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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 16, 2026, 01 PM Eastern · Israel Today: Ongoing War Report

• 0:08
  Speaker 1: You're listening to Israel Today ongoing war report. I'm Noah Levi.
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  Speaker 1: In a significant regional development, Houthi forces have captured territory
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  Speaker 1: overlooking the Bab al-Mandeb Strait in Yemen. AL Monitor and
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  Speaker 1: Reuters describe this as Saudi Arabia's gravest setback in years,
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  Speaker 1: exposing intelligence failures and the limits of US protection. The
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  Speaker 1: Houthis have amassed substantial forces, with Saudi-backed Yemeni forces collapsing
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  Speaker 1: during the advance and yielding advanced weaponry. This has left
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  Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia seeking broader backing, as Western officials indicate no
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  Speaker 1: direct military support is forthcoming from the US or European countries.
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  Speaker 1: Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has reportedly discussed military
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  Speaker 1: cooperation with Egypt for Red Sea operations. Meanwhile, Iran is
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  Speaker 1: demonstrating its ability to strike regionally, even under US sanctions,
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  Speaker 1: potentially putting Saudi Arabia in a multi-front bind. World Israel
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  Speaker 1: News reports claims of Houthis releasing footage showing the shoot-down
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  Speaker 1: of a Saudi F-15 fighter jet over Yemen's Marib province.
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  Speaker 1: Adding another layer, J-Post reports that Iranian drone and missile
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  Speaker 1: attacks on US bases, including an incident injuring 12 US
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  Speaker 1: soldiers at Prince Sultan Air Base, may have been aided
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  Speaker 1: by Russian spy satellites. US officials cited by CNN suggest
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  Speaker 1: this intelligence could have facilitated precision strikes, an act viewed
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  Speaker 1: by some experts as Russian payback, for US support of Ukraine,
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  Speaker 1: with potentially monumental consequences for regional security architecture. On the
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  Speaker 1: Lebanese front, the IDF warned northern Israeli residents of upcoming
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  Speaker 1: strikes in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese reports alleging impacts in
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  Speaker 1: al-Mansouri and Nabatea. J-Post also details the IDF's complex operation,
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  Speaker 1: chisel of flames to capture Ali Taha Ridge in southern Lebanon,
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  Speaker 1: a months-long effort where Iran is noted to have contributed
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  Speaker 1: to the technological and tactical construction of Hezbollah's defences. In
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  Speaker 1: further Iran-linked activity, four individuals were convicted in Jerusalem over
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  Speaker 1: an alleged Iranian plot to target an Israeli nuclear scientist
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  Speaker 1: and his family. Separately, Alexander Granovsky was sentenced to 13.5
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  Speaker 1: years for acting as an Iranian operative, involving espionage and arson,
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  Speaker 1: as detailed by UNIT and World Israel News. In Gaza,
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  Speaker 1: the IDF announced the elimination of Nakba commander Jihad Sami
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  Speaker 1: Mahmoud Ismail in Khan Yunis. J-Post reports Ismail was involved
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  Speaker 1: in the October 7 massacre, including the killing of Captain
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  Speaker 1: Omar Nutra and the abduction of Sergeant Nimrod Cohen. In
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  Speaker 1: a separate incident in Gaza City, authorities reported 21 deaths,
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  Speaker 1: including five children, after a six-storey apartment building collapsed in
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  Speaker 1: the Tal Al-Hawa area. Gaza Civil Defence stated the building
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  Speaker 1: had sustained damage from earlier Israeli strikes and was housing
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  Speaker 1: over 100 displaced people. AL Monitor notes the UN's assessment
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  Speaker 1: that most buildings in Gaza are damaged or destroyed. Turning
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  Speaker 1: to the West Bank, a recent poll of 400 Palestinians
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  Speaker 1: indicates that 46% believe Israel does not have a right
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  Speaker 1: to exist, while 41% believe it does. The J-Post reported
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  Speaker 1: survey also highlighted widespread concern regarding IDF operations, with 91%
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  Speaker 1: expressing worry and a low sense of personal security for
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  Speaker 1: 60% of respondents. Unemployment and settler violence were cited as
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  Speaker 1: major concerns by over 95%. Palestinian ambassador to the UK,
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  Speaker 1: Husem Zomlot, has asserted that the Bible is a Palestinian book,
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  Speaker 1: claiming that Palestinian history and identity have been misrepresented or stolen.
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  Speaker 1: These remarks were reported by World Israel News on September 16.
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  Speaker 1: On the domestic political scene, Yashar chairman Gadi Eisenkot-Denied reports
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  Speaker 1: suggesting he promised to include the Ra'am party in a
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  Speaker 1: future coalition government. J-Post cited Eisenkot's office as calling a
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  Speaker 1: report claiming such a promise a complete lie, stating coalition
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  Speaker 1: composition was not discussed during a meeting with Bedouin local
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  Speaker 1: authority heads. Finally, a note on travel. Industry sources report
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  Speaker 1: a renewed interest in Morocco among Israeli travellers, as direct
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  Speaker 1: flights resume after a three-year pause. The Times of Israel
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  Speaker 1: notes this includes interest in heritage sites like synagogues and
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  Speaker 1: Jewish quarters, as well as kosher travel. For continuing coverage
• 4:31
  Speaker 1: of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch from
• 4:35
  Speaker 1: Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm Noah Levi,
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  Speaker 1: thank you for listening to Israel Today ongoing war report.
• 4:44
  Speaker 1: Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today, ongoing war report
• 4:48
  Speaker 1: in your podcast app so you don't miss the next update.
• 4:51
  Speaker 1: Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies,
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  Speaker 1: so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view.