Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-19 at 18:03

HEADLINES
- US Cuts Iran Funds for 60 Days
- Israel-Hezbollah Ceasefire Takes Effect at 4 PM
- EU Eyes Hormuz Naval Coalition

The time is now 6:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, President Trump reiterated a hard line on Iran, saying the United States did not act out of desperation and that Iran has been finished. "We didn't meet out of desperation, Iran did. They are FINISHED! We'll play out the 60 days. They get no money, not ten cents!" The remarks frame the administration’s posture for the next 60 days, signaling no financial support for Tehran.

In Regional Impacts, the next round of Lebanese-Israeli talks is scheduled for June 23-25 in Washington, the US State Department said after a call between Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun. Rubio reiterated the need to disarm Hezbollah and reaffirmed US support for Lebanon’s efforts to build a fully sovereign state at peace with its neighbors. Israel’s ambassador to the United States, Yechiel Leiter, said Israel remains fully committed to an immediate ceasefire and disputed Hezbollah’s claims that Israel had broken the ceasefire, adding that if Hezbollah honors the agreement they will be met with quiet. The security zone in southern Lebanon remains in place to destroy terrorist infrastructure and ensure Israeli security. Separately, Iran’s Persian Gulf Strait Authority said vessels seeking to transit the Strait of Hormuz must submit an application at least 48 hours in advance, providing contact information and voyage details, and coordinate transit timing with Iranian authorities; under the current 60-day arrangement, Iran says no fees will be charged for security, safety, or environmental services, and transit insurance costs will be covered by the Iranian government. The Dutch Ministry of Defense released that the HNLMS De Ruyter has been rerouted from the Indo-Pacific toward the Strait of Hormuz to possibly take part in an EU-led international coalition to secure safe passage for commercial shipping, though the final decision to include the vessel in a potential mission has not yet been made. A White House official commented on the guidelines for the Strait of Hormuz recently announced by Iran’s PGSA, saying that Iran’s commitment to open the strait free of charge for 60 days clashes with the new PGSA directives and that the United States will not tolerate a deviation from the agreed-upon framework.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a FrenchForeign Minister prompt to stop strikes on Hezbollah was noted after Ambassador Huckabee cited that call amid ongoing exchanges, as Israel’s Ambassador Leiter presented what he called facts and warned that ceasefire would hold only if Hezbollah ceases hostilities. The IDF reported it killed dozens of Hezbollah militants and struck more than 80 targets in southern and eastern Lebanon after Hezbollah launched attacks on Israeli troops, including command centers and rocket launchers, with two Hezbollah fighters killed after fleeing a launch site on a motorcycle. Defense Minister Israel Katz said the IDF will remain in southern Lebanon, adding that every violation of the ceasefire by Hezbollah will be met with great force, and that the security zone from the coastline to the Beaufort heights will be maintained to protect northern communities and to destroy terror infrastructure. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also asserted that Israel will not tolerate attacks on its soldiers or territory, and that the IDF will act decisively to neutralize any threat, remaining in the security zone for as long as necessary to safeguard northern communities. The Israel Foreign Ministry noted that in the past 48 hours Hezbollah killed five Israelis and injured 12, with 63 rocket attacks, seven explosive UAV attacks, two IED attacks, one missile attack, and one infiltration attempt by five terrorists. A breaking report said Israel and Hezbollah had agreed to a ceasefire starting at 4 p.m., according to a senior US official. Footage from the IDF indicated it had struck over 150 Hezbollah targets since midnight. IDF Spokesman Brigadier General Effie Defrin said Israeli forces retain full freedom of action to eliminate threats in southern Lebanon despite the ceasefire, with ongoing operations around the Beaufort Castle area and the Ali Taher ridge to destroy major Hezbollah tunnel networks; he accused Hezbollah of violating the ceasefire and said there are no limits when it comes to removing threats.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Congresswoman Claudia Tenney said she urged EU leaders to reject draft measures that would target businesses and organizations operating in Judea and Samaria, including US companies, arguing that Israel is defending its citizens from terrorism and that the EU should stand with a democratic ally. President Trump weighed in, saying that if it weren’t for him, Israel would have been eviscerated, and when asked about his relationship with Netanyahu he said it was good, but that he keeps him “a little bit sane.”

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani accused AIPAC of being “monsters” for spending millions in dark money to secure pro-Israel candidates in the upcoming elections, while also criticizing Prime Minister Netanyahu’s handling of the war in Gaza. In Melbourne, police charged a third suspect in an arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue that officials say was directed by Iran; the 20-year-old man was among three masked offenders who broke in, doused the interior with flammable liquid, and set it alight in the early hours of December 6, 2024, causing extensive damage and leaving a worshipper with minor injuries.

In Uplifting News, Mars’s MAHA Makeover will bring a new version of M&M’s in August, marking an 85-year milestone with candies made entirely without synthetic petroleum-based dyes and instead colored with natural ingredients sourced from plants, algae, roots, and spirulina. Across mainland China, Hong Kong, and Taiwan, Dragon Boat Festival festivities—dragon boat races, lion dances, and other activities—mark a more than 2,000-year-old holiday rooted in ancient beliefs about health, protection, and harmony with nature.

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.

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