Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 10:05 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 10:05

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-12 at 10:05

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 HEADLINES- Iran opposition urges pre-1979 flag display- Hundreds dead, thousands jailed amid crackdown- Israel-Germany deepen cyber defense Arrow-3The time is now 5:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Iran’s anti-regime protests have entered a new phase on the sixteenth day, with opposition voices urging disciplined action inside the country and calls for Iranians abroad to press embassies to fly Iran’s historic flag rather than the Islamic Republic banner. Crown Prince Reza Pahlavi issued a sharply framed appeal, saying the regime has suffered heavy blows and urging security and state institutions to align with the people. He proposed that government employees and security forces choose sides, and he urged Iranian diplomatic missions overseas to display the flag used before the 1979 revolution, arguing those offices belong to the people, not to the regime. The message reflects a broader push among many in the opposition for a sustained, coordinated challenge to the authorities as demonstrations persist.In Tehran, the regime’s position remains that the situation is under total control, even as officials acknowledge a robust crackdown. Parliament Speaker Mohammad Baqer Qalibaf has described fighting across multiple fronts—economic, cognitive, military, and anti-terrorism—and has blamed the United States and Israel for attempts to destabilize the country following Iran’s latest protests. State media have broadcast pro-government rallies as demonstrations against the regime continue elsewhere, and ordinary Iranians report continuing internet disruption, government warnings by text messages to families, and statements from security bodies urging restraint and warning against participation in gatherings. Protest footage from several cities, including Tehran and Mashhad, has circulated online despite the access controls, and security forces have sought to prevent large gatherings as the unrest continues.The crackdown has taken a severe toll. Human rights observers estimate hundreds of deaths and thousands detained in the two weeks of protests, with figures cited by activists and monitoring groups indicating at least several hundred fatalities and more than 10,000 arrests. Videos and firsthand accounts from cities such as Mashhad and Kerman depict ongoing clashes with security forces, while some footage shows crowds at night using light and noise to express defiance. The authorities have also pressed a campaign of warnings to deter participation, including technical and informational measures designed to limit coordination among protesters and to slow the spread of demonstrations across the country.On the security front, Israel’s defense establishment is closely watching developments in Iran. An official statement from the Israeli military indicates continued monitoring of Iran’s activities, with a readiness to respond with power if necessary. In the longer view, Israeli officials and security analysts stress the importance of maintaining vigilance as Tehran weathers internal pressures and external pressure from Western capitals.In Washington, President Donald Trump signaled that the United States is weighing “very strong options” should Iran escalate violence or threaten American bases. He also indicated that Iran has approached the United States about resuming nuclear talks, and that a meeting could be arranged while the United States weighs its responses. The Iranian side, through Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi, reiterated that the situation is under control and charged that unrest is being exacerbated by US and Israeli pressure, though Tehran has not provided public evidence to support those claims. The broader context is a security environment in which Tehran’s leadership faces both mass street pressure at home and heavier scrutiny from Washington and its allies abroad.Meanwhile, in Europe’s strategic space, Israel and Germany announced a deepening of cyber and counterterrorism cooperation, a development synchronized with a multi-billion dollar contract to expand Germany’s Arrow 3 missile defense system built with Israeli technology. The arrangement signals continued emphasis on allied defense investments and the integration of advanced systems into transit, air defense, and security networks. In parallel, Israeli officials have discussed a transition in the way Washington funds and partners on security, signaling a plan to gradually reduce direct cash assistance while intensifying joint development and industrial cooperation with the United States. The aim, as described by Israeli defense officials, is to sustain and expand capabilities through greater Israeli autonomy in defense procurement and closer integration with US defense programs over time.As these dynamics unfold, the immediate questions center on how the Iranian regime will respond to domestic pressure, how international powers will calibrate their diplomatic and ...
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