HEADLINES
Israel strikes Hezbollah depots in southern Lebanon
Hostage survivor details Gaza captivity abuse
Trump slams Herzog over Netanyahu pardon

The time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, developments across the region are shaping security calculations and responses. The Israeli Defense Forces said it struck, earlier, military depots and launchers of Hezbollah in several areas in southern Lebanon. In Gaza, troops identified armed terrorists emerging from a tunnel shaft and carried out an airstrike, killing them; in Lebanon, fighter jets targeted Hezbollah sites as residents in the Upper Galilee are warned that blast noises could continue for hours. An opinion piece questions why Israel did not finish Hezbollah during a 2024 ceasefire, arguing that a rare moment to decisively defeat the group was missed and that Hezbollah has since regrouped. Diplomatic efforts also feature prominently, with reports that leaders agreed to pursue a “full force” economic pressure campaign against Iran, including possible blocks on Iranian oil sales to China, while Geneva is set to host another round of talks and Oman acts as mediator. Exiled crown prince Reza Pahlavi argues that sustained external pressure coupled with internal unrest could bring an end to clerical rule in Iran. Israel has also carried out airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, striking locations around the outskirts of Jbaa, the area of Hmeileh al-Wadi between Deir al-Zahrani and Houmine al-Fawqa, Wadi Barghaz in Hasbaya, Rihan Heights, Aqmata Heights, the outskirts of Mlikh, and a stone manufacturing plant on the Sajd al-Rihan road.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the latest reporting centers on a survivor’s testimony from captivity. Former Israeli hostage Arbel Yehoud has described being sexually abused by Gazan terrorists nearly every day of her 482 days in captivity after being abducted from Nir Oz on October 7, 2023 and held by Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists and affiliated groups, with injuries including two broken ribs and starvation, and she says she attempted suicide on three occasions. Less than a day after her testimony, public donations surged, raising more than 3 million shekels for the rehabilitation of Arbel and her partner.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the focus is on questions surrounding a Trump remark about Prime Minister Netanyahu. Herzog’s camp has demanded clarifications from Netanyahu about whether he is connected to Donald Trump’s statement that Herzog “should be ashamed of himself” for not granting a pardon, a claim Trump made in remarks to the press. Herzog’s office replied that the presidency respects the rule of law and that a pardon decision, if any, would follow a review by the Justice Ministry; the office stressed no decision has been made yet and reaffirmed sovereignty and legal processes.

In Uplifting News, Valentine’s Day 2026 revisits the aphrodisiac myth, with experts noting there is no scientific basis for foods that supposedly boost desire. The online anti-hoax platform Doctor, but is it true that…? explains that while enjoying foods like chili peppers or chocolate isn’t forbidden, there is no miracle effect. A separate commentary on relationships argues that open communication is replacing strategic “games” in dating, challenging late-2000s mindset that emphasized waiting and playing hard to get. And in a human-interest thread, Rabbi Shmuel Yerish recounts his journey from Ukraine to Hadera, where he started Reb Shmueltoys, a line of Jewish-themed toys produced in China and increasingly in Israel, including Rachel and Leah dolls, a Yetziat Mitzrayim play set, portable Temple-like tents, and other items sold through communities and social networks; his story highlights a Mrs. and father of 15 charting a path as an entrepreneur in Israel.

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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