Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-18 at 16:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-18 at 16:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-12-18 at 16:07

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 HEADLINES- ISIS Praises Sydney Bondi Beach Attack- Israel Captures Hezbollah Operative The Captain- Israel-Germany Arrow-3 Pact Tops $6.7BThe time is now 11:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Today’s hourly update covers cross-border security developments, regional politics, and notable shifts in technology and policy that shape the Middle East and its global context.The Islamic State issued praise for the Bondi Beach attack in Sydney, calling the incident a source of pride, while avoiding a direct claim of responsibility. The attack targeted a Hanukkah gathering and killed 15 people, with authorities continuing to investigate possible links and motives. In the wake of the violence, Iranians who identify as Jewish or who express support for Israel surfaced on social media to express sympathy and solidarity, highlighting a narrative of people-to-people ties that persists even amid a regional climate marked by conflict and scrutiny of state actions.In broader geopolitical tremors, Russia warned that US moves concerning Venezuela could have fatal consequences, signaling potential escalation as Washington seeks to apply diplomatic and economic pressure on President Nicolás Maduro. The United States, meanwhile, moved to tighten its leverage by ordering a blockade of all sanctioned oil tankers transiting into and out of Venezuela, a maneuver aimed at constraining Maduro’s regime and shaping regional energy dynamics.On the security front in the Middle East, Israel announced actions connected to a weapons-smuggling investigation. Defense Minister Israel Katz signed an order approving administrative detention for a suspect in the South, reflecting ongoing concerns about illicit networks and the potential for weapons to reach unstable theaters. In related defense procurement news, Israel and Germany formalized an expansion of a major defense collaboration around the Arrow 3 missile defense system, a deal valued at about 3.1 billion dollars in additional procurement, with the total package expected to exceed 6.7 billion dollars, a figure that would mark a historic milestone for Israel’s defense industry and German-Israeli security cooperation.Trends in international law and policy also featured prominently this hour. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced personal sanctions against two judges at the International Criminal Court for pursuing investigations of Israeli nationals without Israeli consent, noting that the United States and Israel are not ICC members. The move underscores Washington’s stance on ICC actions related to Israelis and reflects a broader US approach to international adjudication in matters touching Israel’s security and sovereignty.In a high-profile security operation with long-term implications, Israeli Naval Intelligence and the elite Shayetet 13 conducted an operation in Lebanon to abduct a Hezbollah operative codenamed Imad Amhaz, described by Israeli officials as “The Captain.” The operation, conducted under close coordination and reportedly approved at the highest levels, sought to disrupt a covert Hezbollah project known as the “Secret Naval File.” Intelligence officials outlined how Amhaz, a trained maritime professional with Hezbollah ties, was positioned to become the captain of a civilian vessel that could be converted into a strategic terror platform. The team assembled a rapid raid that resulted in Amhaz’s capture and transfer to Israeli custody, where interrogations produced new details about Hezbollah leadership and the organization’s pursuit of a maritime capability. Officials emphasized that the capture is not an isolated event but part of ongoing surveillance and pursuit of hidden programs linked to regional threats. While Lebanon has lodged formal protests, Israeli officials highlighted the operational significance of uncovering and countering a potential threat to regional stability and to Israel’s security landscape.Turning to the technology sector, Nvidia announced plans to establish a large, multibillion-shekel research and development campus in the northern town of Kiryat Tivon, about a half-hour from Haifa. The project envisions a 160,000-square-meter campus designed to foster collaboration with startups and universities, featuring labs, collaboration spaces, and public destinations, with an estimated capacity of about 10,000 jobs in the region. Construction is slated to begin in 2027 and be completed by 2031, marking Nvidia’s eighth center in Israel and reinforcing the company’s position as a major driver of Israel’s tech ecosystem. Nvidia’s presence in Israel already spans several centers, and the new campus is expected to complement existing hubs in the Beersheba region and other cities, sustaining a robust role for Israel in the global AI and semiconductor supply chains.On the cultural and media front, there is continuing scrutiny of how conflicts and protests are framed. A ...
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