Latest / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report / Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 19, 2026, 02 PM Eastern

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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 19, 2026, 02 PM Eastern · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
• 0:12
  Speaker 1: The Israel Defense Forces have confirmed the elimination of several
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: key Hamas figures in recent operations in Gaza. According to
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  Speaker 1: the IDF, Mohammed Suleiman Bayouk, identified as a Hamas commander
• 0:24
  Speaker 1: who infiltrated Israel during the October 7th attacks, was killed
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  Speaker 1: in an IDF strike in the Khan Yunis area on Thursday.
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  Speaker 1: September 17, 2026. The IDF stated Bayak spent much of
• 0:37
  Speaker 1: the war planting explosives targeting Israeli soldiers and also worked
• 0:41
  Speaker 1: to rehabilitate the Hamas terror organization. This follows a joint
• 0:45
  Speaker 1: IDF and Shin Bet operation on Tuesday that killed Hamas's
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  Speaker 1: Rafah Brigade commander, Nail Abu Obed. Telegram channel Selina Updates
• 0:54
  Speaker 1: reported that Abu Obed was involved in holding Israeli soldiers
• 0:57
  Speaker 1: and civilians captive for over a decade. including roles in
• 1:01
  Speaker 1: the 2014 captivity of Lieutenant Hadar Goldin and the holding
• 1:06
  Speaker 1: of Staff Sergeant Nimrod Cohen during the current war. Ahmad Batash,
• 1:10
  Speaker 1: commander of Hamas's Jabalia battalion, was also killed in a
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  Speaker 1: northern Gaza strike, identified by the IDF as responsible for
• 1:18
  Speaker 1: logistics and weapon supply for Hamas in the region. In
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  Speaker 1: further strikes, Telegram channel Selina Updates reported that Israeli drone
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  Speaker 1: attacks west of Jabalia camp killed Basia Munia al-Bursh, son
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  Speaker 1: of the Hamas-run Gaza Health Ministry Director General, and another
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  Speaker 1: individual identified as a terrorist. Residents in northern Gaza also
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  Speaker 1: reported a massive underground detonation. On the northern front, two
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  Speaker 1: IDF soldiers were lightly wounded Saturday when their engineering vehicle
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  Speaker 1: drove over an explosive device belonging to Hezbollah in the
• 1:50
  Speaker 1: security zone in southern Lebanon, as reported by the Times
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  Speaker 1: of Israel. In response, the IDF struck Hezbollah infrastructure in
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  Speaker 1: several areas, including observation posts and sites used by the group.
• 2:02
  Speaker 1: World Israel News added that the IDF destroyed a sprawling
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  Speaker 1: Hezbollah underground network under the Ali al-Taha Ridge last week,
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  Speaker 1: consolidating the security zone along Israel's northern border. The military
• 2:14
  Speaker 1: stated it would continue to operate to remove threats to
• 2:17
  Speaker 1: Israeli civilians. Meanwhile, UNIFIL has warned of a potential vacuum
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  Speaker 1: as peacekeepers prepare to withdraw, highlighting escalating tensions. Domestically, IDF
• 2:27
  Speaker 1: Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Eyal Zamia, is directing significant
• 2:31
  Speaker 1: reinforcement of military forces across all fronts ahead of Yom Kippur.
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  Speaker 1: Additional personnel and operational assets are being deployed across northern,
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  Speaker 1: central and southern commands, with increased air force and navy readiness.
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  Speaker 1: This follows Zamia's earlier instruction to raise the alert level
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  Speaker 1: in the West Bank amid heightened tensions. In a significant development,
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  Speaker 1: President Isaac Herzog announced Saturday that he has granted Elora's
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  Speaker 1: area a pardon. erasing the remainder of his criminal record.
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  Speaker 1: The President's office stated that the decision was made in
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  Speaker 1: the spirit of the upcoming holidays and out of a
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  Speaker 1: belief in repair and reconciliation, allowing Azaria to open a
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  Speaker 1: new chapter. Defence Minister Israel Katz welcomed the decision, calling
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  Speaker 1: it correct, humane and worthy, emphasising it sends a message
• 3:18
  Speaker 1: of support to IDF soldiers. The impact of the October
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  Speaker 1: 7 attacks is also prompting introspection regarding faith and observance
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  Speaker 1: for Yom Kippur. Some secular Israelis are questioning divine presence,
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  Speaker 1: while others, even if not traditionally religious, are drawing closer
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  Speaker 1: to Judaism and observing traditions, with some former hostages sharing
• 3:38
  Speaker 1: their experiences of faith in captivity, as detailed in reports
• 3:42
  Speaker 1: from jpost.com. In political discourse, statements from Tibai assert that
• 3:47
  Speaker 1: the replacement of Netanyahu's government is contingent on the participation
• 3:51
  Speaker 1: of Arab parties, as noted by Telegram channel Newsil. Likud
• 3:56
  Speaker 1: has broadcast a response to these statements. On the diplomatic front,
• 4:00
  Speaker 1: Iran has conveyed specific conditions to mediators for re-engaging in
• 4:04
  Speaker 1: talks to end the war with the US, according to
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  Speaker 1: Al Jazeera, citing Iran's security chief Mohsen Rezaei. These conditions
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  Speaker 1: include ending hostilities on all fronts, unfreezing Iranian funds and
• 4:16
  Speaker 1: lifting a naval blockade, with Tehran awaiting a response from
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  Speaker 1: US President Donald Trump. Separately, the Texas State Board of
• 4:23
  Speaker 1: Education has adopted a new mandatory curriculum for public schools,
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  Speaker 1: establishing that Israel was founded in 1948 in the historic
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: homeland of the Jewish people. Countering what are described as
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: attempts by radical left-wing organizations to distort Israel's history, as
• 4:40
  Speaker 1: reported by Telegram channel Amir Tsarfati, the Jerusalem Biennale is
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: set to open its seventh and largest edition, a citywide
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  Speaker 1: contemporary art experience described by J-Post.org, commas a powerful message
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  Speaker 1: of resilience and a catalyst for healing, featuring over 250
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  Speaker 1: Israeli and international artists and exploring themes of memory and
• 5:01
  Speaker 1: identity in the wake of collective trauma. In defence technology news,
• 5:06
  Speaker 1: UNIT reports that North Korea is showcasing mass production of
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: suicide drones that bear a resemblance to Israel aerospace industry's
• 5:13
  Speaker 1: Harop loitering munition, with Kim Jong-un touring weapons factories and
• 5:18
  Speaker 1: ordering greater use of AI in combat systems. For continuing
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch
• 5:26
  Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm
• 5:31
  Speaker 1: Noah Levi, thank you for listening to Israel Today Ongoing
• 5:33
  Speaker 1: War Report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today Ongoing
• 5:38
  Speaker 1: War Report in your podcast app so you don't miss
• 5:40
  Speaker 1: the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated report
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a
• 5:49
  Speaker 1: comprehensive view. Thank you.