Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-05 at 11:01

HEADLINES
Houthis Send Largest Reinforcements, Fierce Hodeidah Battles
IDF Chief: Hezbollah Exhausted, Tunnels Under Control
Ministers Defy Court Over Reshet 13 Sale

The time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, the Houthis have been reinforcing frontlines in Yemen and preparing possible offensives over the last month, with several incidents in the past 96 hours that may reflect a pattern. The main information on the Houthis’ activities comes from Al-Ain News in the UAE, a source that is considered close to security circles in Yemen and that opposes the Houthis. A Yemeni government military official told Al-Ain that the Houthis launched an attack on a front in the Hodeidah Governorate, a key coastal area. Dozens of members of the National Resistance and Houthi militias were killed and wounded on Saturday in the fiercest battles between the two sides in the southern countryside of Hodeidah Governorate. The clashes erupted after the Houthi militias brought in their largest reinforcements to the Dabbas Mountains and south of Al-Jarahi and tried to advance to seize strategic positions overlooking the city of Hays, south of Hodeidah on the Red Sea, in what was described as the most intense attack of its kind.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-Gen Eyal Zamir described Hezbollah as exhausted during a visit with Israeli soldiers at the Beaufort Ridge in southern Lebanon. He said the area is saturated with terrorist infrastructure and noted that Israel has gained operational control of the terrain both above ground and within underground tunnel networks. Zamir cited Lebanon’s obligations under a ceasefire framework arranged with the United States, including the need to clear the area of Hezbollah terrorists and infrastructure. He underscored that Hezbollah, funded and directed by Iran, spent decades building tunnel networks designed to threaten northern Israeli communities, and he emphasized the significance of the military gains in the area as part of broader efforts to weaken the group.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, haredi protesters continued demonstrations against Jerusalem’s light rail construction on Bar-Ilan Street. Reports show protesters entering work zones, damaging construction, and engaging in altercations with workers. One video depicts a protester breaking through fences and lying on piles of pipes; another shows confrontations as protesters push past barriers. Police said at least one person was arrested, and authorities described rioting at the site and a public disorder incident, urging protesters to evacuate. Separately, the IDF plans to require soldiers to enter reserve duty immediately after completing regular service, a move aimed at addressing manpower shortages. The measure would extend a soldier’s service by about two months and come as mandatory service is set to shrink to 30 months in January 2027; officials warn the step could burden the economy and deepen debates over fairness in service duration. In other public moments, a protest in Tel Aviv featured a relative of a former hostage challenging Prime Minister Netanyahu, citing the Entebbe operation and pressing for a state investigation into government failures linked to the October 7 massacre. Meanwhile, ministers voted unanimously to defy a High Court action over government actions tied to the Second Authority council and potential sale of Reshet 13, drawing warnings from legal officials and journalists’ groups about constitutional tensions.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, NGO Monitor released a report alleging that antisemitism, anti-Zionism, and related hostility are deeply rooted within Doctors Without Borders, or MSF. The document chronicles internal staff conversations and the experiences of Jewish staff members within MSF, arguing that antisemitism and anti-Israel bias are widespread across the organization and expressed by officials and staff at multiple levels. The report draws on testimonials, including reflections from former MSF leadership and various insiders, to argue that addressing the issue would require fundamental changes within MSF’s organizational culture.

In Uplifting News, Sari Shriki, 19, grew up in circumstances shaped by incarceration and addiction, and now serves in the Israel Prison Service as a national service volunteer. She participates daily in uniform as part of Temura, a track designed to help youths at risk. Shriki was raised in Eilat and spent much of her childhood away from home, living with family members who were affected by the prison system. Her turning point came during adolescence, when she began a path of service aimed at supporting others at risk as she seeks to build a constructive chapter in her life and contribute to her community.

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-901478
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-901482
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901495
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-901487
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-901445
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rj00etawxzl
https://t.me/newssil/205920
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-901484
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-901485