Good morning. Today's briefing covers intensified IDF operations against Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon, a foiled arms smuggling attempt on the Jordanian border, and international developments including Trump's refusal of a Saudi request for strikes on the Houthis and the 25th anniversary commemorations of the September 11 attacks.
Security
The IDF released new footage documenting its operations on the Aali Tahar ridge, described as a decisive phase in dismantling Hezbollah's underground infrastructure in the area. The footage, which includes drone and body-camera images, shows the elimination of militants inside a tunnel shaft, a day after the military struck the group's main compound in the region. Israeli security officials are on alert for a possible response after threats from Tehran. Separately, the Israel Navy's Haifa fleet has revealed new details of operations at sea, including the interception of a flotilla bound for Gaza and continued pressure on Lebanon and Syria, alongside naval commando operations. On the border with Jordan, two Jericho residents in their fifties were arrested overnight following a joint ambush by police, the Border Police and the IDF in the Jordan Valley. Some 34 handguns and two M-16 rifles were seized in the operation. In a separate incident, a man was moderately wounded in a shooting in Or Akiva; police have opened an investigation and are searching for suspects. In a personal military story making headlines, two officers who met during basic training in Shaldag in 2003 have gone on to lead Israel's elite infantry brigades, with one recently appointed to command the Givati Brigade after previously commanding Golani.
Politics
A new poll suggests the coalition would strengthen if elections were held now, with the 'People of Israel' party managing to cross the electoral threshold despite Likud losing a seat compared with previous surveys. The poll also found a shift in fortunes between the Reservists and Economic party, which crossed the threshold, and Ofer Winter's party, which did not.
International
US President Donald Trump has declined a request from Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for American strikes on Houthi forces in Yemen, according to reports. The Crown Prince reportedly called Trump twice urging action after Houthi forces seized strategic islands in the Red Sea and advanced towards a coastal city, raising fears they could block the Bab al-Mandeb Strait. US officials say Washington will provide Saudi Arabia with intelligence and targeting data but does not intend to take direct military action at this time. In London, two people—a 42-year-old woman and a 60-year-old man—were arrested on suspicion of assisting Iran's intelligence service, following searches at addresses in north London. Meanwhile, MI5 director general warned that the next major terror shock, comparable to 9/11, could be brewing in an area currently overlooked by security services, cautioning against preparing to fight 'yesterday's enemy using yesterday's methods.' He pointed to a recently foiled plot to kill hundreds of Jews in Manchester. The world marked 25 years since the September 11 attacks, with commemorations in New York including seven moments of silence, the participation of four former US presidents, and a drone display of 2,977 lights—one for each victim—recreating the outline of the Twin Towers. New York's mayor attended the ceremony despite a petition calling for his absence. Among the victims remembered was Daniel Lewin, an Israeli-American widely regarded as the first person killed in the attacks, who confronted hijackers before being fatally stabbed. In Lebanon, officials are seeking to postpone the next round of talks in Rome until after 16 September, citing President Joseph Aoun's planned visit to Paris. Parliament Speaker Nabih Berri expressed deep pessimism about the situation in southern Lebanon, pointing to ongoing casualties and destruction. In the United States, Republicans gathered in Dallas to discuss potential successors to Trump ahead of the 2028 election, with President Trump and Vice President Vance appearing together at the party's confab, alongside discussion of proposed $5,000 payments to Americans ahead of the November midterms.
Other Developments
Rachel Rabin, younger sister of assassinated Prime Minister Yitzhak Rabin and a founding member of Kibbutz Manara, has died aged 101. President Herzog paid tribute, recalling her enduring commitment to public service despite the pain of her brother's assassination. In Bnei Brak, tensions between religious and secular residents over Shabbat driving have escalated in a new neighbourhood, with residents describing the conflict as increasingly dangerous weeks after a three-year-old girl was run over during related clashes. Meanwhile, newly released excerpts from former Prime Minister Ehud Olmert's forthcoming book detail how a Mossad intelligence officer nearly lost her job after correctly identifying a Syrian nuclear reactor, despite dismissive comments from superiors who doubted her assessment before it was later proven accurate.
Media Consensus
Israeli outlets are closely aligned in reporting the IDF's intensified campaign against Hezbollah infrastructure in Lebanon and the successful interception of arms smuggling on the Jordanian border, with near-identical details across sources. International coverage converges on Trump's rejection of Saudi pressure to strike the Houthis and widespread 9/11 anniversary commemorations, reflecting a broadly consistent picture across Hebrew and English-language outlets.
What to Watch
- Israel's security establishment remains on alert for a potential Iranian-backed response following the strikes on Hezbollah's Aali Tahar stronghold.
- The rescheduled Rome talks involving Lebanon, delayed at Beirut's request, could shape the next phase of regional negotiations.
- Ongoing religious-secular tensions in Bnei Brak over Shabbat traffic may escalate further following recent violent incidents.
Sources: Ynet, Walla, www.israelhayom.co.il, Times of Israel, Jerusalem Post
