Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-11 at 12:06 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-11 at 12:06

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-11 at 12:06

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 HEADLINESIran Protests Enter Second Week, Toll MountsUS Weighs Strike as Iran Turmoil DeepensTurkey Poised to Join Saudi-Pak Defense PactThe time is now 7:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good morning. Here is your hourly update on the Middle East and related global developments.Iran’s protests have entered a second week as security forces intensify actions across the country. Authorities say the crackdown continues as demonstrators press their case over the death of protesters in recent weeks. Observers inside and outside Iran describe ongoing arrests and the use of force, with the toll of casualties remaining a central, contested question because the regime tightly controls information. A Time magazine interview with a Tehran-based doctor cited by Iranian exile sources reports at least 217 killed protesters in Tehran alone, underscoring the high human cost accompanying the political challenge to the regime. Across roughly 120 cities and towns, demonstrators have remained visible in organized dissent, even as the regime seeks to restore order.In Washington, the posture toward Iran remains guarded and cautious. Analysts describe a persistent tension between threatening rhetoric and hesitancy to engage in a broad confrontation. A recurring framework cited by observers is the contrast between “Fordow Trump” and “TACO Trump”—a shorthand for a President who acts decisively under favorable conditions versus one who has shown volatility and restraint when the stakes rise. In the background is a history of targeted actions, including a high-profile strike on the Fordow facility in Iran that was preceded by an Israeli operation, framed at the time as limited and designed to degrade specific capabilities. Current reporting notes that while senior officials have discussed options, a final decision to strike has not been publicly announced, and the Pentagon has signaled that any plan would require careful buildup and planning. The United States maintains a broad network of bases in the region and a carrier strike capability, underscoring that a major operation would entail a substantial military footprint and a careful assessment of Iranian retaliation risks.Israel’s leadership has stressed sympathy for Iranian protesters and cautioned that unrest could affect regional stability. Prime Minister Netanyahu has publicly voiced support for those opposing the regime and said that the future relationship between Israel and Iran could improve if Iran redirects from its current course. Israeli and American intelligence officials emphasize that there is no clear sign of an imminent collapse within Tehran’s inner circle or hierarchy. Nonetheless, analysts note that changes in the regime’s calculus could occur if street demonstrations widen, if some elites or senior security personnel reconsider loyalties, or if perceived US backing becomes a factor in decision-making. In that context, Tehran’s leadership continues to emphasize deterrence while signaling readiness to respond to external moves that it perceives as threats.Iranian leadership has escalated rhetoric. Iranian Parliament Speaker Mohammad Bagher Ghalibaf warned that the regime could strike US and Israeli targets if Washington or Jerusalem take actions against Tehran, illustrating the risk of miscalculation as protests continue and Tehran seeks to project resolve.Regional diplomacy continues to shift. Bloomberg reported that Turkey is very likely to join the Saudi Arabia–Pakistan mutual defense pact formed in response to regional security concerns. Ankara would add a strategic layer to an arrangement that already involves concerns about Iran and regional security, while NATO considerations complicate the picture. Turkey hosts US and Israeli interests within a tense but significant relationship, and any alignment shift could affect coordination on issues from Syria to the Gaza theater.Humanitarian and governance dimensions also press on the region. UNRWA disclosed a dire funding shortfall that has forced the agency to remove hundreds of Gazan staff who had left the territory earlier in the war but remained on payroll until last March. The agency emphasized that it still employs thousands inside Gaza and elsewhere, but the financial squeeze risks undermining aid and reconstruction efforts. Israel has argued that some UNRWA facilities have become points of contention in the broader dispute over Gaza, a stance that donors and international bodies continue to weigh against calls for sustained humanitarian relief.In a diplomatic development outside the theatre of conflict, Samoa announced plans to open an embassy in Jerusalem in 2026, expanding ties with Israel and signaling growing recognition of Jerusalem as a capital for international engagement. The move follows years of cooperation and is part of a broader pattern of states expanding their diplomatic footprint with Israel.Within Israel’s ...
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