Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-30 at 04:02 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-30 at 04:02

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-30 at 04:02

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 HEADLINESTrump Eyes Cuba Oil TariffsMukhmas Violence Draws UN Condemnation EU VisitGaza Survivor Troufanov Details HarassmentThe time is now 11:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.This is the 11:00 PM update. We review a broad set of developments shaping the region and the broader international landscape, with attention to security concerns, civilian impacts, and the diplomacy that frames them.In Washington, President Donald Trump has signaled the possibility of new tariffs on countries that supply oil to Cuba. The move, authorized by an executive order tied to a national emergency declaration, did not specify tariff rates or name particular suppliers. The threat comes as Washington has pressed Cuba’s leadership amid a broader campaign of pressure, buoyed in recent weeks by the defeat of Nicolás Maduro’s government in Venezuela and the broader effort to shape energy and political alignments in the region. While Trump has repeatedly used tariffs as a foreign policy instrument, the new step leaves the exact mechanics to come later.In related energy policy moves, the administration eased certain sanctions on Venezuela’s oil sector, allowing US entities to engage in refining, transportation, and related activities involving Venezuelan oil under a general license. The license preserves restrictions on production and excludes transactions with entities tied to Russia, Iran, North Korea, Cuba, and certain Chinese-controlled interests. Officials say the policy is intended to facilitate investment and help current oil flows, while avoiding a broad lift of sanctions. Private producers in Venezuela are being given greater regulatory space through a new reform of the country’s main oil law, which Venezuelan officials say will grant more autonomy to private partners in joint ventures or new contracts to operate projects and market output. Washington has framed its strategy as a way to support reconstruction and economic revival in the oil sector, including ongoing efforts to manage oil sales as part of a broader set of regional interests.Air travel and transit developments also figured in the week. American Airlines announced plans to resume service to Venezuela for the first time in more than six years, pending government clearance and security assessments. The FAA has rescinded some caution notices that had been in place for flights over parts of Latin America, though full resumption of service is not immediate and will depend on a process of review by aviation authorities in the United States.On the ground in the West Bank, violence and property damage were reported in the Bedouin village of Mukhmas, northeast of Jerusalem, where two buildings were set alight in the evening. Israeli forces and Border Police responded, but no suspects were arrested. The incident drew condemnation from UN officials and regional diplomats alike, with Francesca Albanese, the UN Special Rapporteur for the occupied Palestinian territorioes, urging that such acts be labeled explicitly as terror and calling for concrete measures to prevent recurrence. Residents described a pattern of intimidation and a sense of limited protection in the area, noting that attacks often occur in large numbers and are followed by formal complaint processes that residents say fail to yield accountability. The European Union’s representative in Jerusalem and ambassadors from EU member states visited the village to assess the situation and reinforce calls for safety and restraint.In Tehran, Iranian military authorities reiterated lines about restraint and deterrence. A spokesman for Iran’s armed forces said Iran would not permit an attack on the country and rejected the notion of a rapid, performative military operation, warning that such a scenario would not be realistic. The comments come as regional tensions and US military moves in the region keep the potential for escalation in focus, alongside ongoing diplomatic and intelligence discussions that have characterized the period.In the broader US-Iran context, reports indicate ongoing discussions at high levels, with President Trump signaling openness to talking with Iran. He indicated that such dialogue could occur, while stressing the importance of non-nuclear behavior and an end to violence against protesters in Iran. The Pentagon has positioned additional ships in the region as a display of readiness, alongside a broader posture that emphasizes the possibility of limited actions should diplomacy fail to yield verifiable results. Market observers note that oil prices have moved in response to the heightened geopolitical risk, with Brent crude trading around the low $70s per barrel as traders weigh the risk of disruption through the Hormuz Strait and potential sanctions pressure.In a separate, but related, security and human-interest thread, a BBC interview with Sasha Troufanov, a freed Israeli hostage, revealed new allegations of sexual ...
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