Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-23 at 17:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-23 at 17:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-23 at 17:08

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 HEADLINESBeirut strike hits Hezbollah chief of staff27% of Israelis consider leaving countryUS designates Muslim Brotherhood as terroristThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Here is the hourly update on the Middle East, with a focus on Israeli security concerns and the broader regional context for an international audience.In Beirut, an Israeli air strike targeted Hezbollah’s leadership, hitting an apartment in the Dahiyeh district of Beirut’s southern suburbs. Lebanese authorities reported casualties, with five people killed and 28 wounded, and rescue workers scouring the rubble. Israel’s government said the target was Hezbollah’s chief of staff, Haytham Ali Tabatabai, a senior figure described by Israeli officials as instrumental in coordinating the group’s military buildup. The attack, described by the Israeli prime minister’s office as a measure to prevent Hezbollah from rearming, followed heightened tensions after a period of restraint under a long-running, fragile ceasefire. Hezbollah acknowledged that a senior commander had been targeted and warned about the potential for further moves, while Lebanese authorities urged the international community to intervene to stop the attacks on Lebanon and its people.US officials said Washington was not given advance notice of the Beirut strike, though they had been briefed in recent days that Israel planned escalations on multiple fronts. A senior American official indicated that while the United States anticipated a broader push, it did not know the timing, location, or target in advance. The United States has designated Hezbollah as a terrorist organization and has reiterated support for Lebanon’s sovereignty and for steps to curb Hezbollah’s activities. The strike and the broader exchange of fire underscore the volatility on Israel’s northern front and the risk of spillover beyond Lebanon’s borders.Israel’s leadership emphasized a steady, forceful posture. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office stated that Israel is “determined to act to achieve its objectives everywhere and at all times.” Defense Minister Israel Katz reinforced the message with a stark warning: “Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have his hand cut off,” adding that Israel will continue its policy of maximum enforcement in Lebanon and beyond. In Beirut, Hezbollah’s leadership called for calm but signaled that the organization would assess the situation and respond in due course, highlighting the red line Israel’s actions are being framed against and the risk of a broader confrontation.The incident comes as Israel and Hezbollah remain at a high state of alert after more than a year of fighting linked to the Gaza war and wider regional tensions. Israeli officials have long argued that Hezbollah seeks to rebuild its capabilities and reassert a threat along Israel’s northern border, a goal they say will be countered with ongoing operations as needed. Lebanon’s president, Joseph Aoun, condemned the attack and called on the international community to intervene decisively to stop the assaults on Lebanon and its people.On the ground and in the region, the broader strategic context remains complex. Hezbollah’s deputy head of its political council said the strike crossed a red line and warned that it would lead to escalation; Israeli and American officials, meanwhile, stress that any action is meant to deter threats and to constrain Hezbollah’s capacity to operate against Israel. The United States has previously designated Tabatabai as an international terrorist for activities in Syria and Yemen and had offered a reward for information about him, underscoring the high level of attention the strike has drawn from Washington.Domestically in Israel, security concerns continue to color policy and public life as the war with Hamas unfolds across multiple fronts. A new study by the Israel Democracy Institute found that about 27 percent of Israelis are contemplating leaving the country, a figure higher among Arab Israelis (30 percent) than Jewish Israelis (26 percent). The survey, conducted after months of multi-front fighting, points to concerns over security, the cost of living, and political stability as key drivers of potential emigration. The most common destination among those considering departure is the European Union. The findings illuminate a domestic landscape in which security threats, economic pressures, and questions about the future shape public sentiment, even as many cite a desire to stay near family as a major reason to remain.In the broader US-led policy frame, Washington’s approach to regional security remains anchored in deterrence and alliance-building, with ongoing assessments of how to balance pressure on Iran-aligned groups with regional stability. On a separate foreign policy thread, the United States is moving to designate the Muslim Brotherhood as a...
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