Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-26 at 22:02

HEADLINES
Iranian drone strike hits near US base
Oil tankers lead Bab el-Mandeb traffic drop
Gaza teen tops Tawjihi with 99.9%

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 Iranian Retaliation, a drone strike, presumably Iranian or Iranian-backed militias, was reportedly carried out against targets near a US military base tonight. More to come.

In Regional Impacts, ship traffic through Bab el-Mandeb plunged, with 11 commodity vessels crossing the strait on Sunday, the lowest in months, and transit through the Strait of Hormuz over the weekend staying below 10 ships per day despite a pause in US-Iran strikes. Seven of the Bab el-Mandeb passers-through were oil tankers, including two very large crude carriers bound for Yanbu to load Saudi crude, along with a Russian-linked ship. The Red Sea exits on Sunday included the Hong Kong-flagged VLCC New Explorer carrying about 2 million barrels of Saudi and Emirati crude for eastern China's Ningbo, and another tanker carrying Russian crude for China.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran’s Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is attributed with statements praising Hezbollah and calling for continued jihad against the United States and Israel, saying there remains no path forward except jihad and resistance. He is quoted as saying Hezbollah’s steadfast commitment has become an inspiring message for those pursuing liberation from global arrogance and divine victory, and that defending Hezbollah is Iran’s strategic mandate. He allegedly linked peace with the United States to halting all Israeli operations against Hezbollah in southern Lebanon and lamented the killing of former Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, described as Hezbollah’s master of martyrs.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu reportedly told his cabinet that the United States wants Israel to withdraw troops from Syria, Lebanon, and Gaza, and he said he would not agree, telling ministers he intends to stand on his own two feet. Citing Channel 13, the report notes Washington’s interest in a series of withdrawals on the three fronts but does not specify whether they would be partial or full. Oil markets reflected a pause in hostilities, with Brent crude down 5.58 percent to $91.38 a barrel and West Texas Intermediate down 5.46 percent to $84.43. The day also included news that Toronto police are investigating a shooting at a Jewish-owned bakery in the city. Separately, US President Donald Trump pressed a powerful but controversial warning, continuing to threaten Iran with AI-generated images of US jets destroying Iranian ships and energy infrastructure as the fighting cools after a two-week stretch of intensified strikes. The Pentagon suspended bombing late Friday, with no US attacks reported over the weekend, while Iran signaled it would hold fire for now; advisers warned that targets could be exhausted, but Trump asserted the United States has far more munitions than anyone and far more than we need.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Cabinet approved the entry of the Board of Peace into Gaza, starting in Rafah, with Ben-Gvir the sole minister to oppose the plan, which would restore basic services, deliver aid and build shelters in non-Hamas areas under a Palestinian technocratic committee backed by an international force.

In Uplifting News, Gaza teen Saba Rabah rose to the top of the science stream in the Palestinian Tawjihi exams, achieving 99.9 percent and ranking first nationally, despite the war’s devastation that forced displacement and the destruction of her family home. The Tawjihi exams were held across Gaza, the West Bank, and other regions for the first time since the conflict began in October 2023, marking a historic moment amid ongoing hardship.

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/DefenderDome/22449
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/bjfre4vbfx
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/liveblog-july-27-2026/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/trump-continues-to-threaten-iran-with-ai-social-media-posts-despite-lull-in-fighting/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sjxtc5xbgl
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/07/gaza-teen-triumphs-despite-war-loss-and-displacement