Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-12 at 12:06

HEADLINES
Ceasefire teeters as hostage talks loom
Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Doha
Iran-backed networks targeted in Syria; Hezbollah tensions

The time is now 8:01 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

This is the morning news update. A fragile calm persists around the Gaza conflict as diplomacy and violence continue to interweave across the region. The uneasy ceasefire between Israel and Iran remains the central hinge of regional security, with diplomats warning that even small escalations could disrupt efforts to stabilize life for civilians and to advance hostage negotiations.

In a sign of how the latest rounds of strategic pressure are playing out, Israel conducted a strike in Doha this week aimed at Hamas leadership. The move drew swift international reaction, with Qatar saying it would not be deterred from its mediation role even as those on the ground warned of possible risks to hostage talks and to the broader framework for ending the Gaza war. The United States has maintained its partnership with Qatar and Israel as it weighs the path toward a durable ceasefire and the return of hostages held in Gaza.

In southern Syria, Israeli forces say they have targeted Iranian-backed network cells operating inside the country’s post war landscape, detaining several operatives tied to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Officials say some suspects were unaware of the full reach of those they were working for, receiving payment and orders through a web of intermediaries. The actions come as Israel has persisted in a long and complex campaign in Syria since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, with a focus on preventing arms and advanced equipment from reaching groups that could threaten Israel.

Across Lebanon, the border area remains tense as the Israeli military and Lebanese authorities discuss ways to curb the influence of Hezbollah. Analysts say Hezbollah’s operational capacities have diminished under a sustained campaign of air and artillery pressure, but observers caution that conflicts along the border can flare quickly and draw in wider regional actors.

In Gaza, the hostage crisis continues to loom over any durable ceasefire agreement. Israel emphasizes its commitment to the safety of hostages and to a long term security arrangement for Gaza, while humanitarian groups and regional mediators warn that civilians pay the highest price when negotiations stall and violence intensifies. Egypt has asked for ways to deliver humanitarian relief into Gaza, and Israel has said it will consider limited assistance, though it has also warned against measures that could enable Hamas to strengthen its grip on the territory. Reports from Cairo and Jerusalem say there is growing concern that any move to expand relief corridors could risk complicating or delaying a broader political settlement.

Yemen’s war and its spillover effects continue to touch the region’s balance of power. Some officials say Israeli and regional actions have energized the Houthis to seek support among their base, underscoring how the wider conflict feeds into local grievances and perception of strength. The region’s diplomacy has to contend with this reality as it seeks to keep the focus on a peace process that could end the Gaza war and prevent further regional escalation.

Regional heads of state and their foreign ministries wrestle with a difficult equation. The United Arab Emirates has summoned the Israeli ambassador to protest the Qatar attack and to reinforce concerns about sovereignty and international law. Officials also warn that moves to annex Palestinian territory would threaten the future of the Abraham Accords and risk cooling cooperation with major Arab partners.

On the diplomatic front, the Nobel Committee in Oslo says its decisions are made independently of political campaigns....