Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-11 at 13:01

HEADLINES
- Russia aims Tartous logistics hub by July
- Ceasefire boosts Keshet cave tourism
- Iranian paper posts AI hitlist targeting leaders

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, Russia eyes mid-July start for commercial logistics hub at Syrian port, officials say. Russian officials told Reuters they hope by mid-July to have a commercial logistics hub up and running in one of two berths at the naval base it leases in Tartous, while keeping a military presence at the other. The hub will handle a wide range of Russian goods including wheat and grains, with initial cargo volumes targeted at around 250,000 tons per month, one official said. The project is central to Moscow’s effort to maintain and expand its influence in Syria through economic channels after the upheaval of 2024 deprived Moscow of its staunchest ally in the region. But Mazen Alloush, the authority’s spokesman, denied that Russia would operate a commercial logistics hub at the port, describing such reports as entirely false. Syria’s General Authority for Ports and Customs did not respond to requests for comment. Lebanese channels report that the Israeli army is setting fire to buildings and trees in the village of Kholaa in southern Lebanon.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Northern Israel slowly returns to life amid ceasefire with Hezbollah. Tourism in northern Israel is on the mend as the ceasefire with Hezbollah continues, with the Keshet cave in the western Galilee near the Lebanese border drawing visitors from diverse backgrounds, including Russian speakers, a Harley‑Davidson motorcycle club, and Arab women enjoying lunch, as security along the border appears quieter. Reports from Lebanon described airstrikes near the coast a few miles north of Keshet cave, even as border conditions in the area seemed calm. The Islamic Resistance in Iraq, a coalition of Iran-aligned Shia militias, released a statement announcing that they will not disarm and will strengthen and expand their capabilities to confront the escalating Zionist-American threats.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Twenty-six years after Camp David, Israel needs a new security doctrine - opinion. The piece notes that the most practical foundation for any future arrangement would emerge only when a profound change in Palestinian consciousness takes place, reflecting on the stark concessions offered at Camp David in 2000 and the enduring challenges to reach a lasting settlement.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Haredi protesters rally outside Jerusalem cafe open on Shabbat. Dozens of haredi protesters gathered outside Cafe Basimta in Jerusalem’s Nahlaot neighborhood to oppose the cafe’s opening on Shabbat, chanting and drawing a counterpresence from hundreds of Jerusalem residents who supported the cafe. Police removed two protesters near the entrance, and Jerusalem Deputy Mayor Adir Schwartz, who chairs the Hitorerut movement, said that extremists would not dictate how residents live in a city that belongs to everyone, noting continued support for local businesses and a free Jerusalem.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Iranian paper puts Trump, Netanyahu in prison uniforms with targets on heads. Tehran’s municipal newspaper Hamshahri published an AI image of a hit list naming Trump, Netanyahu, Israeli officials, senior US figures and European leaders, following vows of revenge announced by a senior Iranian official.

In Uplifting News, South Africa's Jayden Adams, 25, dies after playing in World Cup. The SAFPU said Adams, a midfielder for Mamelodi Sundowns and Bafana Bafana, died at 25 after appearing in three World Cup games; no official cause of death was released. The union expressed devastation and offered condolences to his family, clubs, teammates, and the broader South African football community, noting that Adams had represented his country at the FIFA World Cup despite the recent loss of his grandmother.

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/article-902169
https://t.me/abualiexpress/126338
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902166
https://t.me/selena_updates/66994
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902014
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902162
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1iv2jxezg
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902168