Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-26 at 14:02

HEADLINES
US shoots down drones in Hormuz attack
Iran asserts Strait control warns Gulf neighbors
Israel Lebanon framework deal poised in Washington

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Trump said US forces shot down three drones during an Iranian attack on ships in the Strait of Hormuz. The Islamic Republic of Iran launched at least four One Way Attack Drones at ships transversing the Strait of Hormuz, Trump stated on Truth Social, Friday. Trump went on to say one of the drones hit the upper deck of a cargo ship, causing damage, but the ship was reportedly able to proceed on its way. “We knocked down three other drones,” Trump stated, and he called the attack a foolish violation of the current ceasefire agreement. This is a developing story. The head of Iran’s National Security Commission, Ebrahim Aziz, threatened Iran’s Gulf neighbors, warning them against fostering close ties with the US, further threatening renewed fires against their Gulf neighbors over the administration of the Strait of Hormuz.

In Regional Impacts, Tehran reasserted its right on Friday to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and warned Gulf states against siding with the United States, a day after an attack on a ship near Oman highlighted the fragility of a preliminary deal to end the Iran war. Iran said safe passage through the Strait cannot be guaranteed under ambiguous arrangements, or decisions that do not take Iran’s role as a coastal state into account, Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi said on X. Iranian state television reported that three foreign tankers attempting what it called an “unauthorized passage” of the strait were turned back after a warning from the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. A US official said, “We are aware of these reports and looking into them. President Donald Trump has been clear that Iran cannot subvert the free flow of traffic in the Strait.” The United Nations, meanwhile, said it is working with countries to resume the evacuation of hundreds of ships and thousands of stranded seafarers from the Strait of Hormuz after the effort was paused earlier this week. The UN agency, the International Maritime Organization, had temporarily paused its evacuation initiative after a container ship operated by Taiwan’s Evergreen was attacked. Some 115 vessels and around 2,500 seafarers had sailed through the strait before evacuations were paused, according to the IMO. Secretary-General Arsenio Dominguez said he was coordinating with Oman, the United States, and Iran to secure guarantees that vessels will not be targeted, and that as soon as he gets confirmations, the process of evacuation can be re-initiated, though no timeframe could be provided. Tehran on Friday reasserted its right to control shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and warned Gulf states against siding with the United States, in response to a joint statement by the United States and six Gulf states that rejected Iran’s toll demands. Deputy Foreign Minister Gharibabadi stressed that safe passage cannot be guaranteed under arrangements that do not recognize Iran’s role as a coastal state, and Iranian state TV said three foreign tankers were turned back after an IRGC warning. Evacuations will take weeks to complete, the IMO chief said, as efforts to re-start the operation move forward.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel and Lebanon are expected to sign a framework agreement in Washington on Friday, senior Israeli officials said, though details were not immediately provided. This is a developing story. Shi’ite Muslims mark their holiest day in war-battered Lebanon as Ashura processions took place in Nabatieh under a summer sun, with marchers walking through a city that has been left in ruins by Israel’s nearly four-month campaign targeting Hezbollah and the broader fighting in the south. The campaign has destroyed large swathes of Lebanon’s south and left other parts under Israeli military occupation, with ceasefire holds in place since June 20. Marchers carried images of Hezbollah fighters and portraits of loved ones killed in the fighting, as Ashura marks the killing of Imam Hussein, a revered figure for Shi’ites. Meanwhile, after what officials described as the worst round of talks, Israel and Lebanon were expected to announce a framework deal in Washington, following four days of negotiations that yielded tense discussions and US pressure to reach understandings on pilot zones involving Israeli withdrawal and Lebanese deployment.

In Uplifting News, music and diplomacy crossed borders as a drag queen, a Persian-Israeli singer, and a DJ collaborated on a new version of the folk ballad Do Kaftar, known to Iranian children as a mournful song. The group released a techno dance rendition of “Two Doves,” intended as a powerful call for peace, freedom, and a bridge between ancient culture and the modern world. The original song, Do Kaftar, was written decades ago, and the singer Jeanette R. Yehudaiyan recalled early connections to music despite restrictions on public singing by women in Iran. The project brings together Israeli drag performer Nona Chalant, exiled Iranian singer Yehudaiyan, and producer Sailo (Lidor Saadia) to give the ballad new life as a message of hope.

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-900620
https://t.me/DefenderDome/21749
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900619
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/un-agency-working-restart-hormuz-evacuations-after-ship-attack
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900621
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/06/shiite-muslims-mark-their-holiest-day-war-battered-lebanon
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bymj7vnmml
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900481