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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 17, 2026, 05 AM 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 Houthis have achieved a significant strategic success against Israel
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  Speaker 1: by disrupting commercial shipping to the port of Eilat, according
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  Speaker 1: to jpost.com. The group's advances along Yemen's western coast and
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  Speaker 1: control of Perim Island in the Bab al-Mandab Strait have
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  Speaker 1: heightened the threat to Red Sea shipping. This development places
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  Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia in a similar strategic predicament, with Crown Prince
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  Speaker 1: Mohammed bin Salman reportedly seeking US assistance. Israel and Saudi
• 0:39
  Speaker 1: Arabia now share parallel interests in securing this vital maritime route,
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  Speaker 1: creating potential opportunities for a regional effort to restore shipping
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  Speaker 1: to Eilat. Despite these advances, traffic through the strait continues,
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  Speaker 1: though the Houthis' new positions enhance their ability to monitor
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  Speaker 1: and selectively target vessels. Meanwhile, the looming end of UNIFIL's
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  Speaker 1: normal operations on December 31, 2026, and its subsequent withdrawal
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  Speaker 1: raises questions about border security and stability in southern Lebanon.
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  Speaker 1: French President Emmanuel Macron is set to meet with Lebanese
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  Speaker 1: President Joseph Ayran and Jordan's King Abdullah Ai to discuss
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  Speaker 1: post-UNIFIL plans, with France and Italy reportedly working on proposals
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  Speaker 1: for a multinational successor force. Lebanon is advocating for UNIFIL's
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  Speaker 1: extended presence, warning that withdrawal under current conditions could create
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  Speaker 1: a security vacuum. UNIFIL, established in 1978, expanded its role
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  Speaker 1: significantly after the 2006 war, aiming to prevent armed personnel
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  Speaker 1: other than Lebanese government forces and UNIFIL from operating between
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  Speaker 1: the Blue Line and the Latani River. While it has
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  Speaker 1: been instrumental in observing and documenting violations, it has also
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  Speaker 1: served as a crucial channel for communication between Israel and Lebanon.
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  Speaker 1: especially during times of heightened tension. In the Gaza Strip,
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  Speaker 1: a source close to the Board of Peace has criticised
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  Speaker 1: Israel's policy of targeted assassinations of Hamas officials, arguing that
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  Speaker 1: it fails to dismantle the organisation itself, leaving Hamas with
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  Speaker 1: its army and rule. This comes amid disputes over the
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  Speaker 1: next phase of Gaza's process, following a July 30 agreement
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  Speaker 1: between Hamas and the Board of Peace for phased disarmament,
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  Speaker 1: which Israel has not accepted. Israel maintains the IDF will
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  Speaker 1: not withdraw until Hamas is genuinely disarmed. Having resumed targeting
• 2:30
  Speaker 1: Hamas operatives, who they accuse of involvement in the October
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  Speaker 1: 7 massacre, Israeli officials argue that a period of reduced
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  Speaker 1: strikes allowed Hamas to strengthen its military capabilities. Separately, Gazan
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  Speaker 1: journalists report alleged kidnappings by IDF special forces in central
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  Speaker 1: Gaza Strip areas near the border. Reports from September 16
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  Speaker 1: and 17, 2026, detail incidents where individuals were allegedly taken
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  Speaker 1: from their homes or streets by armed forces. Specific individuals
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  Speaker 1: have been named in these reports. A former senior Shin,
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  Speaker 1: Bet official, has issued a public warning urging Israelis, with
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  Speaker 1: gun permits, to carry their weapons during the upcoming Yom
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  Speaker 1: Kippur holiday for protection against potential terror attacks. Arik Barbing
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  Speaker 1: stated that providing airtight security for every synagogue is impossible,
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  Speaker 1: and that armed civilians represent the first line of defence,
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  Speaker 1: emphasising the sensitive security situation. This comes as the Diaspora
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  Speaker 1: Affairs and Combating Antisemitism Ministry launched its first international campaign
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  Speaker 1: to expose alleged UN bias against Israel. A new website
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  Speaker 1: compiles information on what the ministry describes as a mechanism
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  Speaker 1: of bias, including information manipulation, toxic institutional culture and unsubstantiated
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  Speaker 1: claims regarding famine and genocide. The campaign targets journalists, diplomats
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  Speaker 1: and decision-makers in the United States. US Ambassador to Israel
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  Speaker 1: Mike Huckabee stated that US actions benefiting Israel are primarily
• 3:59
  Speaker 1: for American security, not solely for Israel's. He rejected claims
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  Speaker 1: that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu pressured President Donald Trump into
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  Speaker 1: the war against Iran, asserting that Trump made the decision independently.
• 4:12
  Speaker 1: In Israeli domestic politics, a new survey indicates that for
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  Speaker 1: young Israelis, Housing affordability and economic or social issues are
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  Speaker 1: the leading concerns ahead of elections, with security ranking much lower.
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  Speaker 1: The survey found that 38% prioritise housing costs. Meanwhile, internal
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  Speaker 1: political tensions are evident, with Benny Gantz reportedly launching sharp
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  Speaker 1: criticism against Bennett and Lieberman, stating their actions are harming
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  Speaker 1: the chances of winning. Additionally, the Shah's party is reportedly
• 4:42
  Speaker 1: concerned about losing voters to Ben Jivur. with Rabbi Yitzhak
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  Speaker 1: Yosef issuing a halakhic ruling against voting for those without
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  Speaker 1: fear of heaven or who ascend the Temple Mount, highlighting
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  Speaker 1: religious political stakes. On the economic front, prosecutors allege that
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  Speaker 1: Mustafa Isar, 20, used his volunteer role with Israel's fire
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  Speaker 1: service to scout potential targets and experimented with explosive mixtures,
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  Speaker 1: purchasing a drone and equipment over an 18-month period as
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  Speaker 1: he prepared for an alleged attack. In other news, a
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  Speaker 1: 24-year-old Palestinian from Nablus was arrested in Tel Aviv after
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  Speaker 1: illegally entering Israel and fatally striking a cyclist with a
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  Speaker 1: stolen vehicle. Tools for vehicle theft were found in the car.
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  Speaker 1: This incident is the second in September, involving a West
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  Speaker 1: Bank resident stealing a vehicle in Tel Aviv. For continuing
• 5:32
  Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism, Watch
• 5:37
  Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org. I'm Noah Levi,
• 5:42
  Speaker 1: thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing war report.
• 5:45
  Speaker 1: Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today ongoing war report
• 5:50
  Speaker 1: in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.
• 5:53
  Speaker 1: Keep in mind that this AI generated report may contain
• 5:56
  Speaker 1: occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.