HEADLINES
Israel covert ops in Azerbaijan ignite Iran
Iran strikes Al Udeid, vows wider war
Lebanon pleads for diplomacy, Hezbollah disarmament

The time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel deployed commandos, intelligence personnel, and Mossad operatives to Azerbaijan to support operations against Iran during the broader campaign, operating from the south near the Iranian border, about 60 kilometers from Tabriz. The force included several dozen soldiers from Israeli special forces and the elite heliborne combat and rescue force, along with Mossad operatives. Their tasks encompassed intelligence gathering and drone operations, initially planned as rescue-ready deployments in case of emergencies inside Iran, but later expanding to include military and intelligence duties. Azerbaijan hosted covert bases as part of this effort. Iran retaliated by striking the US Air Force’s Combined Air Operations Centre at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar with ballistic missiles, severely damaging the facility that has run America’s air campaigns in the Middle East for more than two decades; no personnel were injured since the facility was not in use at the time, and the US continues directing the air campaign from Shaw Air Force Base in South Carolina. Separately, Iran said it fired warning missiles and drones at US warships in the Gulf of Oman, accusing the US Navy of harassing maritime traffic; CENTCOM denied the claim, saying it did not attack or fire on US Navy vessels and that US forces continue to operate freely while enforcing the ongoing blockade. The US also said it intercepted the stateless vessel M/T DAVINA in the Indian Ocean as part of maritime enforcement. A senior Iranian official, Mohsen Rezaee, told CNN that if the war continues and the naval blockade remains, Iran will expand hostilities to the Indian Ocean, the Bab el-Mandeb Strait, the Red Sea, and the Mediterranean, attacking additional American bases and promising heavier losses for the United States. In a separate development, Captain Eitan Shmuel Lamberg, a 21-year-old tank officer of the 75th Battalion, was killed in combat in Southern Lebanon by an anti-tank missile. There is also a clearly stated push for more significant Israeli military actions against Hezbollah.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun told CNN that Lebanon’s people are not Hezbollah’s people and that they deserve an opportunity for diplomacy rather than perpetual war. He described the war as futile and said negotiations could benefit both Lebanon and Israel. Aoun also criticized Iran for using Lebanon as a bargaining chip in its own negotiations and asserted that decisions about Lebanon’s sovereignty and security must rest with the Lebanese state. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam supported calls to disarm Hezbollah and withdraw Israeli forces from southern Lebanon, while Iran’s Revolutionary Guards Corps opposed the ceasefire framework, complicating regional tensions. Aoun’s remarks reflect a broader push from Lebanese leadership to reduce external interference and emphasize Lebanon’s sovereignty amid ongoing regional conflict.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Donald Trump said the US is having great success with Iran and that Iran is not in a position to have a nuclear weapon. A CNN report noted that any potential peace deal between the United States and Iran hinges on the Trump administration releasing about $24 billion in frozen Iranian assets, with warnings that resuming fighting could push Washington into a “dark corridor.” Separately, Mohsen Rezaee urged CNN that Trump must act independently of Israel, lift the blockade by releasing Iran’s assets, and suggested that such steps could open a new horizon for cooperation between Iran and the United States.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, an opinion piece examines how Israelis should prepare for the 2026 elections, suggesting multiple scenarios in which elections could occur without a coalition forming, potentially keeping the country in election mode for an extended period. The author reflects on Israeli democracy, noting contrasts with other political landscapes and the enduring importance of turnout and coalition-building in the country’s political culture.

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
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