Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 20:08 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 20:08

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-13 at 20:08

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 HEADLINESRed alert windstorm unleashes chaos across IsraelUS envoy meets Reza Pahlavi over protestsUS designates Muslim Brotherhood as global terroristsThe time is now 3:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 3:00 PM, weather and conflict shaped a day of fast-moving developments across Israel, the wider region, and international diplomacy. A severe windstorm pushed through the country from Monday evening into Tuesday, prompting the Meteorological Service to issue its highest red alert. Ahead of the storm, powerful gusts and heavy rainfall were expected, with potential flooding, snow in higher elevations, and dangerous seas along the coast. In Jerusalem, the day featured a notable incident at the Shuafat light rail station: a man in his 50s was struck by a light rail during a training exercise with no passengers aboard. He was evacuated in serious condition to Hadassah-University Medical Center on Mount Scopus. Across Israel, emergency services responded to multiple traffic and weather-related incidents. In Ilut, a two-vehicle collision sent an 18-year-old in serious condition and a 45-year-old in moderate condition to Rambam Medical Center. A separate case involved a 64-year-old man who was moderately injured after hitting a telephone pole. In Kfar Saba, United Hatzalah volunteers treated a lightly injured driver when a tree fell onto a vehicle. Beit Shemesh reported an 8-year-old who sustained mild injuries after being hit by a car. On Highway 334 near Kibbutz Dorot, a two-vehicle crash sent both drivers to Soroka Hospital in moderate condition, and three more people were lightly injured in a separate incident on Highway 1 near the Ben Shemen Interchange.In the realm of international diplomacy and analysis, attention turned to Iran’s ongoing protests and the responses of Western governments. A senior US official and Axios reported a weekend meeting between White House envoy Steve Witkoff and Reza Pahlavi, a leading figure in the Iranian opposition, discussing the protests roiling Iran. Public opinion in Iran shows a divided stance on Pahlavi, with polls indicating roughly a third backing and a similar share opposing him. Pahlavi used social media to urge continued action by Iranians, while raising the prospect of international support, a message that has complicated Western calculations about how to support domestic dissent without triggering a broader regional confrontation.A broader debate persists about what form outside intervention could take. Some analyses suggest that even without regime change in Tehran, there are opportunities to blunt Iran’s most dangerous capabilities—particularly its ballistic missiles and certain nuclear-related assets—through targeted actions and calibrated pressure. At the same time, US officials have signaled continued caution about direct military entanglement, emphasizing the potential consequences for regional stability and allied partners. The political dynamic also intersects with Israeli calculations. In Jerusalem, authorities have warned against giving Tehran a pretext to escalate, while continuing to assess how to assist Iranian protesters in ways that do not undermine Israel’s security.On the default of diplomacy, Washington designated branches of the Muslim Brotherhood in Egypt, Lebanon, and Jordan as global terrorists, citing links to Hamas and destabilizing activity in the region. The designation carries sanctions and travel restrictions, and it could complicate ties with partners where the organization has political or social influence. Egypt welcomed the move as a step against extremist networks, while Jordan and Lebanon have faced long-standing tensions with Brotherhood organizations. The designation forms part of a broader US effort to deter perceived support for attacks against Israel and its partners.In the realm of international travel and mobility, Israel’s passport continued to face shifts in global rankings. Israel’s passport lost ground in the 2026 mobility rankings, with visa-free access slipping from 170 destinations to 165. By contrast, the United States reclaimed a spot in the top ten, and a single passport destination now offers entry to 192 countries worldwide. These shifts come against a backdrop of broader geopolitical realignments and ongoing security considerations in the region.Reporting and analysis from the Iranian protests continued to emphasize the human dimension. Masih Alinejad, an Iranian-American journalist and activist, described the protests as a defining moral test for Western leaders, urging decisive action rather than symbolic statements. In interviews, she underscored the brutality faced by protesters and the regime’s insistence on suppressing dissent, warning that any negotiated settlement or delayed response could carry severe consequences for Iran’s people. She urged foreign leaders to act with clarity and resolve, arguing that inaction would erode ...
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