HEADLINES
Mossad chief vows more strikes on Iran
Tyre civilian hospital damaged in Hezbollah strike
US presses Oman to sever Iran ties

The time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, the newly minted Mossad Director Roman Gofman said that the Iranian Shiite axis has suffered a tough blow at the hands of Mossad and Israel in the countries’ recent wars. At his inauguration, he addressed the full Mossad staff, saying, "You are the silent voice and the power of the State of Israel and of the Jewish nation. I enter with humility to this holy place, ready to rely on your knowledge and experience." He added that the strategic flip Israel imposed on Iran, which undermined its plans to destroy Israel, has altered the balance of power for the entire region, but the Mossad’s work to bring down the threat from Iran is far from over, and he pledged that during his term the agency would continue to act in the shadows to develop new capabilities and strategies that would surprise Israel’s adversaries. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Gofman at the ceremony that he will remove Iran’s Islamic regime from the world and that, after Israeli strikes on Iran in 2025 and early 2026, the regime will not return to threaten Israel’s existence.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, an attack against Hezbollah infrastructure in Tyre on Monday caused damage to a civilian hospital in the area, the IDF said after reviewing footage from the strike. It should be emphasized that the hospital was not targeted and was apparently damaged incidentally as a result of the strikes. The IDF noted that Hezbollah systematically embeds itself within civilian infrastructure and population centers and has previously positioned itself near medical facilities, endangering patients, medical staff, and civilians. The army said it is operating solely against Hezbollah and is taking all feasible measures to minimize harm to civilian infrastructure, as well as medical facilities and personnel. IDF Arabic spokesperson Lieutenant-Colonel Ella Waweya said the IDF would continue to attack across Lebanon, from the southern suburbs of Beirut to Tyre, to guarantee the security of Israel’s citizens, and that efforts would continue to tighten Hezbollah’s capabilities.

Defense officials fear Hezbollah may have obtained first-person view drones with an operational range of up to 60 kilometers, which would allow attacks on major northern Israeli cities, including Haifa, and could threaten key strategic infrastructure. FPV drones do not rely on wireless GPS and are controlled by a tethered connection to the operator, enabling precise control up to impact. The drones are theoretically capable of reaching ranges of 55–60 kilometers, though experts note substantial engineering challenges in achieving such reach, including the weight-to-energy balance required to power longer flights.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States is pushing Oman to break ties with Iran, with officials indicating that Washington views Muscat’s neutral stance toward Tehran as a threat and is demanding Oman choose sides. The Wall Street Journal cited American and Arab officials saying Oman’s back-channel diplomacy with Tehran helped reopen Gulf flight corridors amid the Iran confrontations, and that Oman stands ready to work with the United States and responsible partners to promote stability and deter disruption. Omani Information Minister Abdulla Al-Harrasi said Oman remains prepared to engage with the United States and partners to safeguard shared strategic interests. Separately, Senator Marco Rubio said that Iranian Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei is increasingly engaged at some level and that Iran still possesses a large number of drones despite strikes that have eroded its conventional shield. Rubio said Iran had shown willingness to discuss aspects of its nuclear program, though relief from sanctions would not be offered in exchange for opening the Strait of Hormuz and would depend on Tehran meeting nuclear-related conditions. Finally, Washington’s stance on US-Iran talks remained unsettled, with Trump saying ceasefire talks are advancing, Rubio indicating possible progress on nuclear issues, and Tehran denying that negotiations are underway as Lebanon becomes a flashpoint in efforts to extend the truce.

In Lahav 433, Shin Bet file indictment to terrorist who held body of St.-Sergeant Shaul for 10 years, Ibrahim Hilo, the Hamas operative responsible for holding St.-Sergeant Oron Shaul’s remains in Gaza for nearly a decade, was indicted following a joint investigation by Lahav 433, the Shin Bet, and the IDF. Hilo was captured during a secret operation, and information obtained during interrogation aided the retrieval of Shaul’s remains. The indictment, filed by the Southern District Attorney’s Office to the Beersheba District Court, accuses Hilo of serious security offenses. Shaul, then 20, was among seven soldiers who entered the Shejaia neighborhood near Gaza City in an armored personnel carrier in July 2014; the APC was struck by a Kornet anti-tank missile, killing all inside. The 2025 operation that led to Shaul’s remains was conducted by Shayetet 13 and other special forces.

The UN can’t afford another appeaser: Why Michelle Bachelet must not lead - opinion, in Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, argues that Michelle Bachelet’s record shows a persistent double standard against the Jewish state. The piece notes that the former Chilean president and former UN high commissioner for human rights is being discussed as a candidate to lead the United Nations, but argues that her tenure included disproportionate attention to democratic states while failing to speak out against dictatorships. It cites UN Watch’s 2022 review, "Blind Eye to Dictatorships," which documented a pattern of selective outrage, and argues that elevating Bachelet would signal that looking away from tyranny carries no cost, a concern raised again in an open letter from UN Watch urging restraint in a bid for the UN’s top post.

In Uplifting News, From Iron Dome to the final frontier: Hilla Haddad Chmelnik on Israel’s defense legacy and the race discusses Moonshot Space, where CEO Hilla Haddad Chmelnik, a veteran of the Israeli Air Force and former Director-General of Israel’s Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology, links Israel’s defense achievements to its future ambitions. Chmelnik, who helped certify Iron Dome for operational use, describes how the system succeeded not by adapting old ideas but by starting from a blank page. She is now steering Moonshot Space toward becoming the “FedEx to space” through kinetic launch technology, applying the same mindset to push Israel’s space frontier forward.

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/defense-news/article-898127
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-898130
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-898114
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-898128
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-898133
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/sj00oduhxzx
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-898121
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-898083
https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-898122