Israel Today: Ongoing War Report podcast

Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-19 at 20:06

0:00
6:19
Rewind 15 seconds
Fast Forward 15 seconds
HEADLINES
Raid kills ISIS operative Omar Abdul Qader
Israel hits Hezbollah targets on Lebanon border
Gaza hostages 48 amid governance debate

The time is now 4:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the 4:00 PM update. US Central Command says its forces in Syria conducted a raid that killed Omar Abdul Qader, a senior ISIS operative who posed a direct threat to the United States and its partners. Officials say the operation disrupted the group’s external operations and its ability to plan attacks targeting Americans and allies. The Ken-A-ling details emphasize a continued US effort to target ISIS networks across the region as part of broader counterterrorism work.

In the north and on the Lebanese frontier, the Israeli military says it has continued a series of strikes against Hezbollah-related targets in southern Lebanon and against assets used to gather intelligence for the group. The army reported the destruction of a vessel used for reconnaissance and the elimination of two Hezbollah operatives, part of efforts it says are aimed at preventing Hezbollah and other Iran-backed networks from reconstituting their capabilities. The army underscored that these actions are carried out in coordination with Lebanon and as part of sustained attempts to remove threats along the border, even as Israel cites violations of prior understandings.

In Gaza, the hostage situation remains a focal point of international concern. Hamas continues to hold a number of hostages, with estimates placing 48 individuals in captivity, including a number believed to be in grave danger. The conflict has left dozens of bodies recovered in Gaza, with Israeli officials indicating the emotional and operational toll of ongoing violence. Among recent developments, a former Hamas hostage, Edan Alexander, publicly stated he intends to return to active service with the Israel Defense Forces, saying that survival is only part of the story and that duty must continue. The broader question of Gaza’s governance has resurfaced as the United States and several Gulf states discuss an interim framework for a transition, though no agreement has been announced and no administration or Israel-endorsed plan has been finalized.

On the battlefield in Gaza and along the border, Israeli forces say they are intensifying operations against militant infrastructure. Reports from Palestinian sources describe an assault in Tel al-Hawa, with eight militants reported killed in a strike on a house tied to a family in the area. Israeli officials describe the raids as part of a wider effort to dismantle Hamas capabilities and to prevent future attacks, while noting that civilian harm remains a central concern.

Turning to the wider region, international and domestic voices continue to weigh in on how to progress toward stability. The Trump administration has sought congressional approval for roughly six billion dollars in weapons sales to Israel, including thirty Apache helicopters and thousands of armored vehicles, a package framed by Washington as enhancing Israel’s security in the face of ongoing threats. In US domestic politics, Senator Mike Waltz was confirmed as the Trump administration’s ambassador to the United Nations ahead of the General Assembly session in New York, a move seen as continuing a strong US-Israel alignment on security and diplomatic priorities.

Europe is also in the mix of these tensions. Spain has launched a Gaza war crimes probe, forming a task force to examine alleged violations and referring findings to The Hague. In parallel, Austria’s government signaled a defense of cultural participation in European events, with senior officials arguing against boycotts of Israel in next year’s Eurovision contest, even as a number of countries signaled they might shy away from Israel’s participation. The broader message from Europe is a tension between cultural engagement and political protest over the Gaza conflict.

On the domestic front in Israel, security and public safety remain at the forefront. A security incident in Tel Aviv saw an individual threatening to jump from a bridge near the defense area; authorities closed the road and controlled the scene. Separately, border security and policing have been heightened on the Jordanian frontier with word that four migrants were intercepted as troops conducted checks along the crossing area. In a show of domestic resilience, Prime Minister Netanyahu has continued to frame security as the foundation of national strength, recalling lessons from history while stressing that the Jewish state must remain vigilant and ready to act to protect its citizens.

In related developments, Turkey and the United States are preparing to meet at high levels, with President Trump indicating an forthcoming White House visit by President Erdogan and noting ongoing discussions on arms and security deals, including potential broader cooperation on defense programs. Across the Atlantic, the National Security Council and allied partners continue to evaluate how to advance a peace through strength approach in the region, balancing security needs with humanitarian considerations and regional stability.

These are the principal developments as of now: ISIS-in-Syria operational leadership has been disrupted by a US raid; Hezbollah and other Iran-linked proxies face ongoing pressure on multiple fronts along the Lebanon border; Gaza remains a stage for hostage negotiations, humanitarian concerns, and strategic governance questions; the United States advances a weapons package for Israel framed as deterrence, while European and regional actors weigh political and cultural responses to the conflict; and Turkey, the United States, and other partners look toward continuing security cooperation amid a complex regional landscape. We will continue monitoring these threads and bring you updates as events unfold.

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.

SOURCES
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/isis-threat/article-868116
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-868033
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-868111
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-868113
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-868020
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-867915
https://t.me/newssil/171412
https://t.me/newssil/171411
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234570
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-868108
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234566
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234565
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234564
https://t.me/newssil/171410
https://t.me/newssil/171409
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234562
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234561
https://www.timesofisrael.com/until-victory-ex-hostage-edan-alexander-announces-hes-returning-to-idf-service/
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234558
https://www.al-monitor.com/__%3C%21--%20THEME%20DEBUG%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20THEME%20HOOK%3A%20%27views_view_field%27%20--%3E_%3C%21--%20BEGIN%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E_/originals/2025/09/senate-confirms-mike-waltz-trumps-un-ambassador-ahead-unga-summit_%3C%21--%20END%20OUTPUT%20from%20%27core/themes/stable9/templates/views/views-view-field.html.twig%27%20--%3E__
https://t.me/newssil/171408
https://t.me/newssil/171407
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234555
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyqtlqjogl
https://www.timesofisrael.com/report-iraq-helped-syria-foil-attack-on-sharaa-by-ex-members-of-his-rebel-group/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/eurovision-boycotts-dumb-and-pointless-says-senior-official-from-2026-host-austria/
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105267
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234551
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/hyu0yzjole
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234550
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234549
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105266
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1234548
https://t.me/abualiexpress/105265

More episodes from "Israel Today: Ongoing War Report"