Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-22 at 19:02

HEADLINES
- US Launches 12th Night Strikes on Iran
- Israel Kills 12 Hamas and PIJ Operatives
- Congress Approves 1.15 Trillion NDAA Critics Wary

The time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, the Iranian Foreign Minister said that Iran's defense doctrine is clear: eye for an eye.

The Iranian Foreign Minister declared that the defense doctrine is an eye-for-an-eye approach.

In US Military Role, the US Central Command said it began a 12th consecutive night of strikes in Iran Thursday morning, with explosions reported in Sirik and Bushehr. CENTCOM said the mission will continue to degrade Iran's ability to threaten civilian mariners and commercial vessels transiting regional waters, and authorities in Khuzestan reported a strike near Ahwaz. This is a developing story.

In Regional Impacts, sirens sounded in Kuwait as air defenses intercepted hostile Iranian drone threats. The Kuwait Interior Ministry reported the intercept as tensions in the region remained high.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces announced the elimination of 12 Hamas and Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists who had been presented to the world as athletes, and some of them took part in the October 7 massacre.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US House of Representatives narrowly passed the fiscal 2027 National Defense Authorization Act, approving about $1.15 trillion in military spending in a 216-to-212 vote largely along party lines. Democrats cited concerns about the bill’s price tag and the ongoing war with Iran, while Republicans argued the funding is essential to support the military, defense systems, troop benefits, and housing for personnel. Separately, criticism grew over a potential US-Saudi civilian nuclear energy deal, with Israeli and American observers warning it could enable Saudi enrichment and reprocessing without strong oversight and possibly undermine incentives to normalize ties with Israel; reports suggested a deal could be announced in the near term, though none has been publicly confirmed, and the Biden administration had been pursuing negotiations with Riyadh.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an open letter urged that honest dialogue cannot erase Israeli humanity or Jewish pain, arguing that criticism of Israel’s leadership does not negate belonging and acknowledging differing views within the Israeli public. Separately, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu released a statement ahead of Tisha B'Av calling for greater national unity and outlining efforts to form a broad, stable national government.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Reed College agreed to a set of reforms to settle antisemitism investigations, including language recognizing that targeting Jewish Zionists can be discriminatory and appointing a third-party monitor to assess adherence to antisemitism protections under federal law. The UJA-Federation of New York issued a message to Mayor Mamdani stating that New Yorkers elected a mayor to lead the city, not to turn Israel into the centerpiece of political grandstanding; the message condemns distortions and disinformation and warns that rising antisemitism puts Jews at greater risk.

In Uplifting News, thousands gathered at the Western Wall to observe Tisha B'Av lamentations, a day marked by fasting for roughly 25 hours and the reading of Megillat Eicha. Attendees included public figures such as Itamar Ben-Gvir, Naftali Bennett, and Gadi Eisenkot, reflecting the day’s significance in Jewish history and communal memory.

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://t.me/JewishNews24/57578
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903372
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903376
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/78401
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-903377
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903373
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903375
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57574
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903374
https://t.me/JewishNews24/57571
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903371