Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-07-16 at 18:02

HEADLINESUS strikes Bandar Abbas bridge, intensifies blockadeIraq militia offers $10M bounty on TrumpKnesset approves historic 32-month service, media overhaulThe time is now 6:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.In US Military Role, CENTCOM has released imagery of US Marines with the 11th Marine Expeditionary Unit conducting a verification boarding of the tanker M/T Wen Yao in the Gulf of Oman as part of enforcement of the ongoing US naval blockade against Iran. CENTCOM says US forces have redirected three commercial vessels attempting to reach Iranian ports, disabled one non-compliant vessel, and boarded one vessel to verify compliance with the blockade. The 11th MEU is embarked aboard the USS Boxer Amphibious Ready Group, consisting of the USS Boxer (LHD-4), USS Portland (LPD-27), and USS Comstock (LSD-45), which continues to support maritime security and blockade enforcement in the region. In addition, reports indicate the United States has conducted strikes on targets in southern Iran, including a bridge near Bandar Abbas, as part of efforts to degrade Iran’s military capabilities, with power outages reported in the Kahorstan area. President Trump has warned that bridges and power plants could become targets if Iran refuses to resume negotiations, and officials have signaled the possibility of a broader campaign with a wider range of strikes and more targets, while Iran has warned of retaliation. A purported video showing damage to a bridge near Bandar Abbas emerged but remains unverified. In Regional Impacts, reports in Iran say the railway line at Bandar Abbas was attacked, according to Iranian sources.In the Conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Islamic Resistance in Iraq, an Iran-aligned militia umbrella group, released a statement announcing a $10 million bounty for anyone who kills President Donald Trump, accusing him of responsibility for the 2020 strike that killed Qassem Soleimani and Abu Mahdi al-Muhandis, describing the reward as being funded through donations from the group’s supporters. The announcement comes amid rapidly escalating regional tensions, as the US continues airstrikes against Iranian targets and Iran-backed groups across the Middle East have intensified threats against US interests.In US Policy Concerning Israel, White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt said Iran is not the same as it was before Operation Epic Fury, and that Iran’s leadership remains in contact with the United States and has expressed interest in reaching another peace deal after the recent collapse of the MoU. She attributed the MoU’s collapse to Tehran’s violations, including attacks on commercial vessels in the Strait of Hormuz, and said President Trump is not going to permit such acts of terror to go unanswered, ensuring Iran pays consequences for those actions.In Israeli Domestic Politics, the Knesset advanced significant measures. The parliament passed a bill to extend mandatory military service to 32 months, with 43 votes in favor, 12 against, and one abstention, applying to those enlisted in June 2029 and due to be discharged in January 2032, a move described as urgently needed to meet IDF goals and respond to security needs amid a broader coalition push before the Knesset recess ahead of elections. A separate report noted that the IDF had sought a 36-month term. Separately, the coalition also pushed through a sweeping media overhaul law that expands government regulatory control over Israel’s broadcast media, removes several oversight mechanisms, redefines journalistic standards, relaxes cross-ownership restrictions, and increases government influence over television ratings and state advertising allocation. The law passed 53-48, and among its provisions, a late amendment exempts the pro-government Channel 14 news outlet from a new content provision, a move estimated to be worth about 40 million shekels annually.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://t.me/DefenderDome/22220https://worldisraelnews.com/us-strikes-bridge-in-iran-expanding-beyond-military-targets/https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/iran-news/article-902792https://t.me/DefenderDome/22217https://t.me/newssil/206875https://t.me/DefenderDome/22218https://www.jpost.com/international/article-902789https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-902804https://www.timesofisrael.com/liveblog-july-17-2026/https://www.timesofisrael.com/coalition-passes-media-overhaul-law-giving-government-greater-regulatory-control/https://t.me/newssil/206876