Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-18 at 17:02

HEADLINES
Two U.S. troops killed in Jordan
Iran crosses red line US weighs action
Israel indicts over 60 for online spying

The time is now 5:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, United States Central Command said two US service members were killed in action, one is missing in action, and four were injured Friday in Jordan as American and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks. The CENTCOM statement noted that on July 17, the two service members were killed in action while forces defended against the strikes, with one service member missing and four wounded evacuated to Jordanian hospitals and subsequently discharged; others with minor injuries have returned to duty. CENTCOM said it would withhold the identities of the fallen until 24 hours after next of kin are identified. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth wrote on X that, “Godspeed, heroes. Their sacrifice only stiffens our resolve.” Iran targeted sites in Kuwait, Bahrain, Jordan, and the UAE over the weekend; notably, the IRGC targeted a site in Bahrain where US combat aircraft were gathered at Sheikh Isa Air Base and an intelligence facility.

In US Military Role, Axios is cited as reporting that Iran crossed the United States’ red line per the report, and that provoking American casualties could prompt President Trump to initiate a broad military action.

In Regional Impacts, the United Arab Emirates said it called on Iran and the United States to return to the negotiating table.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli security officials have turned to Jewish religious leaders to help counter online recruitment efforts by Iranian agents seeking to enlist Israelis as spies. Since October 7, Iranian operatives have run an online campaign to recruit Israeli civilians to photograph sensitive locations, obtain weapons, hide them at designated sites, and even carry out terror attacks. Israeli prosecutors have secured indictments in more than 60 cases, police told the New York Times. The suspects come from all walks of life, including active soldiers and civilians, both religious and secular Jews and Arabs, and immigrants from the former Soviet Union; in at least nine cases, the accused are from the haredi community. Those arrested are detained and prosecuted, with some proceedings subject to gag orders behind closed doors. “A number of suspects have been exposed for spying for the enemy,” police investigator Amichai Panetta told the NYT. Separately, Hamas is pursuing a military foothold in Syria, aiming to establish a military base inside Syria as part of broader regional realignments. The report says Hamas seeks to build ties with Syria’s post-Assad leadership and would operate alongside Palestinian Islamic Jihad. The outreach follows Israeli airstrikes in Syria, and Damascus’s cautious approach toward Palestinian factions is noted as part of the broader regional dynamics.

In the US Policy Concerning Israel, Mike Waltz, the United States ambassador to the United Nations, challenged the claim that he would stop Prime Minister Netanyahu at the UN General Assembly, calling the threat “pure political theater.”

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a poll published on Friday evening by N12 shows broad support for the anti-Netanyahu bloc, with 49% saying they would vote for a party in that bloc, 36% for Netanyahu’s bloc, 12% undecided, and 3% for neither camp. The figures accompany analysis from Maariv’s Shlomo Maoz detailing large emigration in recent years: in 2022, net losses of 15,500; in 2023, net losses of 29,800; in 2024, net losses of 58,600, totaling about 103,900 across 2022-2024 after returns. The poll also touches on public sentiment regarding political developments and policy directions.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, an opinion piece questions the selective enforcement of international criminal law as it relates to visiting leaders. It notes that New York has hosted what the author describes as the world’s war criminals for 80 years and cites Zohran Mamdani’s call that Prime Minister Netanyahu belongs in the Hague, framing the debate as a broader question about consistency in applying international law, including comparisons to past leaders such as Raisi.

In Uplifting News, the review of Out of the Sky recounts Matti Friedman’s examination of 37 Jewish parachutists who returned to Nazi-occupied Europe in 1944. The missions led to mixed outcomes: 12 were captured, 5 returned, 3 were executed, and 4 were sent to concentration camps; Hannah Szenes remains the best known among them. Friedman writes that their acts, though it may have changed little in the immediate context, touched the fate of millions and reflected the enduring courage of those who undertook the missions. In Digging Deep, David Bolchover’s study revisits the forgotten Jewish players and coaches who shaped European soccer before the Holocaust, weaving together the stories of 11 prominent figures and exploring the question of who might be regarded as the greatest Jewish soccer player, framed by Bolchover’s own lifelong engagement with the sport and Jewish athletic history.

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/article-902880
https://t.me/newssil/206954
https://t.me/newssil/206955
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-902878
https://worldisraelnews.com/report-hamas-pursuing-military-foothold-in-syria/
https://t.me/newssil/206953
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902881
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-902882
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-902726
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-902723