HEADLINES
Syria accuses Hezbollah cells of border plots
Eliana Israeli soldier's wife endures 400 days
Terrell leads DOJ task force against antisemitism

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, Syrian authorities have accused Hezbollah-linked cells of plotting attacks inside Syria and across its borders, marking a striking turn in the relationship between Damascus and a group that helped prop up Bashar al-Assad during the civil war. The accusations, issued in successive security statements, describe arrests and seizures of weapons and explosives in Damascus and its surroundings, and say that plots involving rocket launches, drones, and assassination attempts have been foiled. Officials say some of the cells received training abroad, highlighting ongoing tensions as Damascus, now in control after Assad’s fall, seeks to reassert sovereignty and curb foreign-backed armed networks. The statements invite broader questions about the future of ties with a former key ally that helped sustain the regime before its collapse and the president’s departure to Moscow on December 8, 2024.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, the first piece in a series titled “HER” profiles Eliana, a wife of an Israeli soldier. She describes managing a household, a career, and three young children while her husband X has been deployed intermittently since Hamas’s invasion in 2023, a stretch that has kept him away for more than 400 days. The wars have fundamentally changed how she sees herself and her capabilities, and she has drawn on inner strength and community to keep things together. Even as she stays hopeful, she speaks of anxiety that comes with long separations; she recalls a moment in 2023 when she learned a message about his status, and the family later saw him return home unharmed.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Leo Terrell’s civil rights roots fuel his fight against antisemitism. Terrell is senior counsel to the assistant attorney general for the Civil Rights Division of the Department of Justice and leads a federal task force targeting threats to the Jewish community. He describes his background as a “child of the sixties,” growing up in a multicultural environment in Los Angeles where his parents’ home welcomed people of all faiths, and where Jewish professionals were part of his extended circle. He says his schools were integrated and he experienced racism, experiences that helped shape his lifelong commitment to equal rights and to combating prejudice, including antisemitism.

In Uplifting News, two notes of beauty from the sky and the land. A passenger aboard a flight shared a beautiful view of Lake Tahoe right before a bumpy landing, a reminder of the region’s striking scenery. Later, another traveler described flying over the Sierra Nevada range as extraordinarily beautiful, underscoring the simple, uplifting moments that accompany travel.

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/middle-east/article-894086
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-894021
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-893820
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75501
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/75500