LiveLive Updates June 17, 2026Share to FacebookShare to XArticle printing is available to subscribers onlyPrint in a simple, ad-free formatSubscribeComments: Zen reading is available to subscribers onlyAd-free and in a comfortable reading formatSubscribeJune 17, 2026Updates3 hours agoKatz says Israel to deepen Somaliland ties, country denies that IDF builds baseDefense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli military officials meet with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and other officials visiting Israel, on Wednesday. Credit: Ariel Hermony/Defense MinistryDefense Minister Israel Katz and Israeli military officials meet with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and other officials visiting Israel, on Wednesday. Credit: Ariel Hermony/Defense MinistryDefense Minister Israel Katz said Israel will deepen its cooperation with Somaliland, a breakaway state in the Horn of Africa recently recognized by Israel, while the unrecognized country's officials denied reports that the IDF is building a base in it.Katz met with Somaliland President Abdirahman Mohamed Abdullahi and several other officials currently visiting Israel, saying that Israel and Somaliland have had significant security ties and cooperation for years, some of which were conducted in secret.Somaliland Defense Minister Mohamed Yusef told Reuters that Israel only trains the country's army and police, denying the presence of Israeli troops in Somaliland and ⁠calling reports that Israel was in negotiations ‌to establish ⁠a military ‌base in Somaliland "rumors."Read the full articleReport: Hezbollah strikes IDF troops advancing in LebanonHezbollah fired a rocket barrage at Israeli forces advancing near Lebanon's Kfar Tebnit near Nabatieh, Al Jazeera reported.The village is located 2.5 kilometers (about 2 miles) beyond the IDF's Yellow Line in southern Lebanon and a similar distance from the major city of Nabatieh, the administrative center of Lebanon's Nabatieh District.Israeli drone strikes, casualties reported in southern LebanonIsraeli drones struck three villages in southern Lebanon, causing casualties, Lebanese state media reported.The report did not specify how many casualties there were or what condition they were in.The strikes were reported in Mansouri and Aaziyyeh along Lebanon's southern coast, alongside the village of Braachit, located near Israeli-occupied areas of the country but outside the Yellow Line.Netanyahu leaves trial hearing, cites ongoing 'diplomatic push'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu left his corruption trial hearing, explaining that he will have to leave again due to ongoing talks."We're in the middle of a diplomatic push," Netanyahu told the judges. "At 2 P.M., I'll need to step out for 15 minutes." Netanyahu added that "They asked me to do it from the Kirya," referring to the IDF and Defense Ministry Headquarters in Tel Aviv, "but I'll do it from here."He added, "At 3 P.M. there's a 10-minute call, and I absolutely have to leave at 2:45 P.M."Netanyahu trial hearing to be paused for 'diplomatic call'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received a sealed envelope, saying he will exit the Wednesday hearing of his ongoing corruption trial at 11:45 A.M. for a diplomatic call."I don't know how long it'll take," Netanyahu said, adding that "there are other developments."Netanyahu briefly exited the hearing shortly after receiving the envelope.7 hours agoPolice use batons, stun grenades on Haredi protesters blocking road near Tel AvivPolice officers are using stun grenades and batons against ultra-Orthodox protesters who blocked a major highway near Tel Aviv's Haredi suburb of Bnei Brak over the arrest of IDF draft evaders.Hatzalah said its medics treated eight people wounded at the demonstration, with several of them evacuated and hospitalized. The Israel Police said its officers have so far arrested five protesters.Footage from the crackdown shows that police began using stun grenades within minutes of the demonstration beginning. The police's use of batons against the protesters marks the first time the Tel Aviv District Police have used batons since 2020.Footage also shows an officer ripping a protester's pants while dragging him across the road.The protest began following recent arrests of Haredi men evading mandatory IDF conscription. "When they try to shut down the Torah and the faith – we will shut down the state," said the hardline Haredi movement associated with Rabbi Tzvi Friedman."The factories will be closed, the offices will be shut down – and all commerce will come to a standstill at a time when yeshiva students are being persecuted."Arye Dery, head of the Sephardic ultra-Orthodox party Shas, urged far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir to "wake up," adding that it "cannot be" that police are treating Haredi protesters more brutally than "Kaplan Street anarchists who sought to destroy the country," referring to anti-government protesters.Read the full articleIsraeli strikes reported across southern LebanonSmoke billows over Nabatieh al-Fouqa in southern Lebanon after an Israeli strike, Wednesday. Credit: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright LawSmoke billows over Nabatieh al-Fouqa in southern Lebanon after an Israeli strike, Wednesday. Credit: Use under Section 27A of the Copyright LawIsrael struck several areas in southern Lebanon, state media reported. About an hour earlier, Israeli strikes were reported in the town of Nabatieh al-Fouqa in southern Lebanon, on the outskirts of the city of Nabatieh.Reports: Israeli settlers vandalize mosque in West Bank village, set it ablazeIsraeli settlers vandalized a mosque and set it ablaze in the Palestinian village of Jaljilya in the West Bank, according to local reports and footage from the building.One video from the incident shows Hebrew graffiti on the walls of the building and smoke billowing from its entrance. Another video shows the building's charred facade.The graffiti seen on the building reads, "Guys, wake up," "revenge," "night of the mosques" and "detainee's regards," referring to arrested Israeli settlers.10 hours agoPlot to attack White House UFC event partially intended to target pro-Israel lawmakers, officials sayFederal authorities alleged the plot to target Sunday's UFC cage-fighting show at the White House was at least partially intended to target pro-Israel lawmakers attending the event."Members of the group targeted some legislators based on the group's perceived belief that the legislators accepted money from pro-Israel lobbies," the Justice Department claimed Tuesday.Five men were arrested in the plot and authorities say they "planned to deploy drones armed with explosives in and around the UFC Freedom 250 event in order to force an evacuation of the event and then planned to deploy snipers to fire upon high-value targets within the fleeing crowd."In the NewsSomaliland, Israel Deny Reports of IDF Base in Region During Israel VisitTrump Threatens Resumption in Bombing Campaign if Iran Deal Falls ShortEisenkot's Poll Surge Makes Merger With Bennett and Lapid All the Less LikelyGerman Embrace, French Cold Shoulder for Israel's Arms IndustryPolice Let Right-wing Agitator Leave House Arrest, Meet ex-PM Bennett at CourtRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIHumiliated by Trump on the Iran Front, Netanyahu May Set the Middle East AblazeTrump Just Dropped a Megaton Bomb on Netanyahu's Re-election Campaign'Once-in-a-lifetime Discovery': 1,700-year-old Roman Busts Found in IsraelTrump and Netanyahu Hurtling Toward a Rupture That Could Shock U.S.-Israel TiesWhy Does the Jewish State Keep Deporting Diaspora Jews?The Fake Gaza Charity Linked to the Anti-left Disinformation Campaign in France