Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-29 at 17:02 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-29 at 17:02

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-29 at 17:02

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 HEADLINESIsrael, US discuss Iran as carrier arrivesThousands detained as Iran crackdown intensifiesEU designates Iran's IRGC terroristThe time is now 12:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good afternoon. Here is the latest hourly update on the Middle East and surrounding regions.Israel’s most senior intelligence and security chiefs have traveled to the United States for consultations on Iranian policy. Major General Shlomi Binder, head of the Israel Defense Forces intelligence directorate, and David Barnea, the director of Mossad, have both been in Washington in recent days. Their discussions coincided with the arrival of a United States Navy aircraft carrier to the region, signaling an intensified American military posture. Israeli officials conveyed intelligence assessments on potential Iranian targets and the balance of power inside Iran, with the Israel Defense Forces concentrating on the role of aerial power in any confrontation and Mossad focusing on Iran’s nuclear program and internal political currents. The exchanges come after a high-level call between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and the United States president, amid widely reported debates over whether and when American forces would be deployed for offensive operations and for defending Israel.In Iran, authorities are continuing a sweeping crackdown on protests that erupted over economic grievances and broader political discontent. Rights groups and witnesses say security forces, in plain clothes and in some cases with checkpoints, have detained thousands in a campaign described by activists as aimed at sowing fear. The most conservative tallies place deaths in the hundreds, with rights organizations warning that the toll may be higher. Detainees are reportedly held in unofficial facilities, with families sometimes unaware of the whereabouts of relatives. Analysts say the regime faces mounting domestic pressure, even as it seeks to project strength internationally and suppress dissent at home. Observers note that a large portion of Iran’s population is under thirty, suggesting potential for continued social mobilization if repression remains intense.Meanwhile, a significant development in the Gaza and wider conflict arena: the international Red Cross facilitated the transfer of remains, including fifteen Palestinians, back to Gaza as part of the ceasefire agreement linked to the return of a listed hostage. The operation follows the recent recovery of Ran Gvili’s remains and reflects a broader effort to conclude a years-long hostage crisis. In parallel, the hostage recovery unit within the Israel Defense Forces, which coordinated intelligence, ground maneuver guidance, and forensic analysis, has described the process of locating and identifying missing and abducted individuals as a grueling, painstaking mission. The unit emphasized the difficult balance between pressing military action and safeguarding hostages, noting that in some cases operations were curtailed when risk to hostages was deemed too high. The latest phase of the effort underscored the enduring toll such missions take on those who conduct them and the families awaiting news.European Union ministers have designated Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps as a terrorist organization, marking a historic shift in European policy toward Tehran. The designation, accompanied by sanctions on individuals and entities tied to human rights abuses and to Iran’s drone and missile programs, drew praise from Israel’s foreign minister and other regional partners. France and several other members supported the move, while Iran’s foreign ministry criticized the decision as provocative. Analysts say the designation could complicate Tehran’s international dealings and intensify economic pressures while potentially shaping European leverage in diplomacy surrounding Iran’s nuclear ambitions and regional activities.Iranian civil defense preparations have grown more visible as tensions rise. Tehran has announced the conversion of some metro stations and underground parking facilities into shelter spaces, reflecting serious concerns about potential escalation. Reports indicate the deployment of thousands of drones to various military branches, a step described by officials as part of maintaining rapid combat and deterrence capacity. The Islamic Republic’s leadership has warned of strong responses should external threats materialize, while US officials have signaled that American options remain on the table, including targeted actions if Iran blocks a nuclear agreement or continues to advance weapons programs.On the broader regional front, Moscow has urged calm and negotiations, warning that any use of force against Tehran would unleash chaos across the Middle East. Russian officials say there remains room for dialogue and emphasize mechanisms for negotiating differences, pointing to longstanding security ties with Iran as...
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