Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-12 at 19:02

HEADLINES
- Survivors say warnings ignored before Kuwait strike
- CENTCOM renews strikes on Iran maritime threat
- IDF stays in Lebanon until Hezbollah removed

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 Iranian Retaliation, survivors of Iran's March attack on a US base in Kuwait say that leaders ignored warnings the Port Shuaiba site was a probable target ahead of a drone strike that killed six US service members on March 1. An investigation based on accounts from 17 people, including survivors, describes Brigadier General Clint Barnes leaving the base after the strike while others remained, and it notes feelings of guilt and betrayal among soldiers who said they did not do enough to help those who died. Wounded personnel reportedly questioned the effectiveness of the medical system, and the Army defended the unit’s leadership and decision-making in broad terms. Separately, Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps released footage it says shows missile strikes targeting US military positions across the region.

In US Military Role, US Central Command announced a renewed wave of strikes against Iran in the early hours of Monday, aimed at degrading Iran’s ability to attack civilian mariners and commercial ships transiting the Strait of Hormuz. A CENTCOM spokesperson said that US aircraft had shot down an Iranian cruise missile and a one-way attack drone, and Iranian state media reported that Iran fired at a commercial ship in the Strait of Hormuz within the past hour, with several explosions heard in Sirik and Bandar Abbas. The situation marks an escalation in the region. The IDF coordinated with the US military on possible scenarios as the war with Iran tightens, including one in which the US intensifies its response and Israel joins the strikes. A senior security official described Iran’s leadership as split between a pragmatic camp led by President Masoud Pezeshkian and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, who seek an agreement, and a fanatical camp led by Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei and IRGC Commander Ahmad Vahidi that has hardened its stance. The official portrayed them as chess players with patience who believe the current administration may prefer not to return to full-scale fighting before the midterms, with Israel’s defense establishment reportedly weighing the situation along similar lines.

In Regional Impacts, Israel is closely following developments in Iran amid expected escalation, with an Israeli source cautioning that, for now, the country is outside the conflict but that could change. Following Iran’s claims it killed six US soldiers in Kuwait, the Gulf conflict is seen as likely to intensify overnight, and energy prices are rising as markets fear all-out war.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Ambassador to the United States Yechiel Leiter said the IDF will remain in Lebanon unless Hezbollah is removed from pilot zones in the south. If Hezbollah stays, withdrawal is not accomplished, and the plan hinges on the Lebanese Armed Forces being receptive. Leiter emphasized that Hezbollah has no business in Lebanon and that Israel and Lebanon share the aim of removing Hezbollah for security and sovereignty, with withdrawal possible the moment Hezbollah is dismantled.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the late senator Lindsey Graham was reported to have pushed to reach Israel-Saudi normalization before the end of the year as a prize for the Iran war. The idea was that normalization could occur between October, when Israel holds elections, and November, contingent on the war in Iran being brought under control and on securing enough Democratic votes to support a two-thirds majority in Congress. He also urged an overwhelming military option to reopen the Strait of Hormuz if diplomacy failed, with the deal requiring both sides to move forward despite political hurdles.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Knesset Constitution, Law and Justice Committee approved for final readings a bill that would weaken the attorney general’s authority and enable the government to override the attorney general’s legal opinions, a move critics warn could undermine the rule of law. Israel has officially set October 27 as its next national election date. Rabbi Yitzhak Yosef, the spiritual leader of the Shas party, criticized Prime Minister Netanyahu, saying he won’t repent and signaling potential openness to backing rival Gadi Eisenkot, suggesting Shas could join a government led by Eisenkot after the elections.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Alan Dershowitz said that Jews who voted for Zohran Mamdani are “idiots,” calling Mamdani a fit for Tehran’s mayor and drawing a comparison to historical figures in a heated television exchange, a remark that drew sharp criticism.

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/international/article-902277
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https://www.ynetnews.com/article/s1knadbvzg
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902286
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902282
https://www.timesofisrael.com/knesset-committee-approves-bill-to-gut-attorney-generals-powers-for-final-readings/
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57037
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57041
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-902232