Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 14:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 14:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-25 at 14:07

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 HEADLINES- Iran Cracks Down as Protests Intensify- IDF Destroys Gaza Tunnel Hits Hezbollah- Attorney General Warns Cabinet Power GrabThe time is now 9:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.At 9:00 AM, police were responding to reports of gunfire on Jerusalem Boulevard in Jaffa, with one man moderately wounded and evacuated to a nearby hospital as a manhunt for the suspected shooter continued. The incident underscores lingering security tensions and the ongoing need for rapid emergency response in urban areas.In Tel Aviv, Israel’s Attorney-General Gali Baharav-Miara warned that a proposed amendment to the government’s rules of procedure would remove binding constraints on the cabinet, potentially allowing decisions made in violation of the law. Her warning was issued with a legal opinion by Deputy Attorney-General Gil Limon, which argues the changes would erode professional checks, weaken the role of legal counsel, and could enable unlawful government action, including discriminatory budget allocations during an election period. Limon’s analysis stresses that cabinet decisions have broad consequences for public security, health, welfare, and fiscal policy, and he cautions that moving forward with the amendments could undermine accountability and the rule of law. The Movement for Quality Government welcomed the attorney-general’s position, calling the proposal an attempt to bypass legal oversight.Turning to regional dynamics, Iraq’s former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki is resurfacing as a potential candidate for a third term, a development that could influence Iraq’s political trajectory and its approach to security, foreign policy, and relations with neighboring states. Maliki’s past governance was marked by tensions with Sunni communities and challenges in confronting extremist threats, and his return would have significant implications for Iraq’s internal balance and its role in regional diplomacy.On the defense and technology front, a long-running debate over the Iron Dome’s origins and ownership continues to surface. A longstanding description of Iron Dome as an Israeli achievement remains widely stated, but discussions also emphasize American funding and partnership. Historical accounts trace development and production steps across Israeli and American entities, noting that United States support has funded components and procurement since the program’s early stages. Analysts say the project reflects a shared security endeavor, with Israeli technical leadership complemented by US financial support as the system became a joint defense asset in practice.Across the region, reports from Iran describe a severe crackdown on protests, with opposition voices recounting nightly raids, arrests, and violent confrontations that have drawn international concern. While figures and casualty estimates vary, the narrative from dissident networks highlights widespread fear and the risk to civilians in multiple provinces, underscoring the fragility of domestic stability in the face of sustained dissent.In Gaza, reporting cites continued complexity beneath the ceasefire framework. The Wall Street Journal has reported that Israel has provided various forms of support—not only through formal channels but in practice—to Gazan militias operating near the Yellow Line, including air time for drones, intelligence sharing, and supplies such as weapons and food. This posture reflects a layered approach to the ceasefire, with the aim of containing Hamas while managing the risks posed by armed groups in Gaza’s border areas.The Israel Defense Forces announced the demolition of a four-kilometer tunnel on the Gaza side of the Yellow Line, a joint operation with the Yahalom engineering unit. The tunnel allegedly contained weapons and operational facilities. In separate Gaza incidents, Israeli fire killed two Palestinians in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, and an Israeli drone strike wounded several others in Gaza City. The IDF noted that the level of activity along the border continues to be managed under the ceasefire framework, while noting that earlier strikes targeted cross-border activity by militants who had crossed the Yellow Line.On the Lebanon front, Israeli air power conducted strikes against Hezbollah targets in southern Lebanon and the Beqaa Valley, including a hit near Bir al-Sanasel and another near Bazouriye, close to Tyre, with Lebanese reports noting casualties in at least one strike. The IDF described these actions as responses to Hezbollah activity that violated ceasefire understandings. Since the broader ceasefire arrangement, the IDF has said it has killed more than 400 Hezbollah operatives and destroyed hundreds of Hezbollah sites, while conducting more than 1,200 raids and related operations in southern Lebanon. The Lebanese armed forces have moved to disarm Hezbollah in areas near the border, a process Israel has described as ...
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.