HEADLINES
Dark Eagle poised for Middle East debut
Twelve IDF soldiers wounded by Hezbollah drone
PA pays terrorists despite Taylor Force Act

The time is now 7:37 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In US Military Role, US Central Command has requested approval to deploy the “Dark Eagle” long-range hypersonic missile to the Middle East, aiming to target Iranian ballistic missile launchers that are now beyond the reach of current US systems. The missile has a range of about 1,725 miles and is designed for fast, precise strikes against heavily defended or time-sensitive targets. If approved, this would mark the first operational deployment of the system, which is not yet fully declared ready. Each missile costs roughly $15 million, and only a limited number are available.

In Regional Impacts, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun condemned the continuing Israeli violations in south Lebanon, saying they were occurring despite the ceasefire, including demolitions of homes and places of worship, while the number of killed and wounded rises day after day. He added that pressure must be exerted on Israel to ensure it respects international laws and conventions and ceases targeting civilians, paramedics, civil defence, and humanitarian health and relief organisations. At the same time, the Turkish president-designate of the United Nations COP31 climate conference told a meeting at the International Energy Agency in Paris that the global energy economy must transform and accelerate the transition to clean energy, warning that the energy paradigm must shift. IEA chief Fatih Birol said the world is facing a major energy and economic challenge as oil prices have surged in the wake of the war in the Middle East. Separately, Israeli forces warned residents of eight Lebanese towns outside the buffer zone to evacuate ahead of strikes as clashes persist despite the ceasefire.

In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, twelve IDF soldiers were wounded in a Hezbollah explosive drone strike on an armored vehicle near the northern community of Shomera, with two soldiers moderately wounded and ten lightly wounded as a fire erupted and ammunition reportedly exploded. Earlier, the IDF said it launched an interceptor at a suspicious aerial target over southern Lebanon, with most targets intercepted and the results of the remaining targets under review. In response, IDF troops and the Israel Air Force killed five Hezbollah terrorists operating near Israeli forces in southern Lebanon, and began striking Hezbollah infrastructure in the area. Hezbollah claimed to have shot down an Israeli UAV with a surface-to-air missile. In Mount Dov, troops from the Alpinist Unit, under the 810th Brigade, along with Yahalom Unit, dismantled several Hezbollah staging positions and missile launch sites. Earlier, yesterday, forces eliminated five Hezbollah operatives near IDF forces in southern Lebanon, and Hezbollah launched several explosive drones toward IDF forces south of the Front Defense Line, with the drones landing near Israeli forces but causing no casualties. A Hezbollah drone strike also caused damage near the northern Israel border town of Shomera, with no reported injuries.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the Palestinian Authority continues to pay terrorists and their families, despite promises to end pay-for-slay programs, the US State Department informed Congress last month. Under the Taylor Force Act of 2018, Washington cannot offer economic aid to Ramallah until those payments end. A total of $156 million was paid out to the families, including $126 million to Palestinian terrorists and $30 million to the families of Palestinian terrorists who died carrying out their attacks. The State Department said the PA continues to provide a system of compensation in support of terrorism through new mechanisms and under a different name, even after Mahmoud Abbas legislated changes to the West Bank welfare system intended to shift payments to a needs-based model.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, the post titled The state of affairs in the UK. Jews MUST leave as soon as they can. It will only get worse" is circulating, asserting that Jews should depart the United Kingdom immediately and warning that conditions will deteriorate.

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
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