Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 18:09 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 18:09

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 18:09

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 HEADLINESUS Heightens Readiness Refines Iran PlansIsrael's Hoshen Plan Modernizes Across FrontsSaudi UAE Rift Shifts Yemen FrontlinesThe time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Here is the hourly update.A United States official told a foreign broadcaster that American forces deployed in the Middle East are in a heightened state of readiness for any contingency and that options for potential action against Iran are being refined to fit evolving circumstances. The official stressed that any plan would be tailored to developments on the ground, and insisted that American forces are prepared to defend themselves and American interests if the situation demands it. The remarks followed an earlier exchange between Iran’s foreign minister and the United States special envoy for the Middle East regarding ongoing protests in Iran, and as Washington debates how to respond to Tehran’s moves in the region. President Donald Trump has indicated a willingness to negotiate a new nuclear deal with Iran, while not ruling out acting before any proposed meeting with Tehran. Iranian protests across the country have entered a third week, with a rights group reporting a toll that has surpassed five hundred deaths and extended arrests into the thousands. The same group notes a number of deaths among security personnel and others, and continues to investigate hundreds more cases. The United Nations secretary general said he is shocked by the violence used against protesters, while a leading Iranian opposition figure described the protests as entering a new phase.In Israel, archaeologists announced a major national project aimed at tracing the origin of thousands of ancient pottery vessels. The Israel Antiquities Authority, in collaboration with Tel Aviv University, plans to build a database that will identify the original kilns responsible for pottery found at sites across the country, even when the kilns themselves have disappeared. The work relies on advanced methods to characterize mineral and chemical signatures in ceramic samples, forming a kind of genetic fingerprint for production sites. Researchers say this atlas will illuminate ancient trade routes, cultural connections, and economic networks, helping scholars understand how materials moved and how communities interacted in antiquity. The effort is described as a long-term infrastructure project intended to support research across periods, with implications for broader historical questions about provenance and exchange.Across the Atlantic, British Jewish leaders emphasized that new guidance under discussion in London is intended to address circumcision carried out under inappropriate conditions, not to label the practice itself as child abuse. The guidance reportedly described certain harsh or unsanitary practices as potential offenses, while community leaders stressed that circumcision in the United Kingdom is tightly regulated and performed only by qualified professionals with parental consent. They called for a possible national accreditation scheme to ensure safety and infection-control standards, while stressing that thousands of Jewish and Muslim communities maintain careful and regulated traditions. Several observers noted that the current debate centers on safeguarding children and public health while preserving religious practice, with some urging the government to proceed cautiously and to consult with faith communities.In Yemen, a widening rift among Gulf states has become evident after Saudi-led forces, backed by air power, reversed significant territorial gains by the southern transitional council allied with the United Arab Emirates. The STC had sought control of eastern provinces and had floated a referendum for renewed southern independence, but the Saudi-led coalition reestablished authority in key areas, including the port of Mukalla. The episode underscores a growing divergence between Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates over regional strategy and governance, a divergence that analysts say now shapes the balance of power on the ground in Yemen. Observers note that while the UAE has supported anti–Islamist and stabilization-oriented forces in some areas, Saudi Arabia has pursued closer alignment with other regional powers, including states aligned with a broader Sunni bloc. The outcome of these competing approaches could influence future steps against Iran’s partners and on the southern front of Yemen’s war, where control of strategic ports and resources remains a focal point.In a separate strategic development, Israel’s military leadership rolled out a five-year plan, named Hoshen, intended to revitalize and modernize the armed forces after more than two years of sustained conflict. The plan envisions a broad modernization of capabilities across land, air, and space domains, with a strong emphasis on intelligence, data, and artificial intelligence as force multipliers. It...
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