Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 08:02

HEADLINES
Ahmadinejad under house arrest over Israel ties
Saudi strikes Sana'a runway, blocks Iranian craft
Graham dies; Senate loses hawkish ally

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former Iranian president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad is under house arrest by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps’ intelligence arm after Iranian authorities uncovered a significant portion of his contacts with Israel, the New York Times reported, citing four senior Iranian officials. The report describes a long-running covert mission by Israel to recruit Ahmadinejad as an intelligence asset and, at one point, even to position him as Iran’s leader should the regime fall. It notes an unusual episode in early 2024 when a senior Hungarian official asked the rector of Budapest's Ludovika University of Public Service to invite Ahmadinejad to a climate conference, a move the rector says was intended as cover for secret talks between Ahmadinejad and Israeli intelligence officials. The new details illuminate the hidden dynamics of Israel-Iran interactions and raise questions about Iran’s leadership and stability.

In Regional Impacts, Saudi Arabia struck the runway of the Houthi-controlled Sana'a International Airport to block an Iranian aircraft from landing, while Yemeni officials warned that patience has run out and that it would respond to any Iranian and Houthi violations of Yemen’s airspace. Residents reported airstrikes near the airport, and Sana’a’s information minister said the Houthis detained an International Committee of the Red Cross plane and crew at the airport. Separately, explosions were heard around Bandar Abbas and Qeshm Island in the Strait of Hormuz, with local outlets citing clashes in the area. The same day, US Central Command said it had completed a wave of strikes to degrade Iran’s ability to threaten civilian mariners and ships in the Strait, hitting dozens of targets across several cities, including air defense systems, radar sites, small boats, and missile and drone capabilities. Iran reportedly fired back at US military infrastructure in the region, triggering sirens in Bahrain, Jordan, and Kuwait. Some reports also noted that Saudi Arabia is currently carrying out attacks in Yemen.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US Senator Lindsey Graham died on Saturday at age 71 after what his office described as a brief and sudden illness, with officials not immediately disclosing a pending cause of death. Just two days before his passing, Graham was in Kyiv discussing Russian sanctions, Ukraine’s air-defense needs, and the trajectory of American support for both Israel and Ukraine. The South Carolina Republican had long been a prominent advocate of military assistance to allied nations and strong pressure on Iran, and his death removes one of Washington’s most visible champions of those policies. In Jerusalem, Israeli leaders framed the loss as not only a personal blow but the end of a key political relationship, while President Trump praised him as one of the greatest people and senators he has known.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a deepening internal clash within Likud unfolds as the party’s primary rules contest reaches the legal arena. Hours before the Likud Constitution Committee met, Supreme Court member Attorney Yitzhak Bam issued a ruling criticizing the party’s handling of its primary process, ordering the party’s legal adviser to respond by a set deadline and leaving open the possibility of an emergency hearing later. Three petitions were filed in the past 24 hours seeking delays or changes to the draft rules or to reintroduce 2022 rules as alternatives, with the convention set to meet on Tuesday. Separately, Netanyahu has held meetings with Katz to bridge disagreement over the primary system, and reports indicate he has pressed lawmakers to back changes, sometimes asking associates to contact rivals to withdraw or accept positions. The debate also touches broader questions about party governance and constituent rules, as the political landscape within Likud continues to shift. The discussion around the Basic Law: Torah Study has underscored long-running tensions, with ultra-Orthodox lawmakers arguing that the Torah serves as a constitution and resisting proposals for a formal basic law, reflecting a deep, enduring dispute over how religion and state governance intersect.

In Petitioners ask High Court to order medical update on detained Gaza doctor Hussam Abu Safiya, petitioners seeking the release of 14 Gaza doctors held by Israel asked the High Court of Justice to order the state to file a detailed medical update on Dr. Hussam Abu Safiya, saying the state has failed to answer grave allegations that he was beaten in detention and left close to unconscious. The filing, submitted by Physicians for Human Rights Israel and lawyers for the detainees, came in response to the state’s request that the petition be dismissed. Abu Safiya, a pediatrician and director of Kamal Adwan Hospital in northern Gaza, has been held by Israel since December 2024. His case has drawn growing international attention, including calls by UN bodies and medical professionals for his release or for independent medical access. Israel has said Abu Safiya had ties to Hamas and that Kamal Adwan Hospital was used for Hamas activity, while PHRI has argued that he and the other doctors are being held without charge despite Gaza’s severe need for medical care.

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/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902350
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902356
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902354
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-902352
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902210
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902349
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902344
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902340
https://t.me/hnaftali/23884