HEADLINES
Trump Defends Caine Amid Iran War Talk
Jordan Erases Israel Mentions From West Bank
Technion Leads Europe in AI and CS

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, US President Donald Trump warned that if no deal is reached, it will be a very bad day for that country and its people, and he defended General Daniel Caine against suggestions he opposed going to war with Iran, calling those reports fake news. Trump said Caine would prefer not to see war, but if ordered to act, he would lead a decisive effort, recalling his role in Operation Midnight Hammer during the 12-day war in 2025. He added that Caine is a great fighter who knows how to win and would be at the head of the pack if told to go forward. Separately, Trump denied reports that the top US military officer warned of risks in a strike against Iran, saying Washington would easily beat Tehran. He asserted that Caine, like others, would acknowledge risks such as munition shortages and limited allied support, but the claim that he was against war was 100 percent incorrect. The same period saw Israel raise security alert levels at several embassies and diplomatic missions across Europe, the Far East and Latin America amid heightened concerns of retaliatory actions by Iran or affiliated groups, with stricter movement guidelines for staff and reinforced protective protocols; Israel has also asked certain former senior security officials abroad to return to the country as a precaution.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Jordan’s Parliament voted unanimously to erase mentions of Israel from the minutes of a debate on US Ambassador to Israel Huckabee’s remarks about West Bank administration reforms, calling such references a breach of international law. Parliament Speaker Mazen al-Qadi said Huckabee’s comments, which reportedly argued for Israeli control over Arab lands, violated international law and the United Nations charter, and that references rooted in Jewish religious narratives are unacceptable and undermine prospects for a two-state solution. The West Bank and Gaza are Palestinian territories, al-Qadi added, noting that the move came despite Jordan’s peace treaty with Israel.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, a report asserts that Tucker Carlson’s so-called conservative circle and associated anti-Semitic voices were shown to falter in their own polls, and that the public holds that America first should prevent Iran from achieving a nuclear capability.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Smotrich responded to a recent setback by saying the economic left within the Likud is trying to defeat Israeli citizens, a remark reflecting internal party tensions. Separately, Amichai Shikli expressed confidence that the Galilee region poses a greater risk to Israel’s future than Iran.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Technion Israel Institute of Technology was named the leading university in Israel and Europe for computer science and artificial intelligence in CSRankings, ranking 21st worldwide. The index credits Technion’s faculty and more than 150 researchers across AI disciplines and notes the institution’s role in driving innovation and a wave of successful tech spinoffs behind a long-term strategy and substantial investment.

In Uplifting News, AI is helping solve a 2,000-year-old mystery of a Roman board game found beneath Heerlen, Netherlands, with researchers using AI-driven simulation alongside archaeology to identify the object as a game based on its geometric pattern and wear analysis. Freed hostage Segev Kalfon announced a US Chabad House tour to share his captivity account, describing abuse endured and his resolve to shout Shema Yisrael on stage, a journey organized by Merkos 302. A 150-year-old bottle found in Alta, Utah may contain alcoholic apple cider, dating to 1870–1890, and was found at a former mining site before being sent to High West Distillery for examination. The long-lost luxury steamer Lac La Belle, built in 1864, has been found in Lake Michigan after years of searching; the vessel sank in 1872 near Milwaukee with 53 people aboard, eight of whom died, carrying cargo including barley, flour, pork, and whiskey.

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/international/article-887686
https://www.al-monitor.com/originals/2026/02/trump-denies-top-us-officer-warned-iran-strike-risks
https://t.me/selena_updates/55734
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887664
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/69139
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288403
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1288401
https://www.jpost.com/business-and-innovation/tech-and-start-ups/article-887666
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-887658
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887265
https://www.jpost.com/archaeology/article-887675
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-887647