Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-13 at 22:01

HEADLINES
US Restarts Iran Strikes, 60-Day Window Opens
Houthis Hit Saudi Airports, Threaten Wider War
PEN America President Resigns Over Free-Speech Clash

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, President Trump has formally notified Congress that hostilities with Iran resumed on July 7, opening a new 60-day window to use military force in the region without further congressional approval, a letter dated July 10 and seen by Reuters shows. The letter recounts a two-week ceasefire that began April 7 and was extended, and it notes US efforts to pursue a diplomatic solution. It states the United States began attacking Iran on February 28 alongside Israel, and that Iran violated a memorandum signed on June 17 by attacking commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz, prompting renewed strikes. Trump says the United States is reinstating its blockade of Iranian shipping in the Gulf and will ensure the Strait of Hormuz remains open, arguing the action is necessary to protect Americans and US national security. The document also touches on constitutional authority, noting that the government’s actions proceed within the powers vested in Congress. Separately, late Monday into Tuesday, Iran fired two cruise missiles at two tankers in the southern lane of the Strait of Hormuz in Omani territorial waters, killing one Indian crew member and wounding eight others, including four seriously, according to the UAE's Defense Ministry. The ministry said the fires on the ships Mombasa and Al Bahiyah were brought under control, and Bahrain reported sirens in the morning, with its media adviser saying Bahraini air defenses intercepted Iranian aerial attacks. The UAE condemned the strike as a serious breach of international law and said it retains its full right to respond while remaining on high alert. In a separate note, the UK Maritime Trade Operations agency reported a separate incident in the area.

In US Military Role, oil markets rose more than three percent as renewed US-Iran strikes heightened concern over energy shipments through the Strait of Hormuz, a key global conduit. Brent crude futures traded around $78.40 a barrel and US West Texas Intermediate near $73.58, with earlier gains exceeding four percent, as traders priced risk to supply routes. The focus remains on inbound tanker traffic to assess potential impacts on production and prices. US Central Command said it had completed a wave of strikes against dozens of targets in Iran using precision munitions, aimed at limiting Tehran’s ability to carry out attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, including Iranian air defenses and other facilities. Separately, President Trump said he would probably order a strike on the Pickaxe Mountain nuclear site, describing it as a possible target, while noting US forces would strike Iran hard over the coming two days. He claimed satellite imagery had shown activity at Pickaxe, and he asserted the United States would proceed if Iran did not change course, as the situation remained fluid and the US prepared for potential further action.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, analysis suggests the Houthis are seeking to spark a new round of conflict with Saudi Arabia. The Houthis claimed Riyadh targeted Sana’a airport, a move they say would push them to open an air bridge to Iran to demonstrate they can break the siege on the city. They warned they could retaliate if Saudi Arabia prevents flights, and on July 13 they claimed to have targeted Abha Airport in southern Saudi Arabia. The Houthis have engaged in multiple attacks over the years, including incidents against Israel following the Hamas attack in 2023, and have shown a pattern of intensified activity after periods of de-escalation. Observers note the region has seen a fragile, uneven peace in recent years, but the Houthis appear determined to reengage in broader confrontation as tensions with Saudi Arabia and its allies persist.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, free-speech and hate-fueled actions are in focus amid internal debates at a major literary organization and a campus incident. PEN America’s president, Dinaw Mengestu, resigned over the weekend in protest of a report on boycotts targeting Jewish and Israeli authors, arguing that the First Amendment protects the right to boycott and that PEN America, as a free-expression group, should defend that right. Mengestu told The Atlantic he believed the report, titled A Silent Moratorium, failed to defend free-speech rights and he signaled interest in forming a new organization to rival PEN America. PEN America responded that it would respect his decision and noted its ongoing mission to defend free expression. Separately, a 30-year-old graduate student in California has been charged with a hoax after allegedly posting antisemitic and pro-Trump graffiti at San Jose State University, including messages such as Kill all Jews and other hate statements, accompanied by swastikas. Investigators found his fingerprint on a paper left at the scene, and prosecutors described his public profiles as aligned with progressive, activist branding, illustrating the charged climate surrounding discussions of antisemitism and free expression.

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-902419
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902418
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902417
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-weighs-taking-out-pickaxe-nuclear-site-as-us-strikes-iran-for-3rd-night-in-a-row/
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902415
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902420
https://www.timesofisrael.com/100-woke-us-grad-student-charged-with-hoax-over-kill-jews-pro-trump-graffiti/