Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-21 at 13:02

HEADLINESIraq asserts weapons monopoly against militiasIsrael expands Lebanon operations amid defense debateIranian delegation walks out of Swiss talksThe time is now 1:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Iraq’s new leadership under prime minister Ali al-Zaidi is pressing to give the state a monopoly on weapons as a way to rein in Iranian-backed militias, though questions linger about whether Baghdad can compel disarmament of those groups. Iraqi officials say the monopoly on weapons is non-negotiable, with Sabah al-Numan, the spokesman for the commander-in-chief of the Iraqi Armed Forces, describing restricting weapons to the state and dismantling armed movements outside the framework of law as an existential issue not open to compromise. The stance signals a practical translation of the new security arrangement with regional powers, even as officials acknowledge that guarantees will be put in place to demonstrate disarmament of the militias. Across the region, Israel has expanded operations in southern Lebanon, prompting debate inside the defense establishment over whether battlefield gains translate into a real strategic shift. After the April 7 ceasefire with Iran and a framework deal laid out with Iran more recently, questions persist about what Israel can gain from any partial withdrawal and how far the IDF should press to secure disarmament or reduced activity by Hezbollah and other proxies. In parallel, US President Donald Trump has warned Iran to stop supporting proxies in Lebanon, threatening to resume strikes if they do not comply, and has cautioned against closing the Strait of Hormuz. He floated the idea of Syria taking a more active role against Hezbollah and warned that a broader confrontation could be pursued. Taken together, these developments underscore high-stakes tensions as Baghdad seeks state control of arms, Israel weighs its Lebanon posture, and Washington signals renewed pressure on Iran and its regional networks.In the US Policy Concerning Israel, the Iranian delegation, led by Parliamentary Speaker Mohammad-Bagher Ghalibaf, refused a photo with US Vice President JD Vance and the American side, walking out of the negotiation venue in Switzerland, following threats made against Iran’s diplomatic delegation by President Donald J. Trump. The Iranian delegation left the talks in Switzerland in protest against Trump's threats.In Israeli Domestic Politics, three minors were arrested for attacking worshippers at the Little Western Wall in Jerusalem’s Old City, an operation prompted by surveillance footage and carried out by police who detained the suspects for questioning. In another development, Israel filed a civil lawsuit in Haifa Magistrate’s Court for about 2 million shekels against four terrorists from the Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine who kidnapped and murdered IDF soldier Moshe Tamam in 1984. The defendants included Ibrahim Abd al-Razzaq Biadsa, Ibrahim Naif Abu Much, Saleh (formerly Rushdi Abu Much), and the next of kin of Walid Nimer Asaad Decca, who was responsible for the cell and ordered Tamam’s murder; Decca died in 2024 while serving his sentence. Tamam was kidnapped in August 1984 near Netanya, bound, blindfolded, and held for two days before his death, with the case continuing as a financial claim against those connected to the act.In Uplifting News, Paris mayor Emmanuel Gregoire granted honorary citizenship of the city to the civilians of Gaza and the West Bank, as well as Palestinian journalists, a move confirmed after the Paris Council meeting. The proposal passed by 107-41 with 3 abstentions, and Gregoire hosted the Ambassador of Palestine and the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Jordan for the ceremony. “The honorary citizenship of Paris is not a symbol; it is a commitment,” he said, adding, “To the civilians of Gaza and the West Bank, to the families, to the children, to the doctors who treat the wounds of war, to the teachers who hold classes amid the rubble, to the journalists who seek to report on this deadly conflict: Paris tells you that you are honorary citizens of our city.”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.SOURCEShttps://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900068https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-900060https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900054https://t.me/DefenderDome/21634https://t.me/hnaftali/23560https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-900063https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/crime-in-israel/article-900012https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900064