Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 13:02

HEADLINES
- Khamenei vows hard lesson as Iran escalates
- Iran claims strike on US base Jordan
- IDF neutralizes Hezbollah cell near Beit Tabnit

The time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran’s leadership and recent actions underscore an escalatory arc. A public statement from Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, the Supreme Leader, on the recent flare-up asserts that violations of memoranda prove that the American president’s signature is not worth the paper it’s written on and is not worthy of trust, with the Iranian people saying they will teach the American enemy a hard lesson. Separately, Iran claimed to have struck a United States special operations command center in Tanf, in southern Syria, a claim the US denied and a Syrian military source said there was no attack; analysts note such claims may be intended as messaging to Syria as a channel for weapons to Hezbollah. Iran also launched three intermediate-range ballistic missiles at Jordan’s Muwaffaq Al Salti Air Base, which hosts US forces; initial assessments indicate impacts on the troop billeting area, though the full extent of damage and any casualties remain unknown.

In US Military Role, US strikes on Iranian military and transport infrastructure have entered a seventh day, while Tehran has retaliated across the Gulf and Jordan, targeting energy sites, bases and airports as threats to regional shipping and civilian infrastructure intensify.

In Regional Impacts, wildfires driven by strong winds spread from the Gilad Farm area in Samaria into the Jezreel Valley and Shimshit, burning about 13 homes and damaging vehicles, including a firefighting truck; police evacuated residents and roads were closed as 27 fire and rescue teams, aided by a helicopter and aircraft, fought the blazes, with no serious injuries and some smoke inhalation treated. Kuwait’s General Fire Force says two large fires sparked by Iranian drone and missile strikes have been brought under control, with injuries among responding authorities. Separately, Kuwait’s Saad Al-Abdullah Academy for Security Sciences, the country’s primary training institution for police and internal security forces, was struck in the latest wave of attacks. A second Iranian strike in two days hit a Kuwaiti power and desalination plant, igniting a fire; Kuwait relies on desalination for roughly 90% of its drinking water, and the Kuwait National Oil Company says repeated attacks on vital oil facilities have caused injuries and material damage. In Iraq’s Kurdistan Region, a large-scale wave of drone and missile strikes hit the Sulaymaniyah area, targeting bases tied to Iranian Kurdish opposition groups and killing at least eight; more than ten explosions occurred with secondary blasts lasting about an hour, suggesting ammunition depots or weapons storage facilities were hit; a mountainside was set ablaze as fires spread to nearby fields; Shahed-136 drones were deployed in the Erbil area, and fire was observed at Harir Air Base, with Erbil International Airport suspending flights as authorities respond.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Israeli Defense Forces said it identified and neutralized a drone-operator cell from Hezbollah near the Beit Tabnit area; following detection, the Air Force conducted a rapid sweep and struck the Hezbollah cell to remove the threat to troops operating near the security perimeter, a move described by the Israeli military as a violation by the Hezbollah organization.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani says his administration continues to weigh an order to arrest Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu if he visits New York for the United Nations General Assembly in September; Mamdani argues that Netanyahu belongs in the Hague, given ICC charges, but he has not confirmed he has the legal authority to direct the NYPD and says any action would be constrained by what the law allows; Netanyahu has dismissed the threats and accused Mamdani of political theater.

In Uplifting News, an opinion piece argues Israel is winning the World Cup of public diplomacy by aiding earthquake-hit Venezuela, highlighting how Israel’s humanitarian outreach has shaped a more favorable image amidst regional tensions and noting that two potential presidential candidates visited during the period, underscoring the broader diplomatic impact of the relief effort.

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
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