HEADLINES
Maduro Capture Bet Scandal Hits U.S. Forces
Lebanon Israel Ceasefire Extended Three Weeks
Jerusalem Rioter Arrested for Swastika Flag Assault

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, authorities report a development in the operation to capture Nicolás Maduro. A US Special Forces Soldier involved in Operation Absolute Resolve, the January capture of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, has been arrested by federal agents and charged for allegedly betting on the operation via the Polymarket prediction market, netting him about $400,000 in profits. The Soldier, Master Sergeant Gannon Ken Van Dyke, an active-duty senior enlisted servicemember stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, opened an account in late December and placed 13 bets totaling roughly $33,034 from December 27, 2025, through the evening of January 2, some just hours before the overnight operation. Federal authorities say Van Dyke participated in the planning and execution of the mission and he faces charges including unlawful use of confidential government information for personal gain, theft of nonpublic government information, commodities fraud, wire fraud, and making an unlawful monetary transaction.

In Regional Impacts, two men in their 40s were killed in a car crash on Highway 60 near the Rehalim junction in the West Bank; seven Palestinians were lightly injured and transported by the Red Crescent to areas under Palestinian Authority control. Separately, a 58-year-old man died in Dalit al-Karmel and investigators opened a murder probe. In another incident, a Pizza Hut worker was stabbed to death after admonishing youths who were spraying snow on Independence Day. Security officials warn that while attention centers on Lebanon, Iran and Gaza could be poised for another cycle of violence; the IDF has indicated Iran, Lebanon, and Gaza are on the cusp of renewed exchanges, with some voices cautioning that the danger may lie elsewhere beyond Lebanon.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, US President Donald J. Trump said that during today’s meeting with Israeli and Lebanese officials it was decided that the ceasefire, not to be confused with the US-Iran ceasefire, will be extended for three weeks. President Trump, Vice President JD Vance, Secretary of State Marco Rubio, Ambassador to Israel Mike Huckabee, and Ambassador to Lebanon Michel Issa met with Israeli and Lebanese officials on the last day before the ceasefire in Lebanon was set to expire. The president also said he hopes to host both Israeli President Benjamin Netanyahu and Lebanese President Joseph Aoun at the White House in the near future. Minutes before the meeting began, both Hezbollah and Israel exchanged strikes.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Israel Police arrested a Jerusalem rioter who assaulted an officer and waved an Israeli flag with a swastika. The suspect also spat on the officer and attempted to flee before being taken to the police station for questioning, as riot-disperse measures were used to restore order.

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/DefenderDome/20456
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/rkwayxu611e
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1313334
https://t.me/DefenderDome/20455
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-894033