Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2025-09-13 at 11:06

HEADLINES
- Israel strikes Hamas leadership in Qatar
- Houthi missile aimed at Tel Aviv intercepted
- Sweida Druze push for self-determination

The time is now 7:00 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

Good morning. The region remains in a delicate balance as the uneasy ceasefire framework between Israel and Iran and their respective proxies continues to be tested by military action, diplomacy, and hostage diplomacy. In the most recent development, Israel carried out a strike against Hamas leadership in Qatar, a move that officials described as part of an intensified campaign to degrade Hamas’ external leadership and restore leverage for a possible ceasefire. Hamas says its senior exiled leadership survived the strike, and the attack has drawn sharp reactions from Qatar and other regional actors as mediation efforts with the United States seek to keep channels open. Family members of hostages say the timing of the strike has complicated negotiations and could delay or derail a deal to bring loved ones home. In Washington, the Trump administration has reiterated support for Israel while urging that efforts to secure the hostages and prevent a humanitarian catastrophe in Gaza remain central to any plan for peace through strength.

On the battlefield, Iran’s regional influence remains a focal point. The ongoing confrontations with Israel, along with Iran’s network of allied groups, continue to drive a high-stakes cycle of escalation and pressure for diplomacy. The fight against Hamas in Gaza, alongside the broader contest with Iran’s overseas affiliates, keeps the strategic landscape tense as negotiators push to keep hostage releases and a broader settlement within reach. The Gaza operation persists with the aim, as described by Israeli officials, of dismantling Hamas’ military capacities inside the territory, while many families of the abducted remain hopeful for progress, fearing that stalled diplomacy could prolong their suffering.

In Yemen, the Iran-backed Houthi movement has again tested Israel’s air defense system. A ballistic missile was fired toward Tel Aviv and intercepted over central Israel, triggering sirens and prompting a swift air-defense response. The Houthis claimed the weapon carried a cluster bomb warhead, a claim that has not been independently verified, and Israeli officials say there were no immediate injuries or damage from debris. In response, the Israeli military said it conducted strikes against targets it described as belonging to the Houthis’ infrastructure in Yemen, including military camps, a propaganda headquarters, and a fuel depot. The cross-border exchanges underscore the regional reach of the conflict and the broad set of actors aligned with Iran, complicating any straightforward path to de-escalation.

In Lebanon and Syria, security developments continue to unfold. Security forces in Lebanon are reporting the transfer of weapons from Palestinian refugee camps to the Lebanese army as part of ongoing arrangements between president Mahmoud Abbas’s government and Beirut. The movement of armaments highlights enduring fragility in the border regions and the difficulty of disarming nonstate actors in a volatile security environment. In southern Syria, the Druze community in Sweida has pressed for self-determination and a greater say in the country’s future, reflecting broader frustrations with Damascus and the ongoing struggle to shape Syria’s political order after years of conflict. While violence has subsided at times, the underlying tensions persist and the risk of renewed clashes remains.

Hostage and humanitarian concerns remain central to the Gaza crisis. Although Hamas has endured significant leadership losses in recent months, it still wields influence inside the Strip, and the ongoing hostage situation continues to constrain any political settlement. Israel has...