HEADLINES
Sidon airstrike kills three Hezbollah operatives
Netanyahu inner circle fractures under wartime probes
Iran pressure hardens US regional stance

The time is now 4:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

A 4:00 AM briefing on the Middle East notes ongoing security and diplomatic dynamics that continue to shape regional stability and international policy. A brief, computer generated clip related to the Jeffrey Epstein case appeared briefly on a US Department of Justice website as part of a November release of Epstein files; the clip was later removed and the episode drew limited attention beyond context of the broader document drop.

In Washington, American officials describe Iran as a destabilizing factor in the region. They say US policy remains focused on pressure, with sanctions emphasized as the primary tool rather than large‑scale military action, a posture aligned with what has been labeled as “maximum pressure.” That stance is being weighed as regional actors respond to Tehran’s alleged influence and to broader tensions surrounding Israel, its neighbors, and US interests in the area.

In Israel, new disclosures from domestic reporting have intensified questions about governance and transparency around senior aides. An in‑depth interview with Eli Feldstein highlighted tensions within Prime Minister Netanyahu’s circle, touching on the pressures to continue operations during a difficult phase of the war and the accountability questions raised by indirect funding arrangements. The conversations underscore how political dynamics inside the Prime Minister’s Office are proving consequential even as military pressures and hostage‑related diplomacy shape decisions on the ground.

On the security front, Israeli forces reported the killing of three Hezbollah operatives in an airstrike near Sidon, including one who also served in Lebanon’s army. The Israeli military described the operation as part of ongoing efforts to counter Hezbollah activity in the southern Lebanon border region, with the broader objective of deterring attacks and maintaining a buffer against cross‑border threat networks. In Gaza, the Kfir Brigade has completed a two‑month mission along the Yellow Line, dismantling hundreds of terrorist infrastructure sites, uncovering and neutralizing a two‑kilometer tunnel, and eliminating twenty militants. The Southern Gaza sector is described as secured for the moment, with the IDF remaining alert under the ceasefire framework to counter any renewed threats.

Across the broader security landscape, reports from Lebanon and the region indicate continued fragmentation and contested narratives about militant activity. Some Lebanese sources and social media accounts have circulated claims about Hezbollah operatives reported slain in the same campaign as the Sidon strikes; official confirmation from the Lebanese army has not been uniformly forthcoming. The Israeli military and its partners continue to monitor and respond to movements on multiple fronts, including the potential for regional spillovers from instability in southern Lebanon.

Israeli security services and law enforcement have also been dealing with domestic incidents that touch on religious sensitivities. In Tel Aviv, police opened an investigation into a 17‑year‑old girl who was filmed blowing out Hanukkah candles at a mall, amid concerns raised by civil rights groups about the legality and proportionality of probes into acts tied to religious expression. Separately, authorities in Ramla reported a minor removing Hanukkah lights, an event that also prompted questions about enforcement, intent, and the boundaries of acceptable conduct during a period of heightened sensitivity.

In Israeli politics, the top court has prompted significant attention as petitions pile up in what observers describe as an escalating confrontation between the judiciary and government. The moment reflects a broader pattern of legal and procedural checks that accompany a war and a government engaged in a rapidly evolving security environment.

Prime Minister Netanyahu and other regional leaders continue to emphasize energy and security linkages, notably through engagements with Greece and Cyprus. In Jerusalem, senior officials have described how shared security concerns and energy projects with these partners are reshaping the map of the eastern Mediterranean, creating a network of practical collaborations that complement traditional diplomacy.

International attention remains fixed on questions of a possible restart or escalation of conflict in the region. In the United States, discussions about Iran’s trajectory, sanctions policy, and potential coordination with allies are taking place as Washington weighs new security assurances and responses to shifting threats. The broader calculus includes how to deter Iran’s influence without triggering unintended escalations that could pull regional partners into a wider confrontation.

In other developments, reports from Ukraine describe widespread power outages following a Russian strike on power infrastructure, underscoring the global thread of how security disruptions in one region can reverberate worldwide. Within Israel, officials continue to monitor cross‑border threats closely, balancing immediate military needs with longer‑term diplomatic and political considerations.

Tech and research collaboration between Israel and international partners remains a positive thread amid the security discourse. Google and Tel Aviv University have launched a three‑year AI research initiative, building on prior support for TAU’s ExactShe program to foster women in research. The collaboration reflects a broader trend of Israel leveraging innovation as a diplomatic asset and a vehicle for international engagement.

At the same time, regional reporting continues to underline the fragility of ceasefires and the continuing risk of miscalculation. The regional environment remains volatile, with governmental authorities and security services signaling readiness to respond to threats and to manage a spectrum of challenges—from militant activity to political controversies—that color the path ahead for Israel, its neighbors, and its key partners in Europe and the United States.

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
https://www.jpost.com/international/article-881066
https://www.jpost.com/defense-and-tech/article-881069
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-881067
https://www.israelhayom.com/2025/12/23/when-loyalty-replaced-judgment/
https://www.jpost.com/american-politics/article-881064
https://worldisraelnews.com/netanyahu-hosts-greek-and-cypriot-leaders-in-jerusalem-to-advance-energy-links-and-security-coordination-in-eastern-mediterranean/
https://worldisraelnews.com/palestinian-church-targeted-by-muslim-arsonists/
https://worldisraelnews.com/google-tel-aviv-university-launch-three-year-ai-research-project/
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-881063
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/h100wcpdmbe
https://t.me/ILtoday/16339
https://www.timesofisrael.com/police-to-probe-teen-who-blew-out-hanukkah-candles-in-tel-aviv-mall/
https://worldisraelnews.com/israeli-minister-end-the-palestinian-authority-make-gaza-pay-for-the-war/
https://t.me/newssil/184453
https://t.me/abualiexpress/111125
https://t.me/abualiexpress/111124
https://t.me/newssil/184452
https://t.me/newssil/184450
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/b19q11apmzx
https://t.me/newssil/184447
https://t.me/newssil/184446
https://t.me/newssil/184442
<a href="https://t.m