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Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - September 19, 2026, 07 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: We begin with significant developments in the ongoing conflict with
• 0:15
  Speaker 1: Iran and its regional proxies. The Iran-led regional alliance appears
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  Speaker 1: to be extending its reach over vital maritime traffic. Jpost.com
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  Speaker 1: reports that Houthi forces in Yemen have seized control of
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  Speaker 1: key islands in the southern Red Sea, including the Greater
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  Speaker 1: and Lesser Hanish Islands. and now effectively control the strategically
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  Speaker 1: important Bab el-Mandeb Strait. This advance, which saw the capture
• 0:38
  Speaker 1: of the port city of Mokka and Perim Island, places
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  Speaker 1: them just 20 kilometres from the African coast, affording significant
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  Speaker 1: control over shipping lanes. According to the report, these Houthi
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  Speaker 1: actions were accompanied by an Iraqi Shait militia drone attack
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  Speaker 1: on September 10, targeting Saudi Arabia's east-west pipeline. This pipeline,
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  Speaker 1: crucial for Saudi oil transport to avoid the Strait of Hormuz,
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  Speaker 1: is expected to be out of service for three to
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  Speaker 1: five weeks. The coordinated actions between Iraqi militias and the
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  Speaker 1: Houthis are seen as an effort to extend the alliance's
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  Speaker 1: ability to dictate terms on maritime traffic, while specifically targeting
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  Speaker 1: Saudi Arabia to potentially avoid provoking direct US retaliation. In
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  Speaker 1: diplomatic news regarding the West Bank, Australia has reportedly withdrawn
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  Speaker 1: at the last minute from a UK-led coalition planning to
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  Speaker 1: impose sanctions on Israeli settlements. European diplomats from 12 countries
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  Speaker 1: expressed surprise at Australia's decision, according to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
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  Speaker 1: While Australia has previously collaborated with Western nations on measures
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  Speaker 1: related to the Gaza war and settlements, sources cited practical
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  Speaker 1: challenges and potential harm to Palestinian businesses and livelihoods as
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  Speaker 1: stated reasons for the withdrawal. Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs
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  Speaker 1: and Trade indicated they are pursuing targeted measures in coordination
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  Speaker 1: with partners. even if not using the same methods. Some
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  Speaker 1: sources also speculated that domestic political considerations, including potential criticism
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  Speaker 1: from Australian Jewish groups and increased antisemitism following recent terror attacks,
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  Speaker 1: may have influenced Canberra's final decision. Turning to US policy
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  Speaker 1: concerning Israel, President Trump has signed the Lindsay Graham Law,
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  Speaker 1: introducing comprehensive sanctions against Iran and Russia. According to a
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  Speaker 1: report from Telegram channel Abul Express, The law targets Russian leadership, oligarchs,
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  Speaker 1: key industries, and its oil tanker fleet. It also empowers
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  Speaker 1: the US to impose significant tariffs, up to 100%, on
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  Speaker 1: goods from major Russian oil and gas buyers like China
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  Speaker 1: and India, and up to 500% on direct imports from Russia. Crucially,
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  Speaker 1: the sanctions on Iran's energy and weapons sectors are extended
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  Speaker 1: for five years. The President retains the authority to delay
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  Speaker 1: or waive any of these measures. In matters of antisemitism,
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  Speaker 1: the rapper Macklemore is facing renewed backlash for his pro-Palestinian activism,
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  Speaker 1: particularly his May 2024 song, Heinz Hall. The song, which
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  Speaker 1: praised student protesters and criticised US support for Israel, has
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  Speaker 1: led to him being cancelled from performing at venues. Robert Kraft,
• 3:15
  Speaker 1: owner of Gillette Stadium, reportedly referenced the rapper's broader history
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  Speaker 1: of anti-Semitic rhetoric and imagery when blocking a performance. The
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  Speaker 1: Anti-Defamation League has also called his recent actions unacceptable. This
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  Speaker 1: comes a decade after McLemore apologised for a controversial 2014
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  Speaker 1: costume that drew accusations of antisemitism, an incident for which
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  Speaker 1: he later sought forgiveness and encouraged support for the ADL.
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  Speaker 1: Separately in the US, a 52-year-old Maine man named Thaddeus
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  Speaker 1: Wind has been convicted of making online threats. According to
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  Speaker 1: the US Attorney's Office for the District of Maine, Wind
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  Speaker 1: was found guilty of transmitting interstate threatening communications and threatening
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  Speaker 1: a US Vice President. Evidence presented during his trial showed
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  Speaker 1: he posted threats on X, formerly Twitter, targeting Jewish people,
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  Speaker 1: Vice President Kamala Harris, law enforcement officers and Elon Musk.
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  Speaker 1: He has been sentenced to three years of supervised release
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  Speaker 1: after spending 17 months in prison. Finally, in Israeli business news,
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  Speaker 1: Istanbul prosecutors have alleged that Israeli citizens managed an international
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  Speaker 1: investment fraud network operating from Turkey defrauding victims worldwide of
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  Speaker 1: more than $ 3 billion. Jpost.com reports a large-scale operation, involving
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  Speaker 1: 191 arrests, was led by Turkish authorities. Prosecutors claim the
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  Speaker 1: network used companies in Turkey as fronts for investment schemes,
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  Speaker 1: particularly in foreign exchange and cryptocurrency, promising high returns. Investigations
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  Speaker 1: revealed alleged links to Israel in the ownership structures of
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  Speaker 1: these companies. Employees reportedly underwent secretive vetting processes, including polygraph tests,
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  Speaker 1: and were prohibited from speaking Hebrew in offices. For continuing
• 5:00
  Speaker 1: coverage of antisemitism around the world, listen to Antisemitism Watch
• 5:04
  Speaker 1: from Clockwork Media. Find it at clockworkmedia.org slash watch. I'm
• 5:09
  Speaker 1: Noah Levi, thank you for joining us on Israel Today
• 5:12
  Speaker 1: Ongoing War Report. Stay safe and informed. Follow Israel Today
• 5:17
  Speaker 1: Ongoing War Report in your podcast app so you don't
• 5:19
  Speaker 1: miss the next update. Keep in mind that this AI-generated
• 5:22
  Speaker 1: report may contain occasional inaccuracies. so consult multiple sources for
• 5:27
  Speaker 1: a comprehensive view.