Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-19 at 12:02 cover art

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-19 at 12:02

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-19 at 12:02

Listen for free

View show details

About this listen

 HEADLINESIRGC ready to close Hormuz on ordersIsrael warns Iran, Houthis of grave priceTurkey to send troops to Gaza ISFThe time is now 12:02 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Navy says it is ready to close the Strait of Hormuz if ordered by Tehran's leadership. Rear Admiral Alireza Tangsiri told state media during large-scale Persian Gulf drills that the decision to close rests with senior officials, and that the IRGC is prepared to act whenever told to do so. He noted the exercises focus on defensive and offensive scenarios around the gulf and Iranian-held islands, with maneuvers described as strong defense and invasion drills. He said safeguarding the islands, the Persian Gulf, and the Strait has been entrusted to the IRGC Navy, with 24-hour intelligence control over the waterway. The Strait was temporarily closed during drills earlier in the week.Reports from southern Lebanon describe an attack near Nabi Sheet village.Israel's top defense leadership warned Iran and Yemen's Houthis of an immediate and grave price if they attack Israel in response to a potential US strike on Tehran. IDF Chief of Staff Lieutenant-General Eyal Zamir said the IDF's finger was on the trigger if opponents change their actions, while Defense Minister Israel Katz linked past operations against Houthi officials to a stronger potential response.In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Turkey will contribute troops to Gaza's International Stabilization Force, joining five other countries that have committed troops: Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania. Two additional nations will train police: Egypt and Jordan. Indonesia has signaled a contribution of 8,000 or more troops, and Kazakhstan will deploy military units including medical support. The United Arab Emirates pledged about $1.2 billion to Gaza via the Board of Peace, with Saudi Arabia and Kuwait each pledging $1 billion.The IDF reports relative stability in the West Bank ahead of Ramadan 2026, while maintaining a high operational tempo to prevent incitement. A force of about 21 battalions plus reinforced commando units and other companies will stay deployed, with plans to shift rapidly from routine activity to targeted raids, arrests, and intelligence-led interdictions. Authorities are focusing on high-risk points such as crossings and religiously sensitive locations, including Rachel’s Crossing, Kalandiya, and the area around the Cave of the Patriarchs, where large gatherings are anticipated during the month. US General Jasper Jeffers, who heads the International Stabilization Forces in Gaza, outlined security plans and confirmed that Indonesia, Morocco, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, and Albania have committed troops to the ISF, with Egypt and Jordan committed to training police.In Israeli Domestic Politics, a former Unit 8200 intelligence official warned that AI-powered hackers pose elevated risks to critical infrastructure, noting that attackers can exploit open-source code to breach digital and physical systems. The former official emphasized that “you can defend well hundreds of times, but they only have to get through once,” highlighting the harder challenge of defense against adaptive threats.Former prime minister Naftali Bennett said he would not boycott Itamar Ben-Gvir or Bezalel Smotrich, though recordings released on Thursday show him calling Ben-Gvir “an unserious person” and Smotrich “very combative” but capable of working. He also suggested that there would be pressure on those figures after the elections to adjust their approach to him.A discussion on the haredi draft issue framed by a recent public conversation examined how tensions over military service intersect with women’s status in Israeli society. The participants described attacks on female soldiers in Bnei Brak and debated how government policy might address the divide, including how ultra-Orthodox communities are integrated into national service.Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.SOURCEShttps://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887237https://t.me/newssil/192075https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887277https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887284https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887286https://t.me/selena_updates/55502https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-887288https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-887283https://www.jpost.com/podcast/article-887273
No reviews yet
In the spirit of reconciliation, Audible acknowledges the Traditional Custodians of country throughout Australia and their connections to land, sea and community. We pay our respect to their elders past and present and extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples today.