Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-24 at 14:01

HEADLINESIsraeli raid kills Jenin-area arms dealerUS kills ISIS leader Ali Husayn al-'UlaywiGaza plan to recycle rubble for housingThe time is now 2:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Operation Lion's Roar, Israeli Duvdevan forces killed Mohamed Zayed, a resident of Yamun near Jenin, during a joint IDF and Shin Bet counterterrorism operation today. Zayed was an arms dealer who supplied weapons to the terrorist responsible for a 2025 shooting attack that seriously wounded two IDF soldiers. He had been evading arrest for an extended period and was moving between safe houses in the area. During an attempt to apprehend him today, Zayed tried to flee and posed a threat to the troops, who opened fire and killed him at the scene.In US Military Role, US Central Command says it killed a senior ISIS leader, Ali Husayn al-'Ulaywi, in a northwest Syria airstrike, as part of ongoing efforts to disrupt and kill terrorists seeking to attack Americans abroad or the US homeland. CENTCOM said it would continue to work with regional partners to root out remnants of ISIS and ensure its enduring defeat. Separately, the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control designated three individuals and six entities for facilitating financial transactions on behalf of ISIS, including Miloud Abderrahmane, a France-based actor who conducted transactions with ISIS affiliates, including in Syria, and who provided instructional and manufacturing information related to explosives.In Regional Impacts, a second day of Israel-Lebanon negotiations began in Washington, with a US official saying the goal is to continue to advance a comprehensive peace and security between the two countries. The Israeli delegation is led by Ambassador Yechiel Leiter, and the Lebanese side by Nada Hamadeh Maawad and Simon Karam, with the talks focusing on a pilot program for Lebanese Armed Forces deployments in southern Lebanon and an Israeli withdrawal from those areas. Officials described the first day as positive but not yielding major breakthroughs, and a joint statement and possible launch of the pilot were anticipated by Thursday, though the sides disagree on where the pilot should start. In Gaza, negotiations have begun with Israeli firms over large-scale demolition of structures, described by sources as unprecedented in scope. The plan envisions turning vast quantities of rubble into recycled construction materials and transporting much of it elsewhere, while leveling areas to make way for new housing even before Hamas is disarmed and Gaza demilitarized. A security official warned that the pace and scope of these plans could carry broader consequences, including the potential of renewed fighting if progress stalls.In US Policy Concerning Israel, an opinion piece discusses how Democratic incumbents now worry about appearing too pro-Israel, noting how political dynamics around Mamdani and related races have raised concerns that strong pro-Israel positioning could be used to define opponents in primary contests. The piece highlights the tensions exemplified by figures like Ritchie Torres in New York politics and the evolving expectations within the party. Separately, Adrian Boafo, backed by AIPAC, won Maryland’s Democratic primary to replace longtime Representative Steny Hoyer, securing victory with 32% in a crowded field as 68% of ballots were counted. AIPAC’s United Democracy Project contributed about $5.7 million to his campaign, and Boafo thanked supporters and Hoyer, signaling a continuation of Hoyer’s pro-Israel alignment.In Israeli Domestic Politics, officials assess that a full withdrawal from the security zone in southern Lebanon remains politically impractical for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who faces electoral constraints and has framed the hold as a strategic achievement. They say he cannot afford to appear to yield to American-Iranian pressure, and while he may agree to limited steps, local adjustments, or deployment changes, a complete pullout is unlikely. Opposition leaders, meanwhile, urge a government that serves the broader national interest rather than the interests of ultra-Orthodox party leaders, with Yair Lapid calling for a fair agreement and blocking funds that sustain draft evasion. Former IDF chief Gadi Eisenkot warned that permitting non-working and non-serving segments to paralyze the country would be detrimental, and former prime minister Naftali Bennett weighed in as protesters faced traffic disruptions. Across the country, ultra-Orthodox draft protests turned violent, with clashes in Arad and near Kiryat Ono as anti-draft convoys moved through the region, while residents of Kfar Yona organized to prevent demonstrators from reaching a military prison that has become a focal point in the enlistment dispute.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. 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