Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-06 at 07:07

HEADLINES
Lebanon advances Hezbollah disarmament in five zones
Gaza expands Gideon II, opens humanitarian corridor
Orthodox, right-wing seize US Zionist seats

The time is now 3:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is your 3:00 AM news update. The regional security picture remains unsettled, with no durable ceasefire announced and multiple fronts absorbing attention from Jerusalem to Beirut to Khan Younis. In Lebanon, the government voted to move ahead with a military program to disarm Hezbollah, a process presented by the army as a staged plan in five zones: southern Lebanon south of the Litani River, the strip between the Litani and Awali, the Dahieh district, the Beirut region, and the Beqaa Valley. In Beirut, pro-Hezbollah demonstrations and political statements underscore the sensitivity of the issue, while the parliamentarian Ali al-Amar of Hezbollah said, “the weapon of Hezbollah can only be taken by God,” a formulation that signals the careful line maintained by its political allies. Still, the government pointed to a cautiously positive mood about progress, and several Shiite ministers were reported not to be stepping away from their posts as the plan proceeds.

On the Gaza front, the Israeli military has announced the expansion of its ground operation under a frame it calls Gideon II, and has described the creation of a humanitarian space in Khan Younis. The space is intended to host essential civil infrastructure—field hospitals, water and desalination facilities—along with ongoing deliveries of food, tents, medicines, and other supplies, coordinated with the United Nations and international partners. The military says it will maintain the humanitarian corridor while continuing the broader operation against Hamas targets in the city and surrounding areas. In parallel, sources in Gaza report a leadership change in Hamas’ military wing, with Mohand Rajab named to command the Gaza Brigade, replacing Az-Idin Al-Hadad, who had been appointed to that role recently. The broader hostage question remains at the center of international attention, as President Trump has described ongoing high-level discussions with Hamas, emphasizing demands for the immediate release of all hostages while acknowledging the brutal facts of the 7 October attacks and the horror families continue to endure. The president also stressed that any new concessions would be conditional on Hamas meeting those demands, and he warned that the path forward could be difficult and painful for those awaiting news of loved ones.

In the United States, the commander of US Central Command, Admiral Brad Cooper, concluded his first visit to Israel as CentCom chief, meeting with Israel’s chief of staff to reaffirm the longstanding military alliance and discuss regional security dynamics. The encounter underscored the continuation of a close US-Israel security relationship even as the administration outlined its own policy considerations in the region.

International travel and aviation developments also continued. The Italian airline ITA extended its suspension of flights to and from Israel through October 31, reflecting ongoing security considerations in the region. In the United States, a Boeing 737 carrying senior American officials landed in Israel on a Saturday morning, signaling ongoing high-level engagement between the two governments.

On the political and community front, the World Zionist Congress certified results showing Orthodox and right-wing slates achieving a majority of US seats for the first time, a shift that comes after a contested vote process and multiple tribunals. The tally showed strong participation across American Jewry, with 224,969 valid votes counted and 22 slates competing for 155 US seats. Delegates will gather in Jerusalem at the end of October to chart a course for funding and policy priorities...