HEADLINES
UK Declares IRGC Terror Group, Iran Fumes
US Freezes Ben-Gurion Evacuation Refuelers, Flights Risk
Rome Talks Israel Lebanon Seek Hezbollah Disarmament

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Britain’s decision to designate the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist group drew a sharp rebuke from Tehran’s Foreign Ministry, which called the move unjustified and irresponsible and said the IRGC is an official part of Iran’s armed forces, accusing Britain of violating international law by targeting a state institution. Britain on Monday banned support for the IRGC and a linked group under new powers aimed at preventing foreign states from using proxies for activities such as surveillance and sabotage. Iran, which is at war with the United States and Israel, has previously denied using proxies. The article notes reactions from anti-Zionist British MP Zarah Sultana, who questioned the decision on X/Twitter, and from George Galloway, who argued that prosecuting support for the IRGC would infringe on free speech.

In US Military Role, up to 50,000 July flight tickets may be canceled as a result of the United States freezing evacuation refuelers stationed at Ben-Gurion Airport, a move the Israel Airports Authority warned would have immediate operational consequences. IAA director-general Sharon Kedmi said the delay is significant, while Transport Ministry Director-General Moshe Ben Zaken said additional US refueling aircraft would not be permitted to land. CENTCOM confirmed the freeze, and reports indicated four additional US refuelers had recently landed at Ben-Gurion from Gulf states. May operations at the airport were already limited to about one-third capacity due to the presence of US refueling aircraft. In a separate note from a Hebrew-language report, targeted US strikes were described as having been carried out recently in Bushehr, southern Iran.

In Regional Impacts, Israel has extended the ban on flights to Dubai through the end of October as many international airlines continue to suspend or reduce service to the United Arab Emirates amid the security situation in the Middle East. Israeli carriers cannot operate direct flights to Dubai, while foreign operators such as flydubai and Etihad continue most routes but travelers are advised to check status due to routing changes and congestion. The European Union Aviation Safety Agency has recommended that airlines avoid flying through the airspace of Iran, Iraq, and Lebanon until at least the end of August, with no current advisory to avoid UAE airspace itself. Several international carriers have paused UAE services, including Lufthansa, British Airways, and Cathay Pacific.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel and Lebanon resumed peace talks in Rome under US mediation, with Beirut seeking progress toward an Israeli withdrawal from south Lebanon under a Washington-brokered deal, though expectations for rapid progress remain low. The broader framework calls for the Lebanese Army to deploy and Hezbollah to be disarmed, while Iran has pressed for an end to the war in Lebanon as part of a broader interim arrangement with Washington, complicating the talks amid regional tensions. Separately, Iran’s mysterious flight to Yemen drew international attention after a Mahan Air aircraft attempted to land in Sana’a and ultimately landed in the Hodeidah airport; Yemeni officials and international voices condemned the episode, and reports say an Iranian Revolutionary Guard aircraft briefly turned off its tracking system over Yemeni airspace as investigations continue. In Rome, Israel and Lebanon prepared for a second round of discussions to translate the June 26 framework into tangible steps, focusing on an Israeli withdrawal from defined areas in southern Lebanon and the handover of control to the Lebanese Army, with questions about timing and scope remaining. In another line of talks, Israeli and Lebanese representatives planned to meet in Washington with the aim of pressing pilot zones in southern Lebanon, as Beirут calls for a faster IDF withdrawal and Israel demands stronger Lebanese Army action against Hezbollah.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government is expected to consider diverting 568 million shekels from the five-year plan for Arab society development to fund Shin Bet activity and police and other enforcement bodies against organized crime. If approved, the move would signal a shift in priorities away from economic development, employment, and infrastructure for Arab society toward enforcement and security measures. The Mossawa Center for the Rights of Arab Citizens urged the government to block the proposal, warning of potential legal action if it is approved. The plan draws on Government Decision 550, adopted in 2021 to narrow economic and social gaps, and would reallocate budgets intended for development programs into security and enforcement needs.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-902468
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902450
https://telegram.me/newssil/206594
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902461
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-902467
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902466
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902460
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkuflcm4me
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-902449