HEADLINES- Israel tests multi-front war readiness- Rafah to reopen after hostage body search- Two Hezbollah operatives killed in LebanonThe time is now 7:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.Good evening. We begin with Israel’s security picture, as the IDF conducts a major readiness drill to test its ability to operate on multiple fronts at once under manpower constraints. The Central Command exercise evaluates how the army would respond to sustained high-intensity crises across Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip while personnel are stretched thin. A key focal point is a potential infiltration of terrorist cells from Jordan, with security officials warning of a developing threat from Houthi operatives who could reach Israel’s border by moving through Syria and into Jordan. The drill also probes the long border corridors that have, at times, facilitated smuggling of drugs and dual-use goods, even as construction proceeds on the Hourglass fence and a fire-control center to bolster border protection. At the heart of the exercise is replication of the October 7 assault model in the West Bank—a coordinated, multi-community raid—alongside scenarios of mass disturbances in the sector, in the context of discussions about the Palestinian Authority’s possible fragility amid succession debates over the presidency and the potential for Ramadan reentry into normal life in Israel. Officials note that Chief of Central Command Major General Avi Bluth will face the central challenge of crisis management amid “force sparsity,” with the Operations Directorate prioritizing missions in Lebanon, Syria, and the Gaza Strip as tensions continue to reverberate around the region.In border security developments, investigators and police say they disrupted a large-scale smuggling operation in the Negev village of Ararat an-Naqab, seizing goods valued at about one million shekels. Among the confiscated items were hundreds of cellphones, flat irons, shaving devices, and cigarette packs, with authorities noting the likelihood that the goods were destined for the Gaza Strip. As the Rafah crossing is expected to reopen soon, Israeli security officials say heightened screening will take place at a facility separate from the crossing itself, and that IDF troops will not be stationed inside Rafah at the crossing. The aim is to tighten controls on illicit materials moving toward Gaza while allowing safe humanitarian and civilian passage where possible.Turning to the north, the IDF’s preparations are framed by regional risk assessments tied to Iranian activity and US posture. Northern Command chief Major General Rafi Milo told Channel 12 News that Israel remains on heightened alert for any escalation that could follow a US strike on Iran. He said American military deployments in the Persian Gulf and across the region signal a potential for Iranian retaliation, and he stressed that Israel is watching whether Hezbollah could join a broader confrontation. Milo underscored that the IDF is prepared for offensive responses in addition to strong defensive measures, should regional dynamics shift. In parallel, US forces in the area, including carrier movements and other military postures, have heightened tensions and prompted airline operators to warn about operational volatility in the region. The Civil Aviation Authority has cautioned foreign carriers about a potentially more sensitive period in the region, with some airlines delaying or altering routes to avoid the area, and several operators reducing services as a precautionary measure. The region remains under close watch as rival and allied forces monitor each other’s moves, with Israeli aviation policy also keeping a watchful eye on the prospect of another airspace disruption if conditions deteriorate.In Gaza and Lebanon, Israeli actions continue to reflect a broader campaign to deter and degrade militant capabilities. The IDF said it attacked Hezbollah targets in multiple locations in Lebanon in response to Hezbollah ceasefire violations, including a weapons production site in the Bir al-Sansal area and strikes in the Bekaa Valley. The army reported the killing of two Hezbollah operatives, including Jawad Basma, who was associated with the weapons site, and Muhammad al-Husseini, Hezbollah’s Head of Artillery, in Arzoun and surrounding areas. The army emphasized that these operations were intended to enforce the ceasefire understandings with Lebanon, while continuing to monitor and respond to any mortar or drone activity from the border. In parallel, Israeli fire in Gaza was reported to have killed two Palestinians in the Tuffah neighborhood of Gaza City, and a separate drone strike wounded four others in Gaza City; the Israeli military did not offer comment on those incidents as investigations continue. The fighting underscores a multi-front security environment facing Israel, with adversaries leveraging a volatile ...
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