HEADLINES
- Israel Iran clash escalates amid defense gaps
- Lebanon rocket fire injures reservists near border
- Kuwait arrests Hezbollah cell plotting assassinations

The time is now 4:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, Israel’s defense picture remains contested as officials say interception accuracy runs about 90 percent, yet there have been a number of incidents in which Israelis were killed or seriously wounded by Iranian or Hezbollah aerial threats during the current war. Special attention has been given to the hits at Dimona and Arad on Saturday night, where later reporting indicated the failure lay with the David’s Sling air defense system. Questions are rising about why David’s Sling was used at all, given the differences among the major systems: Iron Dome is built for short‑range threats, David’s Sling for medium‑range missiles, and the Arrow for long‑range ballistic missiles. The United States has THAAD, another interceptor designed for ballistic missiles, while Iron Dome targets short‑range rockets and drones.

In US Military Role, US Central Command responded quickly to Iranian claims that they had struck an American F‑18, saying the reports are false.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel has clear objectives south of the Litani River but will face difficulty up north. Defense Minister Katz has described a border doctrine that mirrors the Gaza operations by leveling border areas and moving residents to create a defensive zone to push back threats from across the border. There is a fundamental difference between the situations in Lebanon and Gaza: Gaza’s Hamas has a limited rocket capability and Israel can pursue threats there, while in the North Hezbollah remains a persistent threat with long‑range fire, complicating the security picture. Kuwait’s interior ministry announced the capture of a Hezbollah cell operating on Kuwaiti soil, involved in a plot to assassinate senior officials; the network included Kuwaitis, Lebanese, and Iranians, with some Kuwaitis having citizenship revoked in the past, and Hezbollah is banned under Kuwaiti law. Three IDF reservists were wounded by rocket fire in Lebanon, with one severely injured; all were evacuated to hospital for treatment. Earlier, a reservist was seriously wounded by rocket fire toward the forces in Lebanon and was evacuated, with his family informed. The partner of Nuriel Dubin, who was killed by Hezbollah fire yesterday, was reported.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Druze spiritual leader Hikmat al‑Hijri has voiced support for US and Israeli actions against Iran, describing the campaign as a necessary step to counter regional destabilization and calling the operations courageous and aligned with the broader strategic direction of allied powers. Syrian Druze leader Laith al‑Balous said the Suwayda secession project is driven by external and Israeli agendas, involving actors tied to Iran, the former regime, and drug networks, describing a contrast between public alliances and hidden realities and accusing these groups of openly aligning with Israel while secretly cooperating with Iran‑linked factions that threaten regional security. Trump prepared to unleash hell if Iran talks fail, with White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt warning that President Trump is prepared to take strong action if negotiations to end the war fail. The US and Israel have temporarily removed Iranian parliamentary speaker Mohammad‑Bagher Ghalibaf and Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi from their target lists for up to four or five days.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Netanyahu’s spokesperson Ziv Agmon resigned after racist comments were revealed that described Moroccan members of the Knesset in demeaning terms. Agmon, who is of Moroccan origin, argued the remarks were taken out of context and said they were written before he held his current position, noting that the quotes were from private conversations and not reflective of his views or the government.

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/israel-news/article-891199
https://t.me/abualiexpress/118695
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-891205
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73846
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/skfvohzo11l
https://t.me/newssil/196520
https://t.me/newssil/196519
https://t.me/selena_updates/59691
https://worldisraelnews.com/trump-prepared-to-unleash-hell-if-iran-talks-fail/
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/73844
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-891208