Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-04 at 02:02

HEADLINES
Millions Gather as Iran Vows Revenge
Gaza Handover Nears as ISF Steps In
Damascus Opens Sweida Violence Trials

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

In Iranian Retaliation, millions are expected at nearly weeklong ceremonies across Iran and Iraq as the regime casts its slain supreme leader as a Shiite martyr, projecting unity after months of turmoil and vows revenge against Israel and the United States.

In US Military Role, the IDF’s Southern Command is preparing for the possibility of renewed Gaza operations, with dozens of vehicles, some bulletproof, transferred to Gaza and handed over to American forces from the ISF’s headquarters in Kiryat Gat. This transfer is part of preparations for the ISF to take over security responsibilities in parts of the Gaza Strip. The IDF has occupied about 70 percent of Gaza, with Hamas still ruling the remaining 30 percent. Officials say the diplomatic process is conditional on an effective national force within Gaza disarming Hamas, but in practice the opposite is happening.

In Regional Impacts, Damascus says it has begun trying suspects over a wave of deadly violence that tore through the Druze-majority Sweida province last year. The episode followed clashes between Druze factions and Bedouin fighters in the southern province, with security forces intervening on the Bedouin side along with other tribal groups, and Israel intervening to protect the Druze. More than 2,000 people were killed, including 789 Druze civilians, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights; a government investigative committee said it documented 1,760 deaths. A Damascus court began examining cases in public sessions as of July 1, with the defendants and their legal representatives present.

In Uplifting News, Taylor Swift and Travis Kelce were married Friday night at Madison Square Garden, with Adam Sandler officiating. A marquee outside the arena proclaimed “JUST & MARRIED” after the ceremony, ending secrecy surrounding the nuptials. The couple did not have bridesmaids or groomsmen; Swift’s younger brother Austin Swift served as her man of honor and Kelce’s big brother Jason Kelce was best man. Swift wore Cartier jewelry and outfits from Christian Dior Haute Couture designed by Jonathan Anderson, with shoes by Christian Louboutin, as a crowd of stars including Bradley Cooper and Zoe Kravitz looked on. Separately, Ella Rosenkovitch, who was five and a half when terrorists hijacked Air France Flight 139 to Entebbe, Uganda in 1976, recalls the week as a hostage and says the memories drive her to campaign for the return of Israelis kidnapped by Hamas on October 7, 2023. Fifty years on, she continues to speak out about the resilience she carries from that experience.

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/rjwxcw8xfe
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901373
https://www.timesofisrael.com/syria-starts-trials-over-deadly-2025-violence-in-druze-heartland/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/love-story-adam-sandler-officiates-as-taylor-swift-and-travis-kelce-marry-at-nyc-wedding/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/rescued-at-entebbe-50-years-ago-former-child-hostage-feels-her-experience-resonating-today/