Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-21 at 08:01

HEADLINES
F-35s F-15s Arrive at Jordan Base
Israeli strikes kill Hezbollah figure in Al-Baqaa
US warns Iran limited window or consequences

The time is now 8:01 AM 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 IDF says its forces remain on high alert and ready to respond to any changes in the operational picture, urging the public to rely on official IDF spokesperson channels and the Home Front Command for guidance. The report notes a broader American military posture in the region, including the arrival of the USS Gerald R. Ford in the Mediterranean as Washington presses a tougher line with Iran, and references a warning from United States officials that Iran must reach an agreement within a limited window or face consequences. Lebanese media report that at least 10 people were killed and 24 wounded in six Israeli strikes on buildings in villages around the Al-Baqaa area, with a senior Hezbollah figure among the dead. In Ain al-Hilweh, the Palestinian refugee camp near Sidon, two Hamas militants were killed in an Israeli strike today.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Jews returning to the Temple Mount are described as renewing memory, prayer, and hope in the site long tied to deep yearning. The piece presents the idea that holiness is built through deliberate work in physical space, illustrating a view that God dwells among the people when they prepare a sanctuary, rather than in the space alone. It draws on ancient text to emphasize that the act of making space for the divine is a shared process that connects history, faith, and daily life.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, satellite imagery and analysis show the United States moving dozens of F-35 and F-15 fighter jets to the Muwaffaq Salti base in central Jordan, with the number pictured at more than 60 jets—three times the usual level. The report notes at least 68 cargo planes have landed since Sunday, along with drones and helicopters, while a live movement map shows 30 F-35s and 36 F-15s at the base as of Saturday afternoon. Jordanian officials say the deployment is part of a broader defense agreement with the United States, and reports indicate the base is installing new air defenses to protect against potential Iranian strikes.

In Uplifting News, Shalom friends, the message recalls Corrie ten Boom not only as a model of forgiving an enemy but as someone who refused to stay silent while Jews were being hunted, choosing to hide them and risking everything. The piece notes an unprecedented wave of antisemitism—loud, polished, and academic hatred—and emphasizes that one cannot provoke Israel to jealousy through hatred, nor draw Jewish hearts toward the Messiah through violence, underscoring that silence in such a time is unacceptable.

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
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-887390
https://t.me/abualiexpress/115088
https://t.me/abualiexpress/115087
https://www.jpost.com/opinion/article-887144
https://www.jpost.com/middle-east/article-887388
https://t.me/beholdisraelchannel/69021