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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 18, 2026, 04 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: In Iran, satellite imagery indicates a rapid reconstruction effort at
• 0:16
  Speaker 1: the Tailgun-2 facility within the Parchin military complex. Reports from
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  Speaker 1: Vantor Technologies and the Institute for Science and International Security
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  Speaker 1: suggest Iran is attempting to conceal ongoing work. Having erected
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  Speaker 1: a tarp over the buried facility, and added concrete reinforcement
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  Speaker 1: to provide additional blast protection. This development is considered concerning
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  Speaker 1: given the facility's history tied to Iran's nuclear weapons research programme.
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  Speaker 1: The institute noted repair and rehabilitation work began in June,
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  Speaker 1: with Iran focusing on repairing penetration holes and reinforcing the
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  Speaker 1: structure against aerial attacks. On the regional front, Saudi Arabia
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  Speaker 1: has reportedly conveyed a new proposal to Yemen's Houthis through Oman.
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  Speaker 1: This initiative, according to Lebanon's Al-Akbar newspaper, includes a two-week
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  Speaker 1: ceasefire and direct talks aimed at addressing humanitarian demands before
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  Speaker 1: seeking a comprehensive agreement. This comes amid ongoing fighting and
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  Speaker 1: rising tensions, with Saudi Arabia accusing the Houthis of attacks
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  Speaker 1: on civilian and economic facilities. The report notes that Saudi
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  Speaker 1: Arabia has not officially confirmed the proposal's details, and Oman
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  Speaker 1: is acting as a mediator for the communication with Sana'a. Separately,
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  Speaker 1: secret talks were held in Oman between US representatives and
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  Speaker 1: senior Houthi officials, where the Houthis reportedly reiterated their commitment
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  Speaker 1: to a 2025 ceasefire and stated they do not intend
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  Speaker 1: to attack US vessels. In security news, Shin Bet and
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  Speaker 1: Lahav 433 have arrested Hamdan Hamdan, a 32-year-old resident of
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  Speaker 1: Majd al-Krum, on suspicion of contacting a foreign agent from
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  Speaker 1: Lebanon and carrying out security missions. Investigations suggest he was
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  Speaker 1: directed to perform these tasks for several months by a
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  Speaker 1: foreign agent he knew to be operating from Lebanon. Turning
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  Speaker 1: to US policy concerning the region, an Israeli official confirmed
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  Speaker 1: to Waller that the United States has informed Israel of
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  Speaker 1: its intent to sell F-35 fighter jets to Saudi Arabia
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  Speaker 1: in a deal valued at $ 25 billion. Israel is reportedly
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  Speaker 1: planning to seek compensation from Washington in the form of
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  Speaker 1: weapons systems previously denied. aiming to preserve its qualitative operational
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  Speaker 1: advantage in the Middle East. The official added that even
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  Speaker 1: if the deal is signed soon, Saudi Arabia would not
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  Speaker 1: receive its first aircraft for approximately five years. Meanwhile, at
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  Speaker 1: the Middle East-America Dialogue, or MEAD, conference in Washington, US
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  Speaker 1: and regional officials discussed a critical 28-month window for action
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  Speaker 1: before the end of the Trump administration, emphasising the need
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  Speaker 1: to secure ongoing processes related to Iran, Gaza and Lebanon.
• 2:55
  Speaker 1: In Gaza, rebuilding plans promised in an October 2025 truce
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  Speaker 1: have stalled, leaving most residents living in tents or damaged structures,
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  Speaker 1: a situation exacerbated as winter approaches. The Times of Israel
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  Speaker 1: reports a fatal building collapse highlighting the dangers plaguing the strip. Separately,
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  Speaker 1: a documentary titled NAZA, directed by Israelis Yuval Abraham and
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  Speaker 1: Rachel Shaw, won the special jury prize at the Venice
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  Speaker 1: Film Festival. The film presents allegations surrounding Israeli military targeting
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  Speaker 1: in Gaza, including anonymous testimony claiming the IDF permits mass
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  Speaker 1: killing with AI-powered tools. The IDF has categorically rejected these allegations,
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  Speaker 1: stating it cannot verify the identities or knowledge of the
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  Speaker 1: anonymous sources. The film's directors state that many revelations were
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  Speaker 1: first published by The Guardian, Plus 972 magazine, and Local Call.
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  Speaker 1: An examination of the film's journalistic ecosystem, reveals that Local
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  Speaker 1: Call received significant grants, totalling $ 562, 000, $ 900 from George Soros's
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  Speaker 1: Open Society Foundations, between 2018 and 2024. The article notes
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  Speaker 1: that this funding chain does not prove direct financing of
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  Speaker 1: the film by Soros or Open Society Foundations, nor does
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  Speaker 1: funding itself prove journalism false, but context is important. Amidst
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  Speaker 1: rising antisemitism, Thousands gathered in Amsterdam's Dam Square for a
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  Speaker 1: pro-Israel rally, initiated by a pro-Israel Christian group. Pro-Palestinian activists
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  Speaker 1: also appeared, unfurling a Palestinian flag on a nearby building,
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  Speaker 1: which was quickly removed by participants of the pro-Israel demonstration.
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  Speaker 1: The police arrested dozens of activists during the events. In Germany,
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  Speaker 1: the Jewish community in Berlin is reportedly wary of Die
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  Speaker 1: Linke Party's mayoral candidate, who has vowed to fight antisemitism.
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  Speaker 1: with critics questioning her ability to control such sentiment within
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  Speaker 1: her own party. Finally, regarding Israeli domestic politics, a poll
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  Speaker 1: conducted September 16-17, 2026, indicates that 54% of Israelis believe
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  Speaker 1: the country should assist Saudi Arabia against the Houthis, with
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  Speaker 1: 38% conditioning this aid on a normalisation agreement. The same
• 5:10
  Speaker 1: poll surveyed support for upcoming Knesset elections, showing Prime Minister
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  Speaker 1: Benjamin Netanyahu's Likud party continuing a downward trend, projected at
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  Speaker 1: 18 seats. The coalition bloc remains stable at 50 seats,
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  Speaker 1: while new parties like Ofa Winter's People of Israel and
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  Speaker 1: the Reservists' Economic Party are clearing the electoral threshold. In
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  Speaker 1: a head-to-head comparison for the role of Prime Minister, Gadi
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  Speaker 1: Eisenkot leads Netanyahu, with 48% supporting Eisenkot versus 40% for Netanyahu.
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  Speaker 1: For continuing coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to
• 5:44
  Speaker 1: Antisemitism Watch from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch.
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  Speaker 1: I'm Noah Levi, thank you for joining us on Israel
• 5:52
  Speaker 1: Today Ongoing War Report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel
• 5:57
  Speaker 1: Today Ongoing War Report in your podcast app so you
• 6:00
  Speaker 1: don't miss the next update. Keep in mind that this
• 6:03
  Speaker 1: AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources
• 6:08
  Speaker 1: for a comprehensive view.