Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-08 at 23:02

HEADLINES
US Strikes Iran as Israel Braces
Iranian Missiles Hit Bahrain and Kuwait Bases
Democrats Must Rethink Israel Aid Emanuel Says

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

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Israeli defense establishment is monitoring a new phase as the American military resumes operations against Tehran. The assessment notes that Iran seeks to press Hezbollah into any broader agreement, while dozens of Hezbollah operatives remain in tunnels in southern Lebanon. The United States has again moved against Iran, and Israel waits to see how Tehran might respond, including any missile threats toward Israeli territory. A security source told Walla that the American forces did not pull back; they remain in the same posture as before the ceasefire, allowing a transition from a fragile and explosive situation to a higher state of readiness. The defense establishment also said Tehran does not intend to return to full-scale fighting, though it will seek to maximize pressure on the region. American forces are expected to stay in Israel through at least early 2027, under arrangements mediated by the Defense Ministry and the IDF.

In Iranian Retaliation, sirens sounded in Bahrain on Thursday morning after Iranian missiles, according to Bahrain's interior ministry, with the Bahrain News Agency attributing the sirens to missiles. Sirens also sounded in Kuwait as its defense ministry said air defenses were confronting rocket and drone attacks, and Qatar issued a short security warning that was later cleared. Iran’s parliament speaker Muhammad Bagher Ghalibaf posted on X that “America still hasn’t learned that bullying and breaking promises are no longer cost-free,” warning that strikes would draw a response. International media later reported the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps claimed responsibility for attacks on two US bases in Bahrain and two in Kuwait. A fresh wave of Iranian drones and missiles was reported against Bahrain, and video footage showed the impact of an Iranian short-range ballistic missile near the headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Manama.

In US Military Role, US forces conducted strikes and missiles exchanges continued in the region. Reports say the United States hit several areas in Iran while Tehran retaliated in the Gulf, triggering sirens in Kuwait; Israel said there was no change in its own orders and that the IDF remains ready to defend and strike as needed. Since the start of the Iran War, 30 US Air Force MQ-9 Reapers have been downed by Iranian air defenses, at a cost of about $30 million each, with the most recent loss reported early Wednesday. At the direction of the Commander in Chief, US Central Command forces have begun additional strikes against Iran to degrade its ability to threaten freedom of navigation in the Strait of Hormuz. Footage has emerged claiming US strikes on Iran’s Chabahar Port in Southern Iran, and another clip purportedly shows strikes on Chabahar City impacting an air and naval base run by the IRGC.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Rahm Emanuel says Democrats can win the White House in 2028 without cutting off Israel, but only if the “status quo” changes. Speaking at Tel Aviv University, the former White House Chief of Staff and current potential 2028 candidate argued that the traditional alliance rules—where negative statements are discouraged and there is an implicit endorsement of Israel—are no longer acceptable. He advocated for changes that could include ending what he called the “American taxpayer’s subsidy of Israel’s defense budget.” Emanuel’s remarks come as support for Israel in US politics remains fluid, with his close ties to Israel and his background as a Jewish American politician noted.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Emanuel’s remarks drew cheers at Tel Aviv University as he challenged the audience to consider sanctions against Israelis who attack Palestinian civilians or support violence, and against companies and banks backing illegal settlements. The speech reflects shifting Democratic politics since Hamas’ 2023 attacks. Separately, Haredi protesters clashed with IDF soldiers outside Military Prison 10 in Beit Lid, entering a restricted area before being forced back. Protests have followed similar action near the IDF’s Central Command headquarters in Jerusalem, tied to opposition to mandatory conscription for ultra-Orthodox men. Prime Minister Netanyahu, when pressed by CNN about West Bank violence, said it is blown out of proportion and blamed lenient courts; when asked about the case of Palestinian American Sayfollah Musallet, he said he was not sure he knew the case.

In Uplifting News, the Israel Air Force awarded wings to 40 cadets at Hatzerim, with two women among them whose success rate of 16.6 percent nearly matches the men’s rate of 17.6 percent. Four Modi’in classmates were among the graduates, serving as combat and transport navigators alongside their peers.

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
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