Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-24 at 22:02

HEADLINES
Iran's Mojtaba Khamenei eyes nuclear weapons
Air Force One switches after proxy threat
Saudi strikes Hodeida as Houthis vow retaliation

The time is now 10:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, US intelligence agencies believe Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is more interested in acquiring a nuclear weapon than his father and predecessor was, according to a Friday New York Times report citing officials briefed on the information. The report notes that the killing of former supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei during the opening days of the US and Israel’s military operations against Iran in February intensified Tehran’s nuclear ambitions. Officials say much of the information regarding Khamenei’s views came from before the start of the war, as the new supreme leader has been in hiding since he was injured in the strike that killed his father. His communication with other Iranian officials has been limited as he avoids public appearances for fear of being targeted in further airstrikes. While intelligence agencies believe Iran has not moved to restart enrichment and weapons development, steps have been taken to preserve nuclear assets damaged by US and Israeli strikes.

In US Military Role, US officials reportedly detected a credible threat from Iranian proxies against Air Force One, prompting a switch of the president’s plane, separate from an Israeli warning about a possible assassination plot targeting the president.

In Regional Impacts, after weeks of Iran targeting other parts of the region, the conflict could be headed toward Israel as the war broadens. Israel is experiencing its hottest summer on record, with Tel Aviv hitting 112 degrees earlier this week. In Tel Aviv, a performance artist, Oren Pesso, opened his show at HaTachana Park and asked the crowd, “Do you want the heat or the war? You have to pick one,” as he performed with his daughter. In anticipation of possible strikes, several cities have reopened municipal bomb shelters that had been shut since the ceasefire on June 17, though Home Front Command has not issued any specific new instructions. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he would travel to the United States on Monday ahead of a meeting with …

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran-backed Houthi rebels vowed retaliation against Saudi Arabia on Saturday after accusing the kingdom of targeting civilian infrastructure, as the regional war widens. Riyadh struck Houthi military targets in Hodeida on Friday, with rebel media reporting two wounded after the Houthis announced a maritime blockade of the top oil producer and hit its ships. The flare-up marks a new front in the conflict that has spread across the region following US-Israeli strikes on Tehran in February, and comes on top of Iran’s blockade of the Strait of Hormuz. The Houthis posted on Telegram that the Saudi enemy’s targeting of civilian facilities in Hodeida and Kamaran island constitutes a dangerous escalation, and they vowed that these crimes will not go unanswered. A Yemeni security source told AFP that a naval base in Hodeida and a military camp on Kamaran island were among the Saudi targets. The Saudi-led coalition said it hit Houthi sites and destroyed targets threatening commercial vessels in response to attacks on Red Sea shipping. The Houthis also claimed attacks on two ships.

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/iran-news/article-903584
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/byzbttzhge
https://www.timesofisrael.com/in-israels-scorching-summer-schools-out-and-surfs-up-and-fears-of-war-are-returning/
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/houthis-vow-retaliation-saudi-strikes-conflict-deepens
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903585