Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-11 at 16:07

HEADLINES
Ceasefire Talks Persist as Hostages Hinge Fate
Houthis Expand Attacks Israel Alarm Soars
Iran Proxies Tighten Regional Grip

The time is now 12:00 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good afternoon. This is the hourly update on a precarious moment in the Middle East and beyond, as regional and international actors respond to ongoing violence, shifting alliances, and fragile ceasefire efforts.

Diplomatic and security channels remain active but fragile. After a week in which Israel pressed a strategy of pressure against Hamas and its allies, the Gulf region has moved to sustain mediation through Qatar and Egypt, while Washington and its allies urge restraint and a clear path to hostage release and humanitarian relief. In the wake of renewed Israeli strikes on Hamas targets in Doha and the Gaza complex, Hamas officials say negotiations continue, but they insist any durable settlement must meet their terms: a full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Israeli forces, a genuine prisoner exchange, and broad humanitarian relief. Iran’s regional allies are watching closely as the mediation effort persists, with Gulf states warning that any broader escalation would threaten regional security.

Turning to Iran’s proxies and the broader balance of power, there are signs of strain and realignment. In Syria, government forces report successes against armed groups near Israel’s border, including seizures of weapons and munitions. These operations underscore Tehran’s effort to keep its networks intact in the region, even as Syria’s regime seeks to reassert control across former strongholds. In Lebanon, Israel continues strikes against Hezbollah assets, and Lebanese authorities are pressing to curb the group’s influence amid rising sentiment for disarmament and a push for greater state sovereignty over the Beqaa Valley. Across the border, the Israeli defense posture remains focused on deterring incursions and preventing Hezbollah’s rearmament, even as regional officials emphasize the need to prevent spillover into Lebanon and other fronts.

On the Gaza front, Hamas’s capabilities appear diminished compared with the height of the war’s early years, even as the organization maintains influence over a broad network and preserves its political leadership within Gaza. Hamas officials have defended their negotiating stance, even as several top operatives and family members were reported killed in recent strikes. The assault and the counterstrikes have intensified questions about hostage negotiations, humanitarian corridors, and the risk of renewed fighting if talks collapse. The ongoing hostage situation remains central to any pause in fighting, with mediators urging a staged, verifiable exchange alongside relief for civilians in Gaza.

In Yemen and the Gulf, the Houthis have maintained their assault on regional targets and kept international attention focused on the risk of escalation beyond the Gaza border. A Houthi drone attack triggered air-raid warnings in southern Israel, including Eilat and Ramon Airport, events that illustrate the expanding geographic reach of the conflict and the spillover effects of Yemen’s war into the Red Sea and beyond. The United States has moved to disrupt Houthi financing and logistics through a new round of sanctions targeting individuals, entities, and ships associated with the group. The administration described the action as aimed at choking off revenue streams and supply lines that sustain the Houthis’ operations, signaling Washington’s intent to deter further cross-border violence while supporting regional partners.

Internationally, Gulf security remains a collective concern. The United Arab Emirates has reaffirmed that attacks on any Gulf state constitute an attack on the Gulf security framework, highlighting a regional preference for a unified response to threats that...