Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-26 at 21:01

HEADLINES
Red Sea Traffic Drops Amid Houthi Attacks
Khamenei Calls for Jihad Against Israel
Toronto Bagel Shops Targeted in Antisemitic Attacks

The time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Regional Impacts, ship traffic through Bab el-Mandeb fell on Sunday after Yemeni Houthis attacked Saudi oil installations along the Red Sea coast, while transit through the Strait of Hormuz stayed low over the weekend, shipping data from Kpler showed on Monday. Eleven commodity vessels passed through the Bab el-Mandeb strait on Sunday, the lowest level in months. Red Sea traffic has been disrupted off the coast of Yemen since last week by the Tehran-aligned Houthis, who want to blockade Saudi exports, expanding the US-Iran conflict that has already choked oil supply through the Strait of Hormuz. Seven of the vessels that passed through Bab el-Mandeb were oil tankers with three entering the Red Sea. Two of them are very large crude carriers heading to the port of Yanbu to load Saudi crude while the third is a Russian-linked ship. The four vessels that exited the Red Sea on Sunday included the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC New Explorer carrying 2 million barrels of Saudi and Emirati crude for eastern China's Ningbo port, a tanker carrying 1 million barrels of Russian crude for China, and a fourth vessel exited the Red Sea, according to the data.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is reported to have called for continued jihad against Israel and to have praised Hezbollah, describing its steadfast commitment to terrorism as an inspiring message and saying Iran’s defense of Hezbollah is its strategic mandate. He was quoted as saying there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance against the United States and Israel, and he suggested that any peace agreement with the United States would require halting Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. The remarks also recalled Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah’s leader, whom Khamenei described as “Hezbollah’s master of martyrs,” noting Nasrallah’s death at Israeli hands in 2024.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said New York Mayor Zohran Mamdani is fomenting hate by calling for his arrest over the Gaza war, and he plans to attend the United Nations General Assembly in September to address the gathering and speak for Israel. Mamdani had urged federal action on an arrest warrant issued by the ICC, though Netanyahu said he would be at the UN to speak truth for Israel and the Israeli-American alliance. In a separate development, police said a suspicious object was found outside the home of MK Avi Maoz, head of the Noam Party, prompting bomb squads to respond, inspect the object, and transport it for further examination.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Toronto police are investigating suspected antisemitic attacks on Jewish businesses after windows were shattered at two Kiva’s Bagel Bar locations. One location at Yonge Street and St. Clair Avenue showed a bullet hole in the front window and evidence of firearm use; the other location on Steeles Avenue West near Bathurst Street also had a shattered front window. Police have increased their presence in the area and are treating the incidents as hate-motivated crimes, with no injuries reported and the investigation ongoing.

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/red-sea-shipping-slows-after-houthi-attack-saudi-arabia-data-shows
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-903737
https://www.timesofisrael.com/netanyahu-accuses-mamdani-of-fomenting-hate-by-calling-for-his-arrest/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903735
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-903734