Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-12 at 23:02

HEADLINES
- US strikes Iran as sea drones debut
- Missile launches toward Bahrain spark regional alarm
- Britain to spend 250m shielding Jewish communities

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 US Military Role, tensions escalate as US strikes on Iran intensify after an Iranian attack on a container ship in the Strait of Hormuz left one crew member missing, and Iran retaliated with missile strikes across the region as the waterway remains a flashpoint in any ceasefire. US Central Command says the latest wave of strikes targeted Iranian air-defense systems, coastal radar sites, missile and drone capabilities, and small boats, and for the first time reported the use of one-way attack sea drones against Iranian assets.

In Regional Impacts, there is no life in Kiryat Shmona as residents recall the 20-year memory of the Second Lebanon War, with another evacuation leaving the northern town largely empty. In the region, at least six short-range ballistic missiles were launched from the Bushehr Province toward Bahrain, and multiple ballistic missile launches were reported from the Jam Missile Field in the same province. Explosions were heard near the Headquarters of the US Navy’s Fifth Fleet in Bahrain, and air raid sirens are sounding across Bahrain.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, tributes poured in for Senator Lindsey Graham after his death, with leaders describing him as a steadfast ally whose friendship with Israel spanned decades; Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Graham understood that the security of Israel and America is inseparable, and President Isaac Herzog called him a beacon of moral clarity. A separate overview notes Graham’s traditional Republican foreign policy views, including support for Ukraine and pushing the White House to embrace Netanyahu and take a harder line against Iran, and that after the US and Israel attacked Iran in February, he remained hawkish and defended the action. Trump mourned Graham as family and the two became close allies, with Graham advising Trump on foreign policy and working to advance Israel-Saudi normalization.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Givat Ze’ev in the West Bank has been officially declared a city, elevating its status from local council to municipality after IDF Central Command Chief Avi Bluth signed the decree. Located about five kilometers northwest of Jerusalem, the settlement is home to roughly 35,000 residents and has one of the country’s fastest-growing populations. Mayor Yossi Asraf said this is a historic moment and that becoming a city will boost development while preserving the community’s warm, rural character.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Britain will spend over £250 million across the next three years to bolster protection for Jewish communities, delivering more than 500 additional officers across England and Wales to guard Jewish neighborhoods, schools, synagogues, and community centers. The package includes around 300 new officers in London and about 80 in Greater Manchester, plus £43 million for other areas with significant Jewish populations; the moves follow a string of antisemitic attacks, including the torching of four Jewish community ambulances in March and a raised terrorism threat level in April. An accompanying article carries religious reflections asserting faith and quoting Psalm verses, closing with Awaiting His Return, Amir.

In Israeli Economy and Business, European Union foreign ministers will discuss potential measures to curb trade with Israeli settlements in the West Bank, based on a confidential paper from the European Commission proposing three options: an import licensing system, prohibitive tariffs, or a ban. The EU has long wrestled with a unified approach on Middle East policy, with divisions among its 27 member states, but pressure to act on settlements has grown amid recent violence and Netanyahu’s government. In May, the EU imposed sanctions on four entities and three individuals over human rights concerns in the West Bank, and a July 2024 ICJ advisory opinion stated that settlements are illegal and urged states to take steps accordingly.

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.

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