July 18, 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 18, 2026UpdatesSettler arsons reported in the West BankPalestinians are reporting settler arson at two sites in the West Bank: in Sinjil, settlers set fire to agricultural land, and in a-Tuwani in the South Hebron Hills, settlers set fire to a mosque.Settlers attempt to block water truck from supplying West Bank communitySettlers attempted to block a water tanker meant to supply the community of al-Tawil in the West Bank, Palestinian residents said.Palestinians reported that settlers stole the truck's water pipe and pepper-sprayed a protective presence activist. Earlier this month, soldiers were filmed preventing the water pipe from being repaired after it was damaged by settlers.RECAP: 2 U.S. soldiers killed Friday in Iranian strikes on Jordan, U.S. military saysHere are Saturday's latest updates:■ Two U.S. soldiers were killed in Jordan on Friday following Iranian missile and drone strikes, a third soldier is "missing in action" and four others were wounded, U.S. Central Command said.■ Iran's Supreme Leader Mojtaba Khamenei, issued a written message on Saturday, writing that the United States has repeatedly breached its commitments under the interim agreement, proving that the U.S. president's signature is "worthless and invalid."■ The European Union and Gulf states called on Iran to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz without conditions or fees and rejected any "illegitimate claims" of sovereignty or control over the waterway, Saudi state television reported.■ An IDF review determined that the explosion that killed a Lebanese soldier earlier on Saturday was not caused by an IDF explosive device, and that the exploded device was "most likely" placed by Hezbollah, Israel's military said.■ An Israeli strike in the central Gaza Strip on Friday killed an Islamic Jihad sniper, while another strike in the north of the enclave killed a commander in Hamas' operations headquarters, the IDF said.■ More than 1,000 protesters gathered in Tel Aviv's Habima Square to rally against the recently passed bill freezing arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, while numerous smaller anti-government protests are taking place across the country.EU, Gulf states call on Iran to permanently open Hormuz without conditions or fees, Saudi state TV reportsThe European Union and Gulf states called on Iran to permanently open the Strait of Hormuz without conditions or fees, Saudi state television reported.A vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Thursday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSA vessel in the Strait of Hormuz, as seen from Musandam, Oman, Thursday. Credit: Stringer/ REUTERSIn a joint statement on the Strait and freedom of navigation, the countries opposed imposing permits or fees on international navigation in the waterway and rejected any "illegitimate claims" of sovereignty or control over the Strait, the report said.IDF says it was not behind explosion that killed Lebanese soldier, Hezbollah 'most likely' responsibleAn IDF review determined that the explosion that killed a Lebanese soldier earlier on Saturday was not caused by an IDF explosive device, and that the exploded device was "most likely" placed by Hezbollah, Israel's military said.Lebanese army soldiers inspect the site of an explosion that targeted their vehicle in the southern Lebanese area of Mansouri on Saturday. Credit: AFP/KAWNAT HAJULebanese army soldiers inspect the site of an explosion that targeted their vehicle in the southern Lebanese area of Mansouri on Saturday. Credit: AFP/KAWNAT HAJUEarlier on Saturday, Lebanon's army said one soldier ‌was killed ⁠and an officer ⁠and another soldier were wounded when a suspicious object ‌exploded in ‌an army vehicle in the southern Lebanese town of Mansouri.According to the IDF, the vehicle had driven over an explosive device. "Following a review, it was determined that the explosive device did not belong to the IDF and was most likely placed in the area by the Hezbollah terrorist organization," the IDF's statement said.The IDF also noted that its troops "have not been present recently" in the area of Mansouri, though it lies inside Israeli-controlled territory. "It should be noted that the Lebanese Army vehicle entered the Security Zone without prior coordination with the IDF, as required according to the existing coordination mechanism," the statement added.Why some view the World Cup final as a proxy for the Israel-Palestine conflictArgentina's Emiliano Martinez, Lionel Scaloni and Lionel Messi at the Fanatics Fest - Javits Center, New York City, on Friday. Credit: John Sibley/ REUTERSArgentina's Emiliano Martinez, Lionel Scaloni and Lionel Messi at the Fanatics Fest - Javits Center, New York City, on Friday. Credit: John Sibley/ REUTERSSunday's World Cup final will see Argentina face off against Spain, setting up a showdown between two countries that have recently taken sharply opposing views on Israel.Their stars, too, symbolize the split: Argentina's Lionel Messi has drawn attention for his past ties to Israel, while Spain's Lamine Yamal has made headlines by displaying a Palestinian flag after a crucial win.Online discourse has now cast the match as something of a proxy for the Middle East conflict and sparked more than a few anti-Israel and antisemitic conspiracy theories.We are getting an Israel versus Palestine World CupRead the full article5 hours agoAnti-gov't protesters rally nationwide against draft evasion billMore than 1,000 protesters have gathered in Tel Aviv's Habima Square to rally against the recently passed bill freezing arrests of ultra-Orthodox draft evaders, while numerous smaller anti-government protests are taking place across the country.Anti-government protesters in Tel Aviv's Habima Square, Saturday. Credit: Itai RonAnti-government protesters in Tel Aviv's Habima Square, Saturday. Credit: Itai RonRead the full articleIDF says it killed Islamic Jihad sniper, Hamas operative in Gaza strikes on FridayAn Israeli strike in the central Gaza Strip on Friday killed an Islamic Jihad sniper, while another strike in the north of the enclave killed a commander in Hamas' operations headquarters, the IDF said.A statement from the IDF named the sniper as Imam Khamis Akasha Abu Brikh and the Hamas commander as Muhammad Taysir Ahmad Ubeid."The terrorists posed a threat to IDF troops operating in the Gaza Strip and were eliminated in aerial strikes," the statement read.Two U.S. soldiers killed in Jordan during Iranian strikes, another missing in action, U.S. military saysTwo U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action on Friday as the U.S. military and partner forces defended against Iranian ballistic missile and drone attacks, U.S. Central Command said on Saturday.CENTCOM Statement on Recently Fallen, Missing U.S. Service Members