LiveLive Updates July 23, 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 23, 2026UpdatesMossad says it thwarted Iranian effort to infiltrate agents into IsraelThe Mossad thwarted an Iranian plot to infiltrate operatives into Israel and target senior officials, the agency said in a statement Thursday. According to a statement, Iran's Intelligence Ministry recruited Israelis or individuals with the ability to enter Israel through intermediaries operating on its behalf to gather intelligence on potential attack targets and the methods for carrying out the attacks.The agency said it disrupted the activities of a French resident who went by the alias "Philippe," and who was recruited by proxy operatives linked to the Iranian regime. According to the Mossad, he was tasked with recruiting a cell whose mission was to enter Israel and attack senior officials.During his activities, "Philippe" traveled to Iran, met with his handlers, who were involved in criminal activity, and received payment for his work. After his actions were uncovered, he was expelled from France.56 minutes agoIsraeli cities open public shelters amid Iran tensions, Home Front Command makes no changes to guidanceThe Israeli municipalities of Ramat Gan, Karmiel and Eilat announced they are opening their public bomb shelters, as authorities step up preparations for a possible escalation in the conflict between the United States and Iran over the weekend and the potential for missile attacks on Israel.The Israeli military's Home Front Command civil defense unit has not changed its public safety guidance. There are currently no restrictions on public activity nationwide. Ramat Gan Mayor Carmel Shama-Hacohen said on Facebook that "the risk of missile fire from Iran over the weekend has increased and is no longer negligible." He added that there had been "no warning from the Home Front Command" and urged residents not to panic if fighting resumes.The Herzliya municipality said its public shelters have remained open and that maintenance crews have been inspecting, cleaning and preparing them in recent days. Mayor Yariv Fisher also emphasized that there has been no change to Home Front Command instructions.Hamas claims responsibility for two West Bank stabbing attacks that wounded two IsraelisHamas claimed responsibility Thursday for two stabbing attacks in the West Bank that wounded two Israelis, the Palestinian Quds News Network reported.In a statement, Hamas leader Abdul Rahman Shadid said the "stabbing operations in the West Bank represent the optimal response to the incursions into Al-Aqsa Mosque and the plans to Judaize it."Shadid was referencing the more than 1,000 Jewish worshippers, including far-right Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, who visited the Al-Aqsa Mosque/Temple Mount compound earlier Thursday for Tisha B'Av, the Jewish day commemorating the destruction of the ancient Jewish temples. Ben-Gvir at the Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound, Thursday. Credit: Har Habait Organization Ben-Gvir at the Al-Aqsa/Temple Mount compound, Thursday. Credit: Har Habait Organization According to Quds, Shadid urged Palestinian youth to continue resisting "the crimes of the occupation and the settlers" and said Hamas salutes the attackers and "all the resistors in the West Bank."Earlier Thursday, a 51-year-old Israeli man was seriously wounded in a stabbing at the Derech Avraham farm outpost near the West Bank settlement of Elon Moreh, according to medics and the Israeli military.Later Thursday, the IDF said another Israeli was moderately wounded in a stabbing attack near the settlement of Ganim, near Jenin. The attacker was killed, the military said.Ganim is one of several Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank that were designated by the government for resettlement in January after they were evacuated during the 2005 disengagement plan.Kuwait reports drone attack on border crossing to IraqA border crossing between Kuwait and Iraq has been hit in a drone attack, the Kuwaiti Defence Ministry said on Thursday.A spokesman for the Defence Ministry said the attack on the al-Abdali border crossing caused material damage but no injuries. Kuwait initially made no statement on who was responsible for the attack.Meanwhile, the Iraqi News Agency reported that Kuwait temporarily closed the border crossing.Since the latest escalation between the United States and Iran, Kuwait has repeatedly come under fire. Like other countries in the region, the Gulf state hosts US troops, who have repeatedly been targeted in Iranian retaliatory strikes.IRGC says it targeted Kuwaiti base hosting U.S. forces Iran's Revolutionary Guards said they targeted the Al-Adiri base in Kuwait, which hosts U.S. forces, Iranian state media reported Thursday. According to reports, the IRGC also warned Britain against allowing the United States to fly bombers from its bases in the country. Oil tops $100 a barrel for first time in two months following Houthi tanker attack Brent crude, the International oil benchmark, broke above $100 a barrel for the first time since May 26 after two tankers carrying Saudi oil were hit by Houthi fire while transiting the Red Sea. An electronic board displays prices of Brent crude, Dubai crude and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures, at the dealing room of a bank, in Seoul, South Korea, July. Credit: Kim Soo-hyeon/ReutersAn electronic board displays prices of Brent crude, Dubai crude and U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil futures, at the dealing room of a bank, in Seoul, South Korea, July. Credit: Kim Soo-hyeon/ReutersThe attack was part of the Yemeni militia's efforts to disrupt Saudi oil exports and raised concerns about a new flashpoint in the conflict involving the United States and Iran.It followed U.S. President Donald Trump's warning that Iran's infrastructure could be targeted in response to any attacks on vessels passing through the Strait of Hormuz.Brent crude futures for September delivery gained 6.5% to $100.05 a barrel on the London commodities exchange. North American benchmark West Texas Intermediate crude rose 5.3% to $91.40 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange.Netanyahu responds to Saudi nuclear deal, says Riyadh joining Abraham Accords is 'historic leap'Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday responded to President Donald Trump's statement that Saudi Arabia would sign a civilian nuclear agreement with the U.S. if the kingdom joins the Abraham Accords, saying it represented "peace through strength."In a statement, the Prime Minister's Office said Saudi Arabia's joining of the accords would be "a historic leap forward for peace in the Middle East.""The joint American and Israeli military action against the genocidal regime in Teheran and Israel's crushing of Iran's terror axis have created the possibility to expand the circle of peace," the PMO said. Netanyahu has yet to address the potential nuclear agreement and has only welcomed the prospect of Riyadh's inclusion in the accords, which were signed during the first Trump administration and established diplomatic relations between Israel and several Arab countries, including the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Morocco.France to vote in favour of the removal of ICC prosecutor Karim Khan‌France will ‌vote on ⁠Friday in favour ⁠of the removal of International Criminal Court prosecutor Karim Khan, ‌said ‌a spokesperson for the French foreign ministry. International Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan in Venezuela in April. Credit: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/ReutersInternational Criminal Court Prosecutor Karim Khan in Venezuela in April. Credit: Leonardo Fernandez Viloria/ReutersThe ICC's 125 member states are ⁠set to vote on July ‌24 ⁠on ‌a proposal to dismiss him for ⁠alleged sexual misconduct. Khan, 56, denies ‌any wrongdoing.Iraqi PM visits Tehran after receiving U.S. message in WashingtonIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attend a welcoming ceremony in Tehran, Thursday. Credit: Media Office of the Prime Minister via ReutersIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi and Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian attend a welcoming ceremony in Tehran, Thursday. Credit: Media Office of the Prime Minister via ReutersIraqi Prime Minister Ali al-Zaidi is visiting Tehran on Thursday, where he met with Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian.In a post on X, al-Zaidi said he would meet with senior Iranian officials to discuss regional issues and bilateral cooperation in an effort to "consolidate security and stability in the region."Al-Zaidi recently visited Washington, where he received a message to pass on to Iranian officials.3 hours agoIDF says it killed attacker in reported northern West Bank stabbing The Israeli military said an Israeli was moderately wounded Thursday after it received initial reports of a stabbing attack in the northern West Bank. The Israeli settlement of Ganim, in the northern West Bank, near Jenin.The Israeli settlement of Ganim, in the northern West Bank, near Jenin.According to a statement, the incident occurred near the Israeli settlement of Ganim, near Jenin. The attacker was killed, the IDF said.Ganim is one of several Israeli settlements in the northern West Bank that were designated by the government for resettlement in January after they were evacuated during the 2005 disengagement plan.The development follows the repeal of the Disengagement Law, which far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said "erases the shame of expulsion from northern Samaria."EU says Houthi's Red Sea blockade threats constitute 'dangerous escalation'EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said the Houthis must cease all actions that endanger international shipping and the lives of seafarers, warning that recent threats by Yemen's Houthi movement to impose a maritime blockade on Saudi Arabia represent a dangerous escalation."Recent threats by Yemen's Houthis to impose a maritime blockade on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and pose a direct threat to regional stability and constitute a dangerous escalation," Kallas said on X.Recent threats by Yemen’s Houthis to impose a maritime blockade on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and pose a direct threat to regional stability and constitute a dangerous escalation.