Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-15 at 02:02

HEADLINES
Iran threatens export corridors, oil prices surge
Iran-linked ships pass Hormuz ahead of blockade
Sara Netanyahu seeks lifetime Shin Bet security

The time is now 2:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps has threatened to close "all other export corridors that benefit the US and its allies," Iranian media reported, after Iran shut the Strait of Hormuz and the US reimposed a naval blockade of Iranian ports. The IRGC said "Regional energy exports are either shared by all, or denied to all," in a statement carried by IRNA. Analysts have said Iran has signalled it may use its Houthi allies in Yemen to close the Bab el-Mandeb gateway to the Red Sea, opening a new front against Washington and putting two of the world's most vital energy arteries at risk. A senior Houthi official warned on Monday that the group was prepared to close the Bab el-Mandeb Strait—a move he said could send oil prices soaring to $200 a barrel—if Saudi Arabia continued to attack Yemen, according to a report on Iran's Press TV website. Houthi forces fired missiles at Saudi Arabia, according to the report.

In Regional Impacts, Iran-linked vessels pass through Hormuz ahead of US blockade, Nine of the 11 vessels that passed through the strait on Tuesday sailed via the Iranian route, ship-tracking data on Kpler showed, ahead of the blockade taking effect. The United States reimposed a naval blockade of all Iranian ports and threatened to hit power plants and bridges next week unless Tehran resumes negotiations. The data indicated nine vessels with Iranian links entered the strait, including three empty oil tankers, one Aframax-sized vessel and two Very Large Crude Carriers. Vessels exiting the strait included a VLCC carrying about 2 million barrels of crude, a medium-range tanker with refined products, and two tankers carrying liquefied petroleum gas, along with a laden methanol tanker and a dry bulk carrier with iron ore. There were no visible entries or exits for tankers loading oil and gas from other Gulf producers on Tuesday.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to travel to Washington next week, with an unconfirmed meeting with President Trump on the schedule, Israeli media reported Tuesday. An American official said a meeting with Trump had not yet been placed on the White House schedule. Netanyahu is expected to leave Israel as early as Saturday night and hopes to meet Trump during the visit, according to Israeli officials cited by multiple outlets. The trip comes amid renewed fighting between the United States and Iran and reports of growing disagreements between Washington and Jerusalem over Israeli military deployments in Syria and Lebanon. The visit follows several recent conversations between Netanyahu and Trump; the Prime Minister’s Office said Netanyahu and Trump “agreed to meet soon in the United States.” Separately, Representative Hakeem Jeffries said he will vote against Kentucky Representative Thomas Massie’s amendment to cut military funding to Israel, but wrote that American policy in the Middle East must change. The amendment would cut about $3.3 billion in military aid to Israel and is expected to reach a floor vote soon. Jeffries called the measure overly broad and said it would restrict the ability to confront Hamas, Hezbollah and other groups. He added that there are good‑faith reasons Members may vote differently, and he would not tell colleagues how to vote.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Sara Netanyahu reportedly requested Shin Bet security for her family, regardless of the election outcome, in a meeting with Shin Bet chief David Zini, according to N12. The request sought lifetime security for her husband and their children, with a decision to be made immediately ahead of the upcoming election. Close Security Unit 730 said the perceived risk to the Netanyahu family is not high and does not require ongoing long-term security, and Zini reportedly refused to sign off. The Shin Bet declined to comment, and N12 did not receive a response from Netanyahu’s office. Earlier, the Knesset Finance Committee discussed a request to transfer nearly 393 million shekels to the Prime Minister’s Office, largely for security, including funding for the Netanyahu family. In a separate development, an editorial on the role of the army argues that active-duty General Eyal Zamir has a duty to warn the government about draft evasion. The piece notes that while generals typically avoid politics, Zamir’s public warning about legislation that would freeze arrests of haredi draft dodgers for seven months falls within an exception, given concerns about manpower shortages and the need to sustain the IDF’s missions.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, CookNSolo, the Philadelphia restaurant group co‑founded by Michael Solomonov, said the closure of six locations across two fast‑casual chains was due to inflation, declining lunch traffic and an oversaturated market, not an Israel-related boycott. Pro-Palestinian activists have challenged that explanation and argued the closures reflect boycott pressure. Separately, a profile of Jacob Berger portrays him as an Israel-hating figure who says he is estranged from his family, with the piece detailing reactions to his stance and his public portrayal.

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.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/iran-threatens-block-more-vital-seaways-trump-orders-renewed-iran-blockade
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902543
https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-to-visit-washington-next-week-as-trump-pushes-for-idf-withdrawals/
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902541
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902545
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902509
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-902542
https://www.israellycool.com/2026/07/15/even-israel-hater-jacob-bergers-family-cannot-stand-him/