Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 09:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 09:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 09:07

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 HEADLINESUS presses Iraq to curb Tehran gripRafah crossing to reopen during soldier searchIsrael deepens Azerbaijan ties with tech delegationThe time is now 4:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Iraq, the United States is urging Baghdad to limit Iranian influence as the country forms a new government. The talks with Iraqi Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani on January twenty-fifth, led by Secretary of State Marco Rubio, focused on several issues, including the possible transfer of ISIS detainees from Syria, a figure reported to be as high as seven thousand. The US readout emphasized that a government controlled by Iran cannot put Iraq’s own interests first, keep Iraq out of regional conflicts, or advance the partnership between the United States and Iraq. Officials noted ongoing diplomatic work to secure the rapid repatriation of foreign fighters and to bring ISIS members to justice. The discussions also touched on Iraq’s desire to limit a long-term US military footprint, even as Iraq moves to form a government, with concerns that the return of former prime minister Nouri al-Maliki could tilt the balance toward Tehran.In the region, Israel’s foreign policy posture remains closely watched. Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar met in Baku with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to advance bilateral ties across energy, artificial intelligence, agriculture, water management, defense, and tourism. Sa’ar was accompanied by a large business delegation, signaling a push to deepen cooperation in technology and infrastructure. Azerbaijan has expressed interest in Israeli agricultural technology as it rebuilds following gains in the Nagorno-Karabakh region, and Sa’ar thanked Aliyev for supporting Jewish life in Azerbaijan. The trip will continue to Astana for meetings with Kazakh leaders, coinciding with Kazakhstan’s recent Abraham Accords engagement, and Sa’ar will participate in events marking International Holocaust Remembrance Day with Jewish community leaders.Across Gaza and Israel, authorities outlined a limited reopening of Rafah Crossing for pedestrian traffic only, under an Israeli monitoring mechanism, once an IDF operation to locate a missing Israeli soldier’s remains concludes. The move ties to discussions with Washington and to resolve hostages and remains issues. The government described the search for St.-Sergeant-Major Ran Gvili as the immediate priority, with the crossing reopening contingent on progress in northern Gaza and on Hamas’s effort to locate and return all captives and remains. Several senior ministers voiced concerns that reopening Rafah could influence postwar governance in Gaza, highlighting a broader debate over security control and humanitarian access during the transition.Security and integrity in Israeli society also made headlines as authorities announced a major match-fixing and gambling investigation within domestic football. Police arrested seventeen individuals linked to a criminal organization suspected of manipulating match results and channeling tens of millions of shekels through illegal betting. The probe, conducted with the Israel Football Association, focused on events over the past three years, and authorities indicated more arrests could follow as the investigation continues.Regionally, international observers are watching shifts in strategic alignments. A prominent analysis argues that Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has begun hedging Saudi policy by leaning toward Turkey and Qatar while the Israel–United States–United Arab Emirates security axis strengthens. The piece notes that Riyadh remains adjacent to the Abraham Accords framework but is recalibrating its position, seeking flexibility should Iran endure a broader regional stalemate. It also points to domestic constraints in Saudi Arabia, including reform ambitions and the balance with religious fundamentals, as factors shaping Riyadh’s recalibration and its potential impact on regional leadership dynamics.In Iran, an ex-member of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps described the domestic crackdown on protests, portraying a regime that relies on security measures and external contingents to enforce stability. The account cites severe communications outages and a sense among many Iranians of dwindling confidence in international backing, including from the United States. The portrayal underscores how domestic turmoil in Iran could influence regional security calculations and Iranian responses to external pressure.On the broader diplomatic stage, China hosted high-level talks with the secretary-general of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation in Beijing. Chinese officials urged the building of regional security partnerships and the political settlement of hot-spot issues, in a context of heightened Middle East tension after Iran signaled it would treat an attack as an all-out war. The discussions occurred as US and allied ...
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