Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-26 at 17:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-26 at 17:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-11-26 at 17:06

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 HEADLINESIsrael Launches Five Stones West Bank PushHamas Reasserts Gaza Control Resumes CheckpointsTurkey Bets 6.5B on Steel DomeThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the noon update. In the most immediate security developments, Israeli forces conducted a broad operational push overnight in the northern West Bank, deploying multiple combat brigades in what authorities described as an integrated counterterrorism campaign code-named Five Stones. The operation, conducted by troops from the Kfir, Shomron, and Menashe divisions with support from Shin Bet and border police, targeted the interior of the five villages and surrounding areas. Officials said the forces identified a terrorist command post, located cameras, and confiscated funds tied to illicit activity. The operation continues, with military and security officials signaling that further steps will follow aimed at disrupting terrorist networks and deterrence in the area.On the domestic front, the government faces a legal deadline tied to conscription policy. The Attorney General informed Prime Minister Netanyahu that the government must implement criminal and economic sanctions against draft evaders within the next 45 days, a move designed to reinforce mandatory service rules and related consequences for noncompliance.In the Negev, a tense exchange unfolded in Tel Sheva between far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben Gvir and residents following a deadly shooting. The minister stressed enforcement measures as part of a broader crime-fighting effort, while residents challenged the approach and highlighted concerns over demolitions and equality in the Bedouin community. The confrontation, captured on video, underscored ongoing friction over security policy and the treatment of Arab communities within Israel’s borders. Local authorities reported that a strike had been declared in Tel Sheva after the shooting, which investigators say followed a dispute between rival families.Turning to the Gaza theater, Israel’s military briefings warned that Hamas appears to be reasserting some control in Gaza, including resumed checkpoint operations and revenue collection practices from truck drivers. The warning comes as Israel continues a broad security campaign across Gaza and the surrounding region, with officials stressing the objective of neutralizing immediate threats and maintaining pressure on militant networks.Across regional lines, analysis from a former US intelligence figure contends that Iran’s regime, while visibly strained by war and sanctions, remains determined to survive and would resort to lethal force to prevent upheaval if challenged. The assessment follows a pattern of reporting that emphasizes Tehran’s intent to persevere despite domestic and external pressures, shaping how regional actors interpret potential responses to any change in Iran’s posture.In the broader strategic arena, Turkey announced contracts totaling about $6.5 billion to bolster its Steel Dome air defense network, an integrated, multi-layered system intended to mirror elements of Israel’s Iron Dome. Turkish officials described the package as strengthening deterrence against aerial threats from multiple neighboring theaters, noting that the program will involve domestic production of key components and long-term development of space and detection capabilities. Ankara’s move reflects a continuing effort to expand Turkey’s defense industry and reduce reliance on external suppliers, even as regional tensions remain elevated.In a separate development reflecting the cultural and political dimension of the conflict, the debate over Israeli and Jewish perspectives continued to surface in international venues. A well-known commentator and writer facing boycotts and political pressure spoke at Tel Aviv University in an event linked to broader disagreements within the global Jewish and academic communities about Israel’s policies and actions in Gaza and the West Bank.Lebanon’s stage remains in the international spotlight as well, with Pope Leo XIV preparing for a three-day visit that includes a mass on Beirut’s waterfront and a youth meeting in Bkerke. The pilgrimage is being viewed as a moment of interfaith engagement amid Lebanon’s domestic and regional challenges, including the enduring impact of regional conflicts and the ongoing fragility of the country’s political and security environment. Lebanese officials and residents described the visit as a significant moment for morale and a potential signal of regional dialogue, even as concerns about wider flare-ups persist in a volatile neighborhood.On the political front in Israel, commentary and reportage continue to focus on governance and security architecture. A parliamentary vote on a measure to assist hostages and missing families drew opposition from some quarters, highlighting the difficult balance between security ...
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