HEADLINES
- US blocks Iranian ships; twenty pass toll-free
- IDF uncovers anti-tank launcher, strikes Hezbollah
- Iron Dome funding divides Washington lawmakers

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

In US Military Role, the US maritime blockade of Iranian ports is in full effect. Reports say more than a dozen Iranian ships returning to Iran were stopped and turned around by the US Navy yesterday. Separately, Americans permitted about 20 commercial vessels to pass through the Strait of Hormuz without paying tolls to Iran.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israeli forces say they uncovered an anti-tank launcher aimed at northern Israel during operations in southern Lebanon, and carried out strikes on Hezbollah targets and infrastructure. The soldiers from the 8th Brigade of the 91st Division found a weapons cache that included anti-tank missiles, explosive devices, grenades, ammunition and other equipment believed used by Hezbollah to plan attacks on Israeli civilians and IDF troops. In parallel, the IDF said that, working with the Israel Air Force, it struck multiple Hezbollah positions, including a command center with a terrorist operative present at the time of the strike, and it pledged to continue operations against Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon. The operations come as Israeli and Lebanese officials engage in direct talks in Washington aiming to advance a potential agreement between the two countries. Since early morning, over 20 rockets have been fired toward northern Israel by Hezbollah terrorists from Lebanon. Meanwhile, the maritime blockade of Iran’s ports continues, with US destroyers stopping Iranian ships and ordering them to turn back, a CENTCOM commander saying the move has halted Iran’s economic trade from the sea.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Iron Dome funding debate is shifting in unexpected ways as support in Washington becomes more fractured. A growing chorus of progressives has spoken against continued American funding for the system, arguing that it has emboldened Israel in its actions. Figures such as Jeremy Ben-Ami of J Street, Representatives Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Ro Khanna, and Brad Lander have opposed future budget earmarks for Israel’s defense systems, and groups like the Democratic Socialists of America and Jewish Voice for Peace have argued against funding or called for limits on defensive aid. In a separate assessment, Steve Miller, the former Trump White House deputy chief of staff for policy and national security, described the Trump administration’s approach to the Iran situation as a strategic chess move. He said the president had placed Iran in a corner and was reshaping the balance of power for the coming century, arguing that whichever path Iran chooses—whether a deal or a choke through sanctions—the United States would prevail, with new energy routes and supply chains forming and America driving the global economy while Iran recedes to a marginal role.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, dozens of bereaved families from the Forum HaGvura sent a letter to Prime Minister Netanyahu urging a continued effort to decisively defeat Hamas in light of the failures of international attempts at mediation. The letter warns that relying on international actors or any negotiated agreements is doomed to fail and argues that only the Israeli military, the IDF, can remove the threat.

In Uplifting News, KKL-JNF unveiled a collection of photographs documenting the early years of the Forest of the Martyrs, a living memorial near Jerusalem to the six million Jews killed in the Holocaust. The forest spans about 18,000 dunams (roughly 4,500 acres) and was established in 1946 with support from B’nai B’rith, with world Jewish communities, Holocaust survivors, and new immigrants helping plant the trees. KKL-JNF Chairman Eyal Ostrinsky said the Forest of the Martyrs is more than a memorial site; it is a living testament to the triumph of the Jewish and Zionist spirit, a place where planting life replaced attempts to erase a people. He noted that the six million trees symbolize continuity, strength, and the renewal of the Jewish people, and he underscored a commitment to remember while continuing to grow and build the future.

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://t.me/ILtoday/18699
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-893034
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/8095
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-893019
https://t.me/abualiexpress/120370
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1310107
https://t.me/newssil/199150
https://www.jpost.com/history/article-893021