Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 21:02

HEADLINES
Iranian cruise missiles strike two Hormuz tankers
Trump restarts Iran hostilities alerts Congress
Houthis strike Abha airport Saudi tensions flare

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, two national tankers were struck by two Iranian cruise missiles in the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others, including six Indian nationals and two Ukrainian nationals, with four of the wounded listed as seriously injured. The UAE Defense Ministry said the Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were damaged and fires on board were brought under control, and it condemned the attack as a serious breach of international law, adding that the UAE retains its full right to respond and to take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and security, with the country on high alert. Bahrain’s interior ministry reported sirens in Bahrain, and the media adviser to Bahrain’s King said Bahraini air defenses intercepted and destroyed Iranian aerial attacks. In a separate note, UKMTO said it had received a report of a separate incident.

In US Military Role, President Donald Trump has sent Congress formal notification that hostilities against Iran resumed on July 7, a move his administration says opens a new 60-day window to use military force in the region without additional congressional authorization, in a letter dated July 10. The letter outlines actions including a two-week ceasefire starting April 7 that was extended and the administration’s efforts to pursue a diplomatic solution, noting that the United States began attacking Iran on February 28 alongside Israel and that Iran violated a memorandum of understanding signed June 17 by attacking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting renewed strikes. Trump said the United States was reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and would ensure the Strait of Hormuz stays open. Separately, CENTCOM announced the third consecutive night of strikes against Iran, saying it was carrying out a campaign with precision munitions and that explosions were reported in southern Iranian cities including Kish Island, Sirik Island, Qeshm Island, Bushehr, and Bandar Abbas, in a bid to limit Tehran’s ability to carry out attacks in the Strait of Hormuz. Trump also signaled intensified action at Pickaxe Mountain near Natanz, describing Iran as not faring well. In the latest developments, the United States and Iran traded fire around the Strait of Hormuz for a third straight night, with American strikes in southern Iran and Gulf islands and Iranian missiles targeting tankers in Omani waters, and Trump warning Tehran over Pickaxe Mountain while noting that a deal had collapsed and that he and Netanyahu “get along great.”

In Regional Impacts, oil markets moved on renewed US-Iran strikes, with Brent crude rising to $78.40 a barrel, up 3.14%, and West Texas Intermediate up to $73.58, up 3.04% on the session, after earlier gains of more than 4%. The Strait of Hormuz remains a critical route for global energy, with about 20% of the world’s oil and gas shipments passing through it, contributing to a price risk premium amid the tensions. UBS analyst Giovanni Staunovo said the focus on inbound tanker flows helps explain the price rise amid disruption risk. The CENTCOM campaign said it completed a wave of strikes against dozens of targets in Iran using precision munitions to limit Tehran’s ability to carry out attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, with targets including Iranian air defense and coastal facilities.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, analysts say the Iranian-backed Houthis appear intent on returning to conflict with Saudi Arabia after years of de-escalation. The Houthis claimed that Riyadh targeted Sana’a airport and warned they would retaliate if Saudi Arabia blocked flights from Iran, signaling a possible broader confrontation. The group has been seeking to open an air bridge to Iran to resupply and potentially transfer weapons, and on July 13 they claimed to have targeted Abha Airport in southern Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have conducted attacks against Israel in the years since the Hamas attacks of 2023 and have intensified attacks in 2025, reflecting a broader pattern of engagement in the regional conflict that began with the Saudi-led intervention in Yemen in 2015.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a television poll showed former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot with a significant lead over Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as preferred prime minister, with 43% of voters backing Eisenkot versus 34% for Netanyahu. The Channel 12 survey indicated the anti-Netanyahu bloc would hold about 59 seats in the 120-seat Knesset, the pro-Netanyahu bloc about 51, and Arab parties the remaining 10 seats, leaving the blocs roughly in their long-standing balance. Eisenkot’s lead underscores his growing prominence as the leader of the anti-Netanyahu camp, even as polling suggests no direct vote for prime minister in Israel.

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/iran-news/article-902418
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902417
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902415
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/trump-sends-congress-formal-notice-iran-conflict-has-resumed
https://www.timesofisrael.com/poll-shows-eisenkot-with-significant-lead-over-netanyahu-for-pm-knesset-blocs-static/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902414
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rklcmrgeml