Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-09 at 19:02

HEADLINES
Israel Warns US of Iranian Trump Plot
Netanyahu Says Israel Pursues Independent Arms
Hormuz Deal Frays as Iran Escalates Attacks

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the Wall Street Journal reports that Israel warned the United States about an Iranian attempt to assassinate President Donald Trump. At a graduation ceremony for a pilot course, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel is advancing a policy of independent arms capability. Authorities announced the arrest of two senior figures and the seizure of weapons, tightening the circle around an organization linked to Hariri. The region was described as volatile, with alarms heard in Jordan and a plane bound for Israel ordered to turn around in Greece. A Kuwaiti official acknowledged that the balance of power tilts toward the United States and Israel, and officials stressed that every effort would be made to keep such threats from reaching Turkey.

In Iranian Retaliation, state media deny fresh blasts as the Hormuz deal frays, with reports of new explosions rejected as Tehran escalates attacks and disagreements over reopening the Strait of Hormuz threaten a fragile US deal.

In US Military Role, Netanyahu spoke with President Trump by phone as the United States renewed strikes on Iranian assets in the Gulf, and Trump updated Netanyahu on American moves in the region. Netanyahu warned against approving an F-35 deal with Turkey, raised concerns about Turkish President Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric, and called for security zones along Israel’s borders. A White House official said there are no plans for a meeting, while a US official said Washington remains committed to finding a resolution with Iran and that technical talks continue.

In Regional Impacts, Israel shared new intelligence with the United States about a new Iranian plot to assassinate Trump, though Israel’s Washington embassy declined to comment and Iran’s mission to the United Nations did not respond. The White House pointed to Trump’s remarks in Ankara during a NATO briefing, in which he said, “They want to take out the US leader, me.” Earlier in the day, crowds in Mashhad chanted slogans demanding revenge for Trump’s killing, underscoring regional volatility. Separately, Netanyahu told Trump that Erdogan’s anti-Israel rhetoric is reaching dangerous levels and emphasized Israel must preserve air superiority as Washington weighs a potential sale of F-35 jets to Ankara.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun linked further Israel-Lebanon talks to Israel’s withdrawal, saying he wants Israel to begin pulling back from southern Lebanon before Rome talks next week, while a US official said the first IDF withdrawal pilot area is expected to begin within days.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Britain’s likely next prime minister, Andy Burnham, told The Guardian that Gaza suffering is a scar and that Labour would consider further sanctions on Israeli figures, institutions, and settlement trade. In a separate interview, Avigdor Liberman told The Jerusalem Post that Netanyahu has become a burden to Trump and has damaged the US-Israel relationship, arguing that Trump has begun to distance himself as the political costs of the relationship rise for him.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an Egyptian pundit, Mohammed Nour, released a video blaming Israel for Egypt’s World Cup defeat to Argentina, asserting that Israeli influence affected referees and the outcome, and alleging connections between Israeli officials and global football figures, including claims about Messi’s ties to Israel and experiences in the country.

In Uplifting News, Qatar’s fans cheered as France advanced to the World Cup semifinals with a 2-0 win over Morocco. The Jerusalem Film Festival opened its 43rd edition at Sultan’s Pool with about 6,000 attendees, with Ukrainian director Sergei Loznitsa as guest of honor and chairman of the jury for the Israeli competition; the festival runs through July 19 and features more than 100 international films and over 30 visiting filmmakers.

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.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342826
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rjs00tdpmzx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902078
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902082
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hjn4iktqgg
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1wyws6mfx
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sy4v00o67ge
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902069
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902065
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1342828
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/culture/article-902071