Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-25 at 22:02

HEADLINES
IDF Strikes Khamenei's Deep Underground Bunker
US Approves Australia F/A-18 Growler Sale
Venezuela Earthquakes Kill 235, 41,000 Missing

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei’s underground bunker complex includes a blast-resistant room and escape tunnels beneath central Tehran, Iran International reports. The facility, known as Habib Ebrahimi, sits beside Khamenei's official residence. Construction began in 2009 with Khamenei's approval and was funded by the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters. Plans show the main entrance large enough for cars and a depth of 30 meters underground, plus a 27-meter tunnel with several escape routes and a second tunnel leading to a parking garage near Enghelab Square. In early March, the IDF targeted the bunker using intelligence provided by clandestine units 8200 and 9900. The documents' authenticity was confirmed by a security source, Iran International said.

In US Military Role, the State Department approved the possible sale of F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft to Australia at an estimated cost of $250 million, saying the sale will support US foreign policy and national security objectives and that Australia is one of our most important Western Pacific allies. The department noted the strategic location of Australia contributes to peace and economic stability in the region, and that it is vital to the US national interest to assist Australia in developing and maintaining a strong and ready self-defense capability. The deal would not alter the basic military balance, no additional US contractors would be assigned, and it would not impact US defense readiness; the sale would enhance Australia’s ability to meet current and future threats and increase interoperability with the US and its allies through training. Separately, an MV-22B Osprey carrying US Marine Corps Major General Kevin J. Jarrard appears to have departed Ceiba, Puerto Rico, at 6:50 p.m. local time. JTF-Bravo personnel at Soto Cano Air Base, Honduras, were loading equipment into a CH-47F Chinook in preparation for earthquake relief efforts led by SOUTHCOM across Northern Venezuela. And Major General Kevin J. Jarrard has departed Ceiba, Puerto Rico to lead and oversee earthquake relief efforts by the US Department of War in Venezuela. US Southern Command has announced that Commander General Francis L. Donovan directed a regional surge of forces, including the San Antonio-class amphibious transport dock USS Fort Lauderdale (LPD-28) and the Freedom-class littoral combat ship USS Billings (LCS-15), with C-17A Globemaster III and C-130H Hercules operations, plus reconnaissance platforms and rotary-wing aircraft attached to LPD-28, to support recovery efforts in earthquake-torn Venezuela.

In Regional Impacts, Iran seeks multibillion-dollar involvement in reopening the Strait of Hormuz as the United States forbids tolls on ships passing through the strait. Officials familiar with the matter cited by the Wall Street Journal said Tehran envisions revenue exceeding $40 billion a year from security, safety, and environmental services, and has floated the Dardanelles model as a framework for regional participation and revenue sharing. Iran previously shut down shipping through Hormuz and sought permission for passage, a stance that preceded subsequent US actions to blockade the strait. Meanwhile, the death toll from yesterday’s pair of major earthquakes in Northern Venezuela—magnitudes 7.2 and 7.5—has risen to at least 235, with as many as 41,000 reported missing, as rescuers and survivors work amid extensive destruction around Caracas and nearby areas.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Sa’ar to bring Armenian Genocide recognition to vote, cites Israel's moral and historical duty, with a government meeting and subsequent Knesset vote planned. Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar notes that 32 UN member states, including the United States, Canada, Russia, and Germany, have formally recognized the genocide, joining the Holy See and the European Parliament, and that more than 200 memorials exist across 32 countries. He emphasizes the need to condemn denial and distortion of history regarding the Armenian Genocide, which began in the final years of the Ottoman Empire. In Eilat, residents and visitors were unsettled by a Shin Bet warning of a possible Oct. 7-style attack, though officials and businesses say calm has returned as attention shifts to exposed Arava border communities. Separately, FM Sa’ar intends to propose a cabinet resolution to officially recognize the Ottoman genocide of Armenians, a move expected to provoke Turkey amid long-running tensions over historical portrayal and regional alliances.

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-900591
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900592
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21740
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21735
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21733
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21732
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900589
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21739
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900587
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900588
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h1cimbimgl
https://www.timesofisrael.com/fm-to-propose-cabinet-resolution-to-officially-recognize-ottoman-genocide-of-armenians/