Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-26 at 08:02

HEADLINES
- Israel Makes Space the Next Battlefield
- Lebanon Ceasefire Frays as Hezbollah Looms
- Wounded Dog Chetz Defies Odds

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, the IDF is expanding its focus to space as the next battlefield, with Brigadier-General Yael Grosman telling The Jerusalem Post that a data revolution requires the IDF to have data and capabilities everywhere, not just for the war that was but for the war that will be. She said the force must be organized differently, and that Israel cannot compete on future battlefields without a space-centered approach that covers all the worlds of data and content. The plan tied to Chief of Staff Eyal Zamir’s mid-January five-year roadmap signals sustained investment as space moves into a core defense priority. Israel has pursued space-related programs for about 45 years, with notable advances in satellite communications and satellite surveillance, and the Defense Ministry backs the push.

Chetz, Arrow the dog, wounded in an Iranian missile strike during Operation Rising Lion, has spent the past year recovering with his family by his side. In June 2025, a missile struck the Levi family’s next‑door neighbors, leaving Chetz badly injured with broken limbs and shrapnel. A team at the University Veterinary Hospital Beit Dagan in Rishon Lezion treated him through half a dozen surgeries, including a stomach procedure to remove shrapnel and ensure all fragments were gone. The lead vet, Dr. Talia Adler, said there was no real choice and that the dog “wants to live, he wants to fight,” a sentiment echoed by his owner, Eran, as the family and the city of Ness Ziona helped during recovery.

In Regional Impacts, search-and-rescue personnel with the Mexican Army and National Guard arrived by several military aircraft overnight at El Libertador Air Base in Maracay, Northern Venezuela.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, ministers met amid complaints about IDF restrictions in Lebanon under the ceasefire. National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir objected, saying he did not want a ceasefire “exactly for this reason.” Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stressed that soldiers respond to every immediate threat, and Defense Minister Israel Katz agreed, noting that while there are pros and cons to the ceasefire, no soldier should be endangered. Cabinet discussions reflected a push‑and‑pull over how to handle Hezbollah’s activity and the appropriate balance between restraint and force.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece argues that the current path with Iran amounts to Swiss-cheese diplomacy, leaving dangerous holes in the deal. The author contends that the memorandum of understanding shaping the US approach is riddled with gaps that could undermine any agreement, likening the arrangement to Swiss cheese and warning that holes in the framework may swallow the terms of any deal.

In Uplifting News, researchers say a 2,700-year-old standing stone at Tel Eton, known as a massebah, may provide new evidence of King Hezekiah’s religious reforms. The stone, about 1.4 meters tall and weighing 750 kilograms, was found inside Building 101, the Governor’s Residency, east of Hebron. Archaeologist Avraham Faust notes the find could illuminate how religious change affected daily life, beyond the temple precincts. A devotional piece on Parashat Balak emphasizes modesty and inner growth, urging personal restraint and meaningful conduct in the light of the week’s Torah portion and the alliance between Moab and Midian against Israel. Finally, guidance on Shabbat candle lighting times for Israel and the US reminds viewers that times vary by location, listing several sample times for candles and when Shabbat ends.

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/defense-and-tech/article-900566
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-900386
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21744
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-900606
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-900571
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-900308
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/torah-portion/article-900522
https://www.jpost.com/judaism/article-900611