Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 18:07 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 18:07

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-26 at 18:07

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 HEADLINESHezbollah vows to strike if Iran attackedRan Gvili remains returned as ceasefire shiftsUSS Abraham Lincoln arrives to deter IranThe time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the 1:00 PM update on the Middle East. The region remains vigilant as a web of tensions, confrontations, and negotiations continues to shift public expectations and strategic calculations in real time. Hezbollah’s leader Naim Qassem warns that Hezbollah will not remain passive if Iran comes under attack. He says the movement would respond to any strike on Iran and warns that a war against Tehran could ignite the wider region. Israeli officials say they are carrying out strikes against Hezbollah infrastructure and senior operatives in southern Lebanon in what they describe as part of ongoing pressure against the group. Among those reported targeted were a base used by Hezbollah’s Radwan Force and individuals linked to its artillery capabilities. Israel’s actions come as Hezbollah, aligned with Iran, signals a readiness to respond should the broader regional dynamic deteriorate further. In Gaza and Israel, a turning point has arrived in another form. After a long stand-off, the state of Israel confirms that the remains of Ran Gvili, the last Israeli hostage held in Gaza, have been identified and returned home. The return closes a chapter that began on October 7, 2023, and many in Israel see it as a fulfillment of a moral and national pledge to bring home all hostages, living or deceased. Prime Minister Netanyahu framed the moment as a turning point toward the next phase of the Gaza ceasefire, insisting that the goal now is the complete disarmament and demilitarization of Hamas and a governance arrangement for Gaza that does not rely on armed confrontation. National leaders and families of the hostages voiced a mix of relief, tribute, and resolve as the nation mourned the loss of those who did not come home. The question of how to proceed in Gaza now centers on disarmament and demilitarization, with Washington signaling continued engagement and a preference for a structured transition that could leverage the absence of living hostages as leverage for compliance. The White House and mediators have pressed for a pathway that avoids a dangerous vacuum, while Israeli officials caution that any reopening of crossing points and involvement in reconstruction must not create avenues for renewed arms flow or renewed aggression. The Rafah Crossing, long seen by Israel as a potential vulnerability, was opened in the past days in a limited way as negotiation dynamics evolved around the Gvili outcome and the broader ceasefire framework. Israel remains wary of external guarantees that could enable Hamas to rearm, and it continues to stress the primacy of security measures at the border and within Gaza. In a broader regional context, US naval and air forces have underscored a show of force and deterrence. The arrival of the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln, along with accompanying destroyers, into the Middle East region broadens American capability to defend forces in the area or respond to potential escalation involving Iran. President Trump publicly described an “armada” moving toward Iran, a signal intended to deter or, if necessary, to backstop broader US options. Tehran has warned that any attack would be treated as all-out war, reinforcing the high-stakes calculus facing regional players who must balance deterrence with the risk of miscalculation. The United Arab Emirates stated that it will not allow its airspace or territory to be used for hostile actions against Iran, a reminder that regional alignments and red lines are being actively negotiated. Separately, Iran confronts a sweeping domestic crisis that has drawn international scrutiny. A United Nations expert on Iran described hospital interventions and detentions linked to nationwide protests, noting that families face demands for substantial ransoms to recover bodies of loved ones. The expert highlighted concerns about medical neutrality and credible access to care, underscoring a pattern that has drawn sharp international condemnation as security forces have cracked down across provinces. Iran’s leadership, meanwhile, faces internal dissent and public pressure that complicates any clear external messaging about how the regime would respond to external pressure or internal upheaval. In other regional developments, donor nations and partners continue to play a role in stabilizing neighboring states. Qatar announced a roughly $430 million package for Lebanon, with a focus on the electricity sector and humanitarian projects, alongside programs to support voluntary returns for Syrians and reintegration. The aid is part of a broader regional effort to address infrastructure deficits and displacement, while Lebanon navigates a frail economic landscape and the fragility of public services. The ...
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