Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-16 at 14:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-16 at 14:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-16 at 14:07

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 HEADLINESBarnea in US to align on IranIsrael strikes Hamas, Hezbollah amid ceasefire breachesPutin offers mediation between Israel and IranThe time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.From Washington to Tehran, from Gaza to the northern frontier with Lebanon, the day’s reporting centers on sustained tensions around Iran’s protests, the broader security picture in the region, and the evolving diplomacy intended to manage risk and avert escalation.In Israel’s security and intelligence sphere, the government and its allies are watching closely as a new round of high‑level diplomacy unfolds. Mossad Director David Barnea arrived in the United States for talks on the situation with Iran and possible American responses. He is expected to meet with the White House envoy Steve Witkoff in Miami, a move that highlights ongoing coordination between Washington and Jerusalem on Iran policy. It remained unclear whether Barnea would also meet with United States President Donald Trump during the visit. The exchange signals continued emphasis on a unified approach to Tehran’s nuclear advances, its regional networks, and any potential trigger for broader confrontation.Across the Gaza front, the Israeli Defense Forces and the Shin Bet security service conducted a series of strikes against Hamas and Islamic Jihad targets in the Gaza Strip. The military did not name the specific targets, but Hamas-affiliated sources said that several targets in areas tied to families identified as al Huli and al Jarou were hit. The Israeli statement described the operation as a response to ceasefire violations earlier in the week, including attacks directed at Israeli soldiers in western Rafah. In a separate operation, the Israel Defense Forces reported striking a Hezbollah terrorist in Lebanon, described as an attempt to reconstitute Hezbollah infrastructure in the southern Lebanese town of Zawtar al‑Sharqiyah in violation of the ceasefire arrangements between Israel and Lebanon. In the West Bank, Israeli soldiers were dispatched to the Al-Mughayyir area after reports of numerous rock-throwing assailants, tire burning, and blocked routes; warning shots were fired and one attacker was eliminated when he advanced toward troops. Israeli forces continued searches and road closures in the area to locate others involved.Regional observers are also tracking a potential flashpoint involving American and allied forces in Iraq. A senior Iraqi militia figure associated with the pro‑Iranian faction said the group’s missiles and drones are prepared to strike American bases in Iraq and the wider region if Washington initiates broader hostilities against Iran. The militia leader attributed the warning to the era of guidance from Iran’s supreme leader, saying that the current posture is one of heightened readiness. The remarks underscore the risk that any military action against Iran could trigger reciprocal strikes on American facilities and allied bases in the region.Diplomatic channels continue to move in parallel with battlefield developments. In Syria, the United States special envoy for Syria was arranged to meet with Mazlum Kobane, the commander of the Syrian Democratic Forces, in Erbil. This encounter, brokered with the help of the president of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, aims to avert a broader confrontation between the Assad government’s forces and the Kurdish-led administration that controls substantial northern and eastern areas of Syria. The talks are part of a broader effort to stabilize the region and maintain the March of last year’s agreement between Kobane and Syria’s interim leadership, a framework seen as essential to preventing a relapse into wider conflict.In regional diplomacy, the Kremlin issued a readout of a phone conversation between President Vladimir Putin and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. The Kremlin stated that Putin offered to mediate between Israel and Iran and discussed ways to bolster political and diplomatic efforts to ensure stability and security in the region. The call, described as initiated by President Putin, signals Moscow’s ongoing interest in positioning itself as a potential intermediary in the Middle East, particularly on matters involving Iran and Israel.International forums also weighed Iran’s situation. The Munich Security Conference announced it would not extend invitations to Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi following Tehran’s crackdown on protests in Iran this week. German officials and organizers said invitations had been issued weeks earlier, but developments on the ground led to withdrawing Iranian participation. The decision reflects rising international concern about the scale of Tehran’s crackdown and the implications for regional security and diplomacy.On a parallel front, a widely cited explainer from Reuters summarized the public debate surrounding Iran’s nuclear program after the...
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.