Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-31 at 09:04 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-31 at 09:04

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-01-31 at 09:04

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 HEADLINESGaza Strikes Kill Dozens Civilians DeadPossible Iran Endgame Remove Supreme LeaderIsrael Launches Wings of Dawn AliyahThe time is now 9:03 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), the Israeli Defense Forces say its airstrikes in Gaza were carried out in response to ceasefire violations, targeting four Hamas and Islamic Jihad commanders along with a weapons storage facility, a weapons manufacturing site, and two rocket launch sites in the central Gaza Strip. The military said eight terrorists were identified exiting underground tunnel infrastructure in eastern Rafah, and it asserted that civilian institutions were being used as human shields by the militant groups. Palestinian health authorities in Gaza reported the early toll from the strikes at 26 dead, a figure cited by Reuters, with the death toll rising in subsequent reports as a wave of overnight Israeli strikes hit Gaza, described by the army as aimed at terror operatives and infrastructure. The Hamas-run civil defense agency said bodies were recovered from multiple locations and that many others remained missing under rubble, while Hamas’s health ministry logged dozens of injuries. The violence comes as authorities said a crossing at the Rafah terminal would reopen on Sunday for limited movement of people, and separate reports described additional strikes in Gaza City’s Sheikh Radwan district and, in a separate context, a strike against a Hamas police facility. Earlier in the day, a brief hop of fighting was reported in a western Gaza City neighborhood after evacuation warnings, underscoring the ongoing volatility of the situation.In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, a former CIA officer told British media that in a worst‑case escalation scenario a move to remove Iran’s supreme leader could be considered as an operational option, with behind‑the‑scenes support from Israel and the United States. The discussion reflects heightened attention to possible endgames amid tensions with Tehran. Separately, statements from senior Israeli officials cited by Reuters said that the Israeli military was not involved in recent explosions inside Iran. In the Levant, Israeli forces said they targeted a Hezbollah operative in the Merkabah area of southern Lebanon, with a series of quick strikes described by the military as actions against members of the Lebanese militant group. Reports from southern Lebanon also described drone or air strikes on a Hezbollah target in the vicinity of the town of Rabat Ta’altin, and Israeli spokespeople indicated that the army had conducted operations in the Marqab region. Across Iran, multiple blasts were reported in Bandar Abbas, Ahvaz, and other cities, with Iranian state media reporting casualties and officials denying that an IRGC naval facility was hit; authorities cautioned that the cause of the blasts remained unclear. The incidents occurred as Iran warned of live-fire drills in the Strait of Hormuz, a key shipping lane, with US Central Command warning of risks to shipping and regional stability if unsafe actions continued. The Iranian leadership also faced domestic tensions, with President Masoud Pezeshkian accusing foreign powers of provoking unrest in Iran’s protests, which have been tightly controlled by authorities, and Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei appearing in public in a bid to project continuity and resilience amid regional pressure.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the government has launched Operation Kanfei Shahar (Wings of Dawn), a major state-led initiative to complete aliyah and family reunification for the Bnei Menashe community, integrating them more fully into Israeli society. The plan, coordinated by the Aliyah and Integration Ministry in partnership with the Jewish Agency, the Chief Rabbinate, the Ma’arach Hagiyur conversion system, and multiple government ministries, aims to reunite spouses, children, and parents who have lived apart for years. The Bnei Menashe community, originating in Manipur and Mizoram in northeast India, traces its heritage to the biblical Tribe of Menashe and now numbers roughly 5,000 in Israel, with thousands more still living in India. The program marks a shift toward greater state involvement in immigration and integration efforts. In related notes, two senior Israeli officials told Reuters that the IDF was not involved in the reported explosions inside Iran, reinforcing a distinction between domestic military actions and external incidents.In Other News, a series of blasts were reported in Iran’s Bandar Abbas port and in Ahvaz, with Iranian media confirming casualties and injuries as authorities denied that the blasts involved an IRGC naval facility and said the cause remained unclear. The port city lies at the Strait of Hormuz, a vital oil passageway, and officials cautioned that information was still developing. Other reports...
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