Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-14 at 03:02

HEADLINES
US Corsair drones strike Bandar Abbas
Typhoon Bavi forces 260k evacuations in China
Chen detained wrongfully Rubio pushes for release

The time is now 3:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, three long-range Corsair unmanned vessels struck a naval facility at Bandar Abbas in their first US combat deployment, targeting Iran’s ability to attack commercial shipping near the Strait of Hormuz.

In Regional Impacts, Typhoon Bavi forced more than 260,000 people to evacuate in Liaoning province as it brought severe flooding, marking the longest-lasting tropical cyclone this year in the region and the most powerful storm to hit China in 2026. Heavy rain is expected to persist through Tuesday with extreme downpours in some areas, as Bavi draws vast amounts of tropical moisture northward and maintains a well-preserved warm core. In Shenyang, a lighthouse severed its high-voltage power line and drifted through floodwaters along main roads, and transport services have been disrupted in northeastern cities. All schools and training institutions have been suspended. The system formed in the Pacific Ocean 13 days ago and, despite landfall in eastern China, remained largely intact. Separately, a Chinese-born American seismologist, Youlin Chen, has been detained in China for nearly two years and faces spying charges, a case described as an irritant in the tense China-US relationship. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio designated Chen as “wrongfully detained,” making his release a top priority for the United States, with the administration withholding public announcements to allow room for diplomacy; Chen became a US citizen in 2011 and lives in Boston.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, about 100 Breslov Hasidim entered the Palestinian village of Kifl Haris to protest limited access to graves, and Palestinian residents reportedly threw stones injuring two people; two of the injured declined hospital transport for fear of draft evasion, and police and IDF forces were dispatched though the participants had left by the time authorities arrived. Five suspects, aged 16 to 20 and from Jerusalem, were arrested near the Hizma crossing as part of the investigation. Separately, a policy paper from the Jerusalem Center for Applied Policy urged steps to curb Turkish consulate activity in Jerusalem, including revoking diplomatic benefits, canceling work visas, restricting movement, removing immunity for diplomatic vehicles, and reexamining Turkish institutions; the paper argues the consulate operates mainly with the Palestinian Authority rather than as an authorized representative office and calls for stronger Israeli sovereignty in the city. Elie Wiesel’s son, Elisha, described his father’s legacy and argued that the current fight centers on language and memory, insisting he will not put words in the mouths of the dead and criticizing the use of the term genocide in public discourse. A Health Ministry report on wait times for MRI examinations and 19 types of planned surgeries in public hospitals found that wait times depend on factors beyond the requested service, such as health insurance provider, area of residence, and hospital. In 2025, half of MRI patients waited about 35 days or less after referral, while a quarter waited more than 80 days, with an average of 55.1 days; among providers, Clalit had the longest average at 63.7 days, followed by Maccabi at 50.6 days, Leumit at 46.4, and Meuhedet at 35.5. Differences also appeared in the referral-to-approval stage, with Leumit taking up to 19 days and Maccabi averaging one day. Police arrested 14 people connected to a West Bank smuggling network after a months‑long operation involving Border Police, IDF intelligence units, and Shin Bet; the group is accused of moving millions of shekels’ worth of dual‑use materials into the West Bank to assist terrorist organizations in manufacturing explosive devices, with some income not fully reported to tax authorities.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, AI explains why Braden Peters, known as Clavicular, was not arrested upon entry to Israel after a video showing antisemitic remarks and a scene at a Miami club where the phrase Heil Hitler was heard. Peters, an American influencer who visited Israel and spoke with Prime Minister’s adviser Topaz Luk, faced public scrutiny over his past remarks and actions, including reports of being removed from a beach club after a companion filmed patrons. The discussion centers on whether his presence constitutes a crime and how authorities responded to the controversy surrounding the video from the Vendôme club in Miami Beach showing participants singing along with the hateful chant.

In Uplifting News, campers at a Jewish summer camp near Lyubavichi uncovered a rare pocket watch and old coins in the historic courtyard where the Chabad movement began, an find described by Russia’s chief rabbi as “evidence of the triumph of the spirit.” The items were turned over to Rabbi Gabriel Gordon for examination, and early assessments noted the watch’s high quality and craftsmanship. The discovery occurred during an educational visit to the town, which hosts a major cultural center for the Chabad movement, as thousands of children enjoy their summer break in Russia.

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/article-902433
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902431
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902430
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-902380
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902432
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-902257
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902429
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902428
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-902427
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjmgkimvfx