Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 18, 2026, 06 AM Eastern
Transcript
- 0:08Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
- 0:12Speaker 1: New satellite imagery indicates Iran is rapidly rebuilding the Talgan-2
- 0:16Speaker 1: facility at its Parchin military complex, a site linked to
- 0:20Speaker 1: its nuclear bomb testing program. The Institute for Science and
- 0:23Speaker 1: International Security stated that repair work began in June, with
- 0:28Speaker 1: efforts including a tarp erected over the buried facility. to
- 0:32Speaker 1: conceal reconstruction activity from satellite view. This development is described
- 0:36Speaker 1: as deeply concerning, given the facility's history with Iran's AMAD
- 0:41Speaker 1: nuclear weapons research and development, particularly following multiple Israeli strikes
- 0:46Speaker 1: on the site. In Syria, Israeli security assessments indicate President
- 0:50Speaker 1: Ahmed al-Sharar is diverting the country's resources towards building a
- 0:54Speaker 1: large standing army and acquiring weapons systems, while working to
- 0:59Speaker 1: conceal this military expansion. According to IDF assessments, Shahrar's operational
- 1:04Speaker 1: plans are intended for future strikes against Hezbollah and pro-Iranian
- 1:07Speaker 1: Shait militias in Iraq. Meanwhile, European countries, led by Germany,
- 1:13Speaker 1: are providing aid to Syria, aiming to stem refugee flow
- 1:16Speaker 1: and encourage repatriation, while moderate Sunni states are investing to
- 1:20Speaker 1: soften his agenda. Tensions have escalated on the Lebanon border.
- 1:24Speaker 1: Lebanese channels report that the IDF has issued an ultimatum
- 1:28Speaker 1: to the Lebanese army. demanding withdrawal from the village of
- 1:31Speaker 1: Deir Mimas in southern Lebanon, citing its location within the
- 1:35Speaker 1: Yellow Line. According to these reports, friction has occurred between
- 1:39Speaker 1: IDF and Lebanese forces, with claims that IDF troops have
- 1:43Speaker 1: taken control of a recently established Lebanese army post in
- 1:46Speaker 1: the area. In Yemen, Saudi Arabia has conveyed a proposal
- 1:50Speaker 1: through Oman to the Houthis, suggesting a two-week ceasefire and
- 1:54Speaker 1: direct negotiations to address humanitarian demands. This diplomatic initiative comes
- 1:59Speaker 1: amid escalating fighting and Houthi attacks. Separately, Iran reportedly struck
- 2:04Speaker 1: two vessels in the Strait of Hormuz. US representatives also
- 2:08Speaker 1: held secret talks with senior Houthi officials in Oman. Sofian Abouzaida,
- 2:13Speaker 1: identifying himself as Cole Eyes, has revealed he was the
- 2:17Speaker 1: direct channel for Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar's pre-October 7th warnings
- 2:20Speaker 1: to Israel about a huge surprise and an earthquake operation.
- 2:25Speaker 1: According to Eldar's report in Haaretz, Sinwar's message was conveyed
- 2:28Speaker 1: to the UAE president, who subsequently warned Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
- 2:34Speaker 1: In security news, the Shin Bet reports that Hamdan Hamdan, 32,
- 2:38Speaker 1: knowingly engaged with a foreign agent in Lebanon, undertaking security-related
- 2:43Speaker 1: tasks in exchange for attempted payment, indicating potential espionage activity.
- 2:48Speaker 1: On the policy front, the United States has informed Israel
- 2:51Speaker 1: of a potential $ 25 billion F-35 fighter jet deal with
- 2:55Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia. An Israeli official confirmed this to Waller, noting
- 3:00Speaker 1: that Israel is expected to seek compensation from Washington in
- 3:04Speaker 1: the form of weapons systems previously declined, aiming to maintain
- 3:08Speaker 1: its qualitative military advantage in the region. Meanwhile, US President
- 3:12Speaker 1: Donald Trump is set to address the United Nations General Assembly,
- 3:16Speaker 1: facing a sceptical audience regarding the ongoing war with Iran
- 3:20Speaker 1: and regional instability. A senior Trump administration official stated the
- 3:24Speaker 1: US is focused on ensuring freedom of navigation while empowering
- 3:28Speaker 1: regional partners. The administration has also faced challenges with disruptions
- 3:33Speaker 1: to oil shipments through the Strait of Hormuz and Red
- 3:36Speaker 1: Sea by Houthi allies. Domestically, a Friday Mariv poll reveals
- 3:40Speaker 1: a continued downward trend for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party,
- 3:45Speaker 1: now projected at 18 seats. The poll also indicates that
- 3:49Speaker 1: a majority of Israelis, 54%, believe Israel should assist Saudi
- 3:53Speaker 1: Arabia against the Houthis, though 38% of those support this aid,
- 3:58Speaker 1: only if conditioned on a normalisation agreement. In preferred Prime
- 4:02Speaker 1: Minister rankings, opposition leader Gadi Eisenkot leads Netanyahu. For continuing
- 4:07Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism, watch
- 4:12Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm
- 4:16Speaker 1: Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing
- 4:19Speaker 1: war report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today, ongoing
- 4:24Speaker 1: war report in your podcast app so you don't miss
- 4:26Speaker 1: the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report
- 4:30Speaker 1: may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a
- 4:34Speaker 1: comprehensive view.