Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-13 at 18:05 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-13 at 18:05

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-13 at 18:05

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 HEADLINESIsrael kills Hamas weapons chief Raad SaadPalmyra ISIS ambush kills two US soldiersLebanon Yanouh evacuated ahead of Hezbollah strikeThe time is now 1:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Israeli and allied officials announced the elimination of Raad Saad, described by Prime Minister Netanyahu and Defense Minister Katz as a senior Hamas weapons operative who helped lead the organization’s buildup ahead of and after the October 7, 2023 attacks. The strike was described by Israel as a response to Hamas activities involving weapons production and a broader rearmament effort. In Gaza, Palestinian civil defense teams and medical sources reported casualties amid subsequent coverage of strikes in the Tel al-Hawa district southwest of Gaza City, with five people killed and more than 25 injured according to hospital officials. Israeli authorities did not immediately confirm whether the Tel al-Hawa strike and the Saad operation were the same targeting, but both episodes highlight a continuing exchange of fire and targeted removals within Gaza amid a fragile ceasefire.In Lebanon, the Israeli military issued evacuation warnings to residents of the southern town of Yanouh ahead of planned airstrikes on Hezbollah infrastructure. After the Lebanese army, acting with UNIFIL under a ceasefire mechanism, inspected an identified site, the strike was postponed. Israel said the decision followed a request from the Lebanese side to address the violation through the mechanism, and linked the actions to Hezbollah’s attempts to rebuild capabilities in southern Lebanon. UNIFIL and Lebanese military units were observed at the site as part of the inspection and deconfliction process. The broader backdrop remains a tense pause in a long-running exchange of strikes, with Beirut pressing for assurances that state facilities and personnel will remain out of reach of conflict spillover.Across the region, US forces in Syria faced a deadly confrontation when an ambush near Palmyra killed two US Army soldiers and an American military interpreter, with three other US service members wounded. The Pentagon attributed the attack to an ambush by a lone ISIS gunman; the assailant was killed by partner forces accompanying the patrol. The incident occurred during a joint US-Syrian operation in the Palmyra area, not far from the Al-Tanf garrison, and comes as the United States maintains a reduced footprint while pursuing counterterrorism goals with Damascus-aligned forces. CENTCOM is continuing its investigation, and officials have underscored that operations in the region remain sensitive given the regional balance of power and the precarious stability after years of conflict.Shipping and security developments outside the immediate Gaza-Lebanon-Syria theater also drew attention. Ukraine said a Russian drone attack struck a civilian Turkish vessel named Viva, carrying 11 Turkish citizens. The navy reported that no one was injured and the Viva continued its voyage toward Egypt. The incident underscores how broader regional tensions and sporadic hostilities can affect maritime routes and civilian crews in and around the eastern Mediterranean.Iran’s capabilities in ballistic missiles were the subject of renewed commentary, with experts noting that while Iran’s nuclear program faces international pressures and scrutiny, its missile arsenal has historically demonstrated resilience to damage in other components of its deterrent. Israeli officials reiterated warnings about Iran’s ballistic missile program and its potential to alter the regional security calculus, particularly if Tehran seeks to expand its reach or if external pressures shift calculations in Tehran’s favor.In domestic political developments, Israel’s attorney general signaled she would not defend Prime Minister Netanyahu in the High Court if he refuses to remove National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir from police oversight if such interference is shown to compromise police independence. The statement reflects ongoing debates inside Israel about cabinet-level influence over security and law enforcement, as legal challenges play out against the backdrop of a volatile security environment and ongoing security commitments in Gaza and the north.Separately, broader regional reporting continues to reflect a mix of diplomacy and deterrence. Lebanese authorities and regional actors are balancing warnings of potential wider operations against Hezbollah with ongoing diplomacy aimed at staving off escalations that could draw in regional powers. The ceasefire framework, enforced monitoring, and the role of UNIFIL remain central to these calculations as both sides accuse each other of violations and as third-party mediators press for restraint.Looking at the overall picture, the past 24 hours have featured a series of high-profile, targeted actions and pauses: the killing of a top Hamas weapons official in Gaza, parallel Gaza...
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