Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-16 at 03:03

HEADLINES
Israel Halts Iran Strike Over US-Iran Deal
Lukashenko Gaza Wiped Off Earth
Iran Hezbollah Weakened Nuclear Capability Destroyed

The time is now 3:02 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Major General Omer Tishler says Israel’s air force was prepared to strike hundreds of targets in Iran after Tehran fired dozens of missiles at Israel, but the operation was halted at the last minute as a US-Iran understanding took shape.

In Regional Impacts, Belarusian president Alexander Lukashenko told Al-Arabiya English that Gaza had been wiped off the face of the earth, accusing Israel of carrying out a “Holocaust” in Gaza, and he said the United States can press Israel to stop, warning there is no military solution in the Middle East.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, former strategic affairs minister Ron Dermer said Iran and Hezbollah have been significantly weakened since October 7, telling United Hatzalah’s Annual New York Gala that Iran’s nuclear capability has been destroyed and that its remaining leverage lies in enriched material stored at two deeply buried sites, while urging that current discussions should not be described as a nuclear deal but rather as an effort to ease international economic pressure. Overnight, heavy Israeli artillery shelling carried out across multiple areas of southern Lebanon targeted locations including Ali al-Taher and the area between Haboush and Kfar Remen, Sajd, Aayshiyeh’s Mahmoudiya area, Wadi al-Slouqi, Jabal al-Rafid, and Nabatieh al-Fawqa, with local reports noting an Israeli attempt to advance toward the town of Braachit as clashes and military activity continued.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Jackson Lahmeyer, a pro-Israel pastor and founder of Pastors for Trump, is the favored candidate in Oklahoma’s 1st District primary after winning President Trump’s endorsement, along with House Speaker Mike Johnson and House Majority Leader Steve Scalise, and he addressed publicly the Daily Mail’s allegations about his personal life, saying the matter was handled privately. American Jewish groups across the political spectrum expressed alarm about Trump’s Iran deal, noting concerns about terms and consequences for Israeli security, even as supporters emphasize its aims to reopen regional corridors. A Axios-sourced briefing cites US intelligence and the CIA as having listened to calls by Iranian officials and concluding Iran is not inclined to meet its nuclear commitments even if a final agreement is signed.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Naftali Bennett criticized Netanyahu’s conduct of the war with Iran, telling Kan News that the current government is not capable of advancing Israel and that Netanyahu’s leadership is compromising Israel’s standing, arguing for a different leadership that would act without being bound to personal interests. Maine’s Graham Platner, a Democratic candidate for the US Senate known for controversial remarks, accuses Netanyahu of war crimes, labeling him an international fugitive from ICC charges.

In Uplifting News, Iranians rose at dawn to watch their team’s first steps on American soil in the World Cup, gathering in a Tehran cafe where about 40 football fans discussed their chances as the match against New Zealand kicked off at 4:30 am, many in attendance without headscarves and enjoying a breakfast of tomatoes, cheese, and omelettes, amid a broader mood linked to a memorandum of understanding between Tehran and Washington for an immediate end to the deadly conflict. A post circulating with the headline “A true alliance between the Iranian people, Israel and the United States. May we live to see a free Iran!” expresses a hopeful vision for regional harmony and a future Iran free from conflict.

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.ynetnews.com/article/bkbq9pawme
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b16xj00c11zx
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-899533
https://t.me/selena_updates/65761
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-899532
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-899530
https://t.me/newssil/204249
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-899535
https://worldisraelnews.com/graham-platner-accuses-international-fugitive-netanyahu-of-war-crimes/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/iranians-dawn-cheer-their-team-world-cup
https://t.me/hnaftali/23484