HEADLINES
Israel warns US of possible Iran strike
Israel strikes Hezbollah as border tensions flare
Netanyahu to chair Oct 7 attacks inquest

The time is now 8:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the hourly update at eight o’clock. Here is the latest information shaping the Middle East and related international considerations, with emphasis on Israeli security concerns and the evolving regional dynamics.

Israel has conveyed to the United States a warning that Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps may be using ongoing missile launch exercises as cover for a potential attack. An Israeli source cited by observers said the overall assessment places the likelihood of an Iranian strike below fifty percent, but officials are not inclined to treat the situation as merely an exercise. US intelligence officials have said there are no clear signs of an imminent attack. The exchange underscores the ongoing sensitivity around Iran’s posture and Israeli risk calculations stemming from earlier regional tensions.

In the border arena, the Israeli military reported strikes against Hezbollah operatives in southern Lebanon, with Lebanese health authorities saying one person was killed and another wounded in the exchange. Israel described its actions as targeting Hezbollah infrastructure and operatives violating the November 2024 ceasefire. Separately, Lebanon’s army said it discovered and dismantled an Israeli spy device in Yarun near the border, highlighting the ongoing intelligence contests along the frontier. The broader security environment remains tense as Hezbollah conducts activities the group and its supporters view as part of ongoing resistance against Israeli actions.

Diplomatic and security diplomacy surrounding Hezbollah’s disarmament continues to unfold. Washington has pressed Beirut to make measurable progress on disarmament and security improvements in border areas, and European capitals have been part of the dialogue. In Paris, Lebanese and Israeli civilian representatives participated in a ceasefire monitoring committee meeting for a second time this month, as both sides seek to translate a fragile truce into verifiable steps on the ground. The ceasefire framework requires cooperation from multiple parties and remains fragile in light of recurring incidents along the border and among border communities.

Within Israel’s domestic political and cultural landscape, tensions have flared over broader security and governance questions. Culture Minister Miki Zohar threatened to end state funding for the film industry as part of a dispute over an alternative film awards ceremony. He pledged to push changes to the Film Law and to reduce public funding to the film sector, arguing that creative expression should occur independent of public funding. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is slated to lead the panel that will set the parameters of a government inquest into the October 7 attacks, a step critics say may be intended to address accountability while avoiding a full state commission of inquiry.

On domestic security matters, Israeli police have opened probes into candle-extinguishing incidents during Hanukkah, including a case in Ramla and similar reports in Tel Aviv and Beit Shemesh. The incidents have prompted scrutiny of holiday observances and security protocols around public menorah events.

The regional security picture continues to be shaped by broader tensions involving Iran, its allied groups, and the ongoing Gaza dynamics that followed the 2023 Palestinian-Israeli clashes. The American and Israeli governments maintain a high-stakes focus on preventing any rapid escalation and preserving a path toward de‑escalation, even as confrontations flare along the borders and in the political arena.

In other news with international reach, Nigerian authorities say the remaining abducted students and staff from St Mary’s Catholic boarding school in Papiri village have been freed, concluding a months-long kidnapping case that drew global attention. Turning to road safety, a fatal car crash this evening raised the year’s death toll to 450, the highest level in two decades, with driving identified as the leading cause of fatalities. Pedestrian fatalities also feature prominently among the toll, underscoring ongoing road-safety challenges.

Separately, Jews traveling to a Hanukkah candle-lighting event in Istanbul faced an attack linked to anti-Israel demonstrations, a reminder of the persistence of anti‑Israel sentiment and the security pressures facing Jewish communities abroad.

In the Jericho corridor, reports describe PA–IDF coordination-related activity that highlights ongoing coordination efforts amid a broader security posture in the West Bank, even as Israel and the Palestinian Authority seek to manage tensions and maintain stability in sensitive areas.

That is the latest snapshot as the evening progresses, reflecting how Israel’s security considerations, regional diplomacy, and domestic political debates intersect at a moment of heightened vigilance and cautious diplomacy.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
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https://www.timesofisrael.com/idf-says-it-targeted-hezbollah-operatives-in-southern-lebanon-strikes/
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https://t.me/newssil/184294
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https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-december-22-2025/
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/antisemitism/article-880950