Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-11 at 17:10 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-11 at 17:10

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-11 at 17:10

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 HEADLINESIran Protests Hundreds Dead Internet CutHamas Sets Board of Peace for GazaIDF Strikes Hit Hezbollah as Tensions EscalateThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good afternoon. This is a global news update on a shifting Middle East landscape and related developments. In Iran, demonstrations have stretched into a second week plus, with rights groups reporting hundreds of deaths and thousands detained as authorities move to shut down parts of the internet and restrict information. Protests began over economic hardship and expanded into a broader challenge to the Islamic Republic’s governance, drawing sharp responses from security forces and government officials. Iranian authorities have sought to present the domestic situation as under control while signaling there will be no external surrender to pressure or intimidation. Independent observers caution that the gap between the regime’s public posture and the on‑the‑ground reality remains wide, as protesters persist and international attention grows.Diplomatically, Tehran has avoided overt requests for outside military help, instead emphasizing sovereignty and non‑interference. In recent days Iran’s foreign minister, Hossein Amirabdollahian, or as reported in various outlets, Abd al-Abbas Araghchi, undertook visits abroad including Lebanon and Oman. In Beirut, Iran’s messaging stressed independence and unity, with Lebanese officials stressing non‑interference and mutual respect in relations, even as Hezbollah and other actors complicate regional dynamics. Araghchi underscored Iran’s position that internal matters of sovereign states should be decided by their people, and called for dialogue to resolve regional conflicts rather than external manipulation. Tehran also warned other countries not to meddle in its internal affairs, a refrain tied to concerns over US policy signals and potential regional spillovers, including actions in Yemen and elsewhere. At home, Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf signaled a tougher line, denouncing the protests as a “fabricated terrorist war” and warning of consequences for external aggression. In Ankara, Turkey has voiced apprehension about a potential political opening in Iran and its implications for regional stability, while Turkish protests outside the Iranian consulate in Istanbul were blocked by police, illustrating the tense cross‑border sensitivities.The numbers surrounding the Iranian demonstrations vary by source, reflecting the chaos in reporting. A Norway‑based rights group cites more than 500 fatalities in the protests, with thousands detained. Turkish and Iranian outlets have reported smaller tallies, including hundreds of deaths and large numbers of detentions. Independent monitoring underscores the difficulty of obtaining reliable figures as authorities restrict access and jam or throttle information channels. In parallel, Tehran has kept up a high‑level diplomatic cadence, presenting a calibrated image of normalcy abroad while confronting domestic unrest at home.Across the region, Iran’s neighbors watch closely. Turkey has expressed concern that upheaval in Iran could inspire its own citizens, and Ankara has domestic media reporting on the protests and the potential for broader regional impact. In the Gulf, Oman’s foreign minister met with Iran’s leadership in Tehran, signaling an interest in stabilizing channels even amid tense lines of conflict elsewhere. The broader message from Iranian officials remains that external interference will not be accepted, and that regional dialogues should proceed among local actors.In Gaza, Hamas has begun implementing a plan to shift governance with the creation of a Board of Peace that would oversee a technocratic Palestinian government, contingent on Palestinian consent and Israel’s vetting framework. The plan, described in Hamas‑run media, envisions a government formed by figures elected by Palestinians and approved after scrutiny by Israeli and international partners, with the aim of contributing to stability and reconciliation after fighting in Gaza. Israel’s prime minister has publicly pressed for disarmament and demilitarization of the Gaza Strip in line with a broader framework, including a set of conditions tied to the so‑called 20‑point plan associated with former US initiatives. In discussions with former UN envoy Nickolay Mladenov, who is poised to helm the Board of Peace, regional actors have discussed phased steps to address security and political arrangements in Gaza. Reuters reported that the composition of the board could be announced this week, signaling a potential shift in how governing authority in Gaza is framed, even as Israel maintains a firm stance on security and demilitarization.In another strand of policy and diplomacy, Washington’s relationship with Havana and Caracas drew renewed attention. President Donald Trump ...
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