Security plans were coordinated with production partners, the Tel Aviv-Yafo municipality, MDA, and others. Authorities said two-wheeled vehicles, weapons, glass bottles, alcohol, and animals (with the exception of guide dogs on duty or in training) would be prohibited from the parade and the related party at Charles Clore Park. Road closures have started along planned routes, including Rokach Boulevard westbound, to accommodate the event.

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/article-899202
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-899209
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899204
https://t.me/newssil/203991
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899205
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899199
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-899203