HEADLINES
Israel readies deadly new clash with Iran
Hezbollah tunnel found 25 meters underground
Trump wins Israel's top civilian prize

The time is now 4:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In Operation Lion's Roar, Israel is prepared to renew the war against Iran, awaiting the green light from the United States to complete the elimination of the Khamenei dynasty, according to Defense Minister Israel Katz. He said the IDF is prepared for both defense and attack, and the targets are marked. He described Iran as oppressing its people through the Revolutionary Guards and the Basij, accused it of energy extortion by threatening higher oil prices, and said its leaders hide in tunnels and have trouble communicating. He compared Iran to Hamas and Hezbollah, saying the country does not care about the heavy prices paid by the population. Katz described future IDF attacks as "different and deadly," stating that the military would proceed once authorized.

In Regional Impacts, a Russian strike fell near the home of Dnipro Jewish Community director Zelig Brez, lightly wounding his child. The child is recovering, but the Jewish community and Dnipro’s residents have endured an unrelenting barrage of Russian drones and missiles over the past week. The Federation of Jewish Communities of Ukraine says bombardment has intensified in recent weeks, causing casualties. A drone strike in Zaporizhzhia last Thursday damaged the JDC Hesed Michael building, including the entrance gate, some windows, and cars; no one was injured due to safety protocols, and Hesed resumed operations the next day. The trauma center invited people to address mental health issues.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, IDF combat teams in southern Lebanon uncovered a Hezbollah stronghold 25 meters underground inside a clothing store. The underground site was used by Hezbollah operatives to manage combat activity and store weapons, and contained weapons and several rooms. The operation was carried out by the 769th Brigade Combat Team under the 91st Division, as part of ongoing efforts to expose and destroy terrorist infrastructure in the area. The statement did not specify when the tunnel was built or how long the facility had been in use.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US President Donald Trump officially became the first non-Israeli to receive Israel's top civilian prize. Netanyahu announced the decision after meeting with Trump at Mar-a-Lago in December, and the Education Minister extended the invitation officially in early February. Trump did not attend the ceremony, though a video played at the ceremony showed him meeting with Netanyahu.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, Avi Dabush, executive director of the Rabbis for Human Rights, announced he will run for a spot on the Democrats Party slate ahead of the party’s primaries. The left-wing Democrats Party is composed of the Labor and Meretz parties, which merged in 2024. Dabush is expected to run for one of the reserved Meretz slots on the party’s list. Dabush is a resident of Kibbutz Nirim in southern Israel, near the Gaza border, and heads a periphery-focused initiative alongside MK Naama Lazimi. He has led anti-government protests and spent more than 30 hours in shelters during the October 7 attacks; he was evacuated from his home for nearly two years before returning to the kibbutz this past August. He said he sees what happens when a government chooses Kahanism and Jewish terror over real peace, and that Israel’s geographic and social peripheries are his home.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the Mamdani office has no definition of antisemitism after dropping IHRA, czar confirms. New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani’s office says there is no codified definition for antisemitism and has no plan to introduce one. Phylisa Wisdom, executive director of the Mayor’s Office to Combat Antisemitism, told the Task Force to Combat Antisemitism’s hearing that MOCA coordinates non-law-enforcement responses to antisemitic incidents, liaises with the Jewish community, law enforcement, and other agencies, and works to improve reporting and victim services. The office is still hiring staff, and Wisdom noted the administration will continue without a codified definition of hate, though MOCA may pursue a statute in the future.

In Uplifting News, Peter Beinart’s Being Jewish After the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning has won the 2026 PEN America Literary Award for nonfiction. Beinart, a longtime critic of Israel and editor-at-large of Jewish Currents, argues that the American Jewish community must reckon with its relationship to Israel and the war in Gaza. Judges said the book offers a model for writing a new story when inherited narratives no longer hold, reflecting a shift in PEN America’s approach to 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
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-894002
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-894013
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-893998
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-894010
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-894016
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894020
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-894012