Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-06-25 at 21:02

HEADLINESKhamenei bunker exposed after IDF strikeIran eyes Hormuz revenue-sharing planVenezuela quakes: 188 dead, 41,000 missingThe time is now 9:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In Direct Israel-Iran Clashes, former supreme leader Ali Khamenei's underground bunker complex included a blast-resistant room and escape tunnels beneath central Tehran, according to Iran International citing architectural plans. The documents, reportedly authenticated by a security source, place the Habib Ebrahimi complex beside Khamenei's official residence. Construction began in 2009 with Khamenei's approval and was financed by the IRGC's Khatam al-Anbiya Construction Headquarters. The plans show a main entrance large enough for cars, and tunnels reaching 30 meters underground, plus a 27-meter tunnel connected to multiple escape routes and a second tunnel leading to a parking garage near Enghelab Square. In early March, the IDF targeted the bunker using intelligence provided by clandestine units 8200 and 9900, with the military saying it had located the site.In US Military Role, the US State Department approved the potential sale of F/A-18F Super Hornet and EA-18G Growler aircraft to Australia in a package valued at about $250 million. The department said the sale would support US foreign policy and national security objectives and would enhance Australia’s capability and interoperability with the US and its allies. It added the deal is not intended to alter the basic military balance in the region, no additional US contractors would be assigned to Australia, and it would not impact US defense readiness. Separately, US Southern Command activated an operational planning team to support potential disaster relief efforts in Venezuela after powerful earthquakes of magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, working with the State Department to prepare to assist emergency response and humanitarian relief as the full extent of the devastation becomes known.In Regional Impacts, Iran is seeking a multibillion-dollar role in reopening the Strait of Hormuz, with Iran believing security and environmental services in the strait could earn more than $40 billion a year. Officials familiar with the discussions told the Wall Street Journal that Tehran has suggested other regional countries take part in management and revenue sharing, modeling after Turkey's handling of the Dardanelles. The push comes as the US has blocked shipping through the strait, with a prior move to blockade announced by the Trump administration. In Venezuela, two earthquakes near Caracas, magnitude 7.2 and 7.5, have left at least 188 people dead and as many as 41,000 missing, with rescue operations ongoing and survivors being helped as authorities assess the damage in a country already strained by economic troubles.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, Israel-Lebanon talks were extended an extra day as Washington pressures Jerusalem and Beirut to reach a deal before leaving Washington. After three days of talks in the US capital, no agreement on a partial Israeli withdrawal from southern Lebanon had been reached, and negotiators agreed to extend for a fourth day at the State Department. The talks center on creating pilot zones in which Israeli forces would monitor, and the Lebanese army would take over, while Israel would maintain a six-mile-deep buffer zone. Separately, Iran’s Quds Force commander Esmail Qaani demanded Israel withdraw from Lebanon, posting on social media that “You Zionists must leave all of Lebanon.” Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister Kazem Gharibabadi also accused Italy and Romania of allowing the United States to use their bases in attacks on Iran, citing remarks by NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte.In Israeli Domestic Politics, Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar will submit a resolution to officially recognize the Armenian Genocide, with plans to bring the measure to the Knesset for a vote. Sa’ar said recognizing the genocide is a moral and historical duty and vowed to condemn denial or distortion of the historical record. As of 2026, 32 UN member states, including the United States, Canada, Russia, and Germany, have formally recognized the genocide; the Holy See and the European Parliament have also recognized it, with more than 200 memorials across 32 countries.In Uplifting News, SpaceX’s Starlink has announced it will provide free internet service until at least July 25, 2026 for those affected by the earthquakes in northern Venezuela. Three aircraft from Argentina—the C-130H Hercules and Embraer ERJ-140LR with the Argentine Air Force, along with an aircraft operated by Aerolíneas Argentinas—will depart tonight loaded with humanitarian aid and search-and-rescue and medical personnel bound for Venezuela.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/iran-news/article-900591https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900592https://t.me/DefenderDome/21731https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900589https://www.jpost.com/international/article-900587https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-june-26-2026/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-900560https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-900588https://t.me/DefenderDome/21730https://t.me/DefenderDome/21729