Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-15 at 20:02

HEADLINES
Taliban backs Iran aid avoids full war
IDF kills Ahmad Bayouk in Gaza
Trump backs Israeli strikes if no deal

The time is now 8:01 PM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report.

In the conflict with Iran and its Regional Proxies, the Taliban said it would aid and assist Iran if asked, but it will not commit to joining a retaliatory war against the United States. Spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid told Radio Iran’s Pashto-language service that Afghan people would show sympathy and possibly cooperate if requested, while the Taliban would prefer diplomatic measures and continued negotiations over Iran’s nuclear program. He also asserted that Iran “won” the 12‑day war with Israel and the US in June and would “win again” if the US attacks, arguing that Iran has the capability, is in the right, and has the right to defend itself. The Taliban condemned Israel’s strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and other strategic locations, and tensions remain between Iran and Afghanistan over fault lines along Shia and Sunni lines. In other developments, the Israeli Defense Forces said it struck Palestinian Islamic Jihad terrorists in the Majdal Anjar area in Lebanon. Iranian Foreign Minister Araghchi was quoted saying, “I want to be clear, the missiles and air defenses of Iran are not negotiable. Never.” He arrived in Geneva for the second round of US‑Iran talks, with reports indicating his arrival in Switzerland ahead of continued discussions with the United States on Tuesday.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israeli forces conducted a new round of strikes on targets in the Gaza Strip, including in the northern Gaza Strip, Gaza City, and Khan Yunis, as part of ongoing operations following ceasefire violations on Saturday. The military confirmed the killing of Ahmad Bayouk, who filmed himself infiltrating the Re’im base as part of the October 7 massacre, and said Azem Abu Huli, head of Palestinian Islamic Jihad’s Nukhba Array in the central region, was killed during operations last week. The IDF said a ceasefire breach had involved armed Gazans emerging from the rubble of a building about two kilometers east of the Yellow Line near Beit Hanun, entering the area near an IDF post, reportedly via subterranean tunnels. The army also noted strikes against Palestinian Islamic Jihad militants in the Majdal Anjar area in central Lebanon and said a drone attempting to smuggle three M‑16 rifles into Israel was intercepted by its observers and the Aerial Control Center.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, President Trump told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu at a Mar‑a‑Lago meeting in December that he would support Israeli strikes on Iran’s ballistic missile program if a deal between Washington and Tehran could not be reached, according to two sources familiar with the matter who spoke to CBS News on condition of anonymity to discuss national security issues.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Tsion Cafe, an Ethiopian‑Israeli restaurant in Harlem, New York, announced it is ending its regular dine‑in hours following what supporters describe as sustained anti‑Israel backlash targeting its owner, Beejhy Barhany.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, two senior ultra‑Orthodox rabbis urged yeshiva students to avoid demonstrations after a mob attack on two female Israel Defense Forces servicewomen in Bnei Brak. Rabbis Dov Lando and Moshe Hillel Hirsch, the leading spiritual authorities of the United Torah Judaism party’s Degel HaTorah faction, issued an open letter instructing students not to attend protests or confront police. In a related development in Bnei Brak, seven suspects, among 27 detainees in the city’s unrest, were due to be brought this morning to the Tel Aviv Magistrate’s Court for extensions of detention, with authorities planning additional arrests including those tied to arson of a police motorcycle and other property damage.

Thank you for tuning in to this Israel Today: Ongoing War Report update.
I'm Noa Levi. Stay safe and informed.
Keep in mind that this AI-generated report may contain occasional inaccuracies, so consult multiple sources for a comprehensive view. Find the code and more details in the podcast description.

SOURCES
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https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/defense-news/article-886758
https://t.me/JewishNews24/49578
https://t.me/JewishNews24/49583
https://t.me/JewishNews24/49577
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1285299