LiveLive Updates July 16, 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 formatSubscribeJuly 16, 2026UpdatesU.S. and Israel continue to 'cooperate,' Israel's Defense Ministry saysFollowing a conversation between Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz and U.S. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, the two officials "agreed to continue cooperation between the countries in the face of any possible development," according to a statement from the defense minister's office.Katz reviewed Israel's activity in Syria, Gaza and Lebanon, and according to the defense minister's office, emphasized Israel's determination to maintain its security zones. "We have never asked the U.S. to act in our place along our borders," Katz said in a statement.Read the full articleSettler raids reported in northern West BankIn the northern West Bank, settler attacks were reported in the Tulkarm and Nablus area that included rock throwing and setting fire to several cars.Settlers threw stones at a car between Luban al-Sharqiya and Salfit in the Nablus area, Palestinian residents said.Overnight in the village of Ramin east of Tulkarm, Palestinians reported that settlers set fire to several cars in an overnight raid.Gov't approves budget of over 1 billion shekels to build West Bank roads, secure settlementsThe government has approved a budget of over a billion shekels for paving roads and securing settlements in the West Bank.According to the proposal, submitted by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich (Religious Zionism), the amount will be directed to paving access roads and security routes to dozens of new settlements that the cabinet legalized throughout the war.According to Smotrich, this is a "settlement-security revolution," allowing over 100 settlements and 160 farms will be established, which, he said, "will strengthen Israel's security and kill the terrible idea of establishing a terrorist state in the heart of the State of Israel."Report: Trump considers expanding U.S. military operations in IranPresident Donald Trump is considering expanding U.S. military operations in Iran following briefings from top aides, U.S. officials told the Wall Street Journal.According to the WSJ, Trump's options include expanding airstrikes against energy sites, sending ground forces to Kharg Island and other territory near the Strait of Hormuz, and bombing a tunnel complex at Pickaxe Mountain, which the United States says is a fortified site that could be used for covert nuclear work.FILE PHOTO: A satellite view shows tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, of the Natanz nuclear facility, near Natanz, Iran. Credit: VANTOR/ REUTERSFILE PHOTO: A satellite view shows tunnel entrances at Pickaxe Mountain, of the Natanz nuclear facility, near Natanz, Iran. Credit: VANTOR/ REUTERSRead the full articleU.S. strikes reach areas around Tehran for first time in current round of violenceThe United States intensified its strikes targeting Iran early Thursday, hitting targets further north as American forces also fired into a ship it accused of trying to break its naval blockade on the Islamic Republic. Strikes also reached into areas around Iran's capital, Tehran, for the first time in the latest round of violence.Iran retaliated with missile and drone fire targeting Jordan, Bahrain and Kuwait before dawn.Read the full articleFewer vessels travel through Hormuz as U.S., Iran continue strikesFewer vessels travelled through the Strait of Hormuz on Wednesday, the first day after the U.S. reimposed its naval blockade on Iranian ports with both countries escalating strikes across the Gulf, shipping data showed.Seven vessels crossed the strait on Wednesday, mostly on the Iranian route, down from 13 the previous day, Kpler data showed.A cargo ship docked at the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Credit: Amr Alfiky/ REUTERSA cargo ship docked at the Port of Fujairah in the United Arab Emirates. Credit: Amr Alfiky/ REUTERSHostilities have intensified since Iran said late on Saturday it had closed the Strait of Hormuz. Military operations are keeping ships from travelling through the waterway, which carried about a fifth of global oil and gas shipments before the war.On Wednesday, four empty vessels entered the Gulf, including three small oil tankers and a dry bulk carrier for grains, the data showed. The three vessels that exited the strait on Wednesday carried liquefied petroleum gas, coal and fuel oil.On Tuesday, a Suezmax tanker carrying 1 million barrels of Saudi crude exited the strait with its transponder switched off, Kpler data showed.There were no Very Large Crude Carrier or liquefied natural gas tankers passing through the strait on Wednesday.U.S. military says it completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran; air defenses activated in TehranThe U.S. Central Command said late on Wednesday that the U.S. military completed its latest wave of strikes on Iran that it carried out at President Donald Trump's direction.Smoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location, during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says are strikes on Iran, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on Wednesday. Credit: U.S. Central Command/ REUTERSSmoke rises from an explosion at an unknown location, during what U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) says are strikes on Iran, in this screen grab taken from a handout video released on Wednesday. Credit: U.S. Central Command/ REUTERS"U.S. forces struck Iranian command centers, air defense sites, missile and drone capabilities, and coastal surveillance facilities," it said in a statement, adding it also hit targets in Bandar Abbas, home to Iran's largest port and key navy and Revolutionary Guards facilities on the Strait of Hormuz.CENTCOM's statement came after the Mehr news agency reported that Iran's air defense activated in Tehran to counter "hostile threats."Read the full articleU.S. military disables tanker headed toward Iranian port, CENTCOM saysThe U.S. military disabled an unladen oil tanker attempting to sail toward an Iranian port, the U.S. Central Command said in a post on X on Wednesday."The commercial vessel ignored multiple warnings as it attempted to violate the U.S. blockade. A U.S. aircraft disabled the vessel after firing hellfire missiles into the ship's smokestack. The ship is no longer transiting to Iran," it added.Airlines suspend Middle East flights amid U.S.-Iran escalationSeveral international airlines have suspended or canceled flights to destinations across the Middle East amid the escalating conflict between the United States and Iran.Air Canada has canceled flights to Tel Aviv and Dubai until October 24. Greece's largest carrier, Aegean Airlines, has suspended flights to Dubai until August 31 and to Erbil and Baghdad until September 30.U.S. aerial refueling aircraft parked at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, April. Credit: Tomer AppelbaumU.S. aerial refueling aircraft parked at Tel Aviv's Ben Gurion Airport, April. Credit: Tomer AppelbaumAir France has suspended flights to Beirut until August 2, while KLM has halted flights to Riyadh, Dammam and Dubai until July 15.Hong Kong-based Cathay Pacific said it plans to resume flights to Dubai and Riyadh from September 1.In the NewsU.S. Strikes Around Tehran for First Time Since Trump Declared End of Cease-fireThe Death of Israel's Protest Movement Is a Mark of Shame for So-called LiberalsAs Trump and Tehran Wrestle for Hormuz, Iran's Nuclear Program Is ForgottenReport: Trump Considering U.S. Ground Operation in Iran, Striking Energy Sites'Yearning for Zion Was Stronger Than Anything': Seven Jews' Epic 1932 JourneyRemembering and rebuilding two years laterICYMIInside the Mossad Plot to Install Ahmadinejad as Iran's LeaderThe Original Tradwives of Ancient RomeEgypt Lost the World Cup. But Was the Referee Really Jewish?Eisenkot Is Quietly Gaining Ground in Likud Territory. Enough to Beat Netanyahu?Ro Khanna, U.S. Lawmaker & Israel Critic, Says West Bank Settlers 'Detained' HimRahm Emanuel Wants to Save Israel. But Are Israelis Listening?