HEADLINES
Iran rebuilds Kangavar missile base tunnels
US-Israel military ties deepen, permanent presence considered
Lebanon pilot aims LAF sovereignty, Hezbollah curbed

The time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Iranian Retaliation, Iran has rebuilt infrastructure damaged in US and Israeli airstrikes faster than expected, according to the Wall Street Journal, which cites satellite imagery. The report notes that Planet Labs imagery from March showed two tunnel entrances to a missile base near Kangavar and an adjoining access road damaged by airstrikes; weeks later imagery provided through Airbus showed freshly excavated entrances and a paved road where destruction had been. An Israeli military official said Iran had repaired a bridge that had been destroyed days earlier. Planet Labs imagery dated to the start of July also shows partial reconstruction at a shipyard in Bandar Anzali on the Caspian Sea, a site linked to the IRGC. In March, the IDF said it struck several Iranian naval targets in the Caspian, including a major IRGC port, where dozens of ships were involved. The WSJ cites former IDF air defense chief Brigadier-General Ran Kochav saying, “They refilled their stockpiles.”

In Regional Impacts, the author argues that the US-Israel relationship remains strongest on military terms even as political dynamics in Washington grow more complex. Cooperation with the United States Central Command has never been closer, and American forces are present at air bases and other sites across Israel. Discussions are underway about turning parts of this deployment into a more permanent presence, including joint analysis of enemies and targets, enhanced intelligence sharing, and expanded training with Israeli and neighboring militaries. Yet at the political level, Prime Minister Netanyahu and his government are described as having limited influence in Washington, particularly on Iran, even as Washington continues to pursue pressure campaigns in the region.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a pilot program in southern Lebanon is described as testing a new approach: the IDF would withdraw from villages in the south, the Lebanese Armed Forces would move in, Hezbollah would be cleared, and Beirut’s sovereignty would be gradually reasserted. The piece cautions that historical patterns in Lebanon—where stability has repeatedly proven elusive—mean external forces with conflicting interests could complicate the effort and potentially derail the plan as it unfolds.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the US Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated a senior UK-based Egyptian Muslim Brotherhood official, Mahmoud al-Abyari, along with three other individuals and three entities connected to Hamas. The designation targets what OFAC describes as a transnational Hamas financing network, including two “sham charities” linked to the Muslim Brotherhood that funneled substantial funds to Hamas’s military wing. OFAC said these networks move money across jurisdictions through charitable facades and underground banking. Abyari is cited as a long-time senior leader within the Muslim Brotherhood and is noted as having supported fundraising for Filistin Vakfi and Hayat Yolu, both of which had prior sanctions.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, a man in Ramat Gan admitted on video to threatening to kill an aide to Yesh Atid MK Moshe Tur-Paz. The confrontation was captured with the man, who wore a kippah, shouting from several meters away that he wished to “kill you,” and a woman nearby responding, “You want to kill me?” The video shows the suspect cursing, later smacking a person’s phone as a police officer intervenes to escort him away for questioning.

In Uplifting News, the Defense Ministry and the Friends of the Israeli Defense Forces are establishing a new brain injury rehabilitation center in Tel Aviv to serve IDF veterans with brain trauma, slated for completion in 2030. The 2,560-square-meter facility will replace the older Beit Marguza center and is expected to accommodate around 60 veterans, becoming the only center in Israel dedicated exclusively to brain-trauma rehabilitation. It follows a government decision to overhaul the rehabilitation system for wounded soldiers, and comes as more than 26,000 soldiers and security personnel have sought treatment since October 7, including roughly 300 with traumatic brain injuries, with about a third needing prolonged, intensive care. The article also notes a separate opinion piece exploring how Homer’s Odyssey has been invoked to reflect the Jewish story of homecoming, arguing that while the epic’s portrayal is grand, it raises questions about historical accuracy and the relevance of its themes to contemporary narratives.

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-903562
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903415
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903471
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-903557
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-903563
https://www.jpost.com/health-and-wellness/article-903519
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-903486