Israel News Today: IDF Conducts Navy SEAL Raids Near Hebron, Iran-Linked Spy Satellites Tracked US Forces, and Air Canada Moves Up Tel Aviv Route Resumption

Overnight IDF special forces carried out counterterror operations near Hebron in the West Bank, while a CNN investigation revealed that Russia operated military spy satellites to gather intelligence that may have aided Iranian strikes on American bases in the Middle East. On the home front, opposition leader Yair Lapid renewed pressure on Prime Minister Netanyahu to release an NIS 11 billion defence budget, and Air Canada announced it is bringing forward the resumption of its direct Tel Aviv service.

Shayetet 13 Conducts Overnight Raids Near Hebron

Israel's elite Shayetet 13 naval commando unit carried out counterterror raids in the Hebron area of the West Bank overnight, according to The Jerusalem Post. The IDF did not disclose operational details but stated that the raids were prompted by increased terror activity in the area of operation. The deployment of naval special forces in a land-based West Bank operation reflects the breadth of assignments now given to elite units as ground operations continue across multiple theatres.

Iran-Linked Press TV Journalist Arrested in West Bank

The IDF arrested a journalist working for Iran's state broadcaster Press TV in the West Bank, The Jerusalem Post reported. A source confirmed to the Post that the journalist, identified by Iranian state media as Palestinian-American Naqqa Hamad, was subsequently transferred to the Israel Police. No further operational details were made public.

Russia's Spy Satellites and the Iranian Threat

A CNN investigation cited by Walla News reports that Russia operated 14 military spy satellites to track American forces and assets across the Middle East. According to the report, the intelligence gathered may have assisted Iran in carrying out precision strikes, and is alleged to have contributed to a strike on the Prince Sultan base in Saudi Arabia. The report adds a further dimension to the already documented Iranian assault on US military infrastructure: new images obtained by CBS News and reported by Ynet showed direct hits on aircraft and burned-out armoured vehicles at American bases across the region, with one unnamed US servicemember quoted as saying: "We're standing there with our eyes closed taking punches to the face. This is not being reported to the public."

The three-way dynamic — Russia collecting, Iran striking, and American forces absorbing damage — has significant implications for Israel's own strategic calculus in the region.

Israel–Saudi Intelligence Channel Confirmed

Senior Israeli officials confirmed to Walla News that a communication channel with Riyadh is active and classified at the highest sensitivity level. The contacts, led by Israel's Defence Ministry and National Security Council, focus on intelligence sharing and upgrading active defence systems. According to Walla's sources, Saudi Arabia is examining upgrades to its defence and early-warning arrays and is interested in Israeli expertise — all in the context of the shared Iranian threat.

Houthis Claim They Downed a Saudi F-15

Houthi military spokesman Yahya Saree claimed that the group struck a Royal Saudi Air Force F-15 jet over Marib, Yemen, The Jerusalem Post reported. Saree also rejected Saudi accusations that the Houthis had targeted Islam's holiest sites, insisting the group's strikes were aimed at oil facilities and military bases. Ynet analysis noted that the United States has failed three times in recent attempts to neutralise the Houthis from the air, and argued that only a credible ground force operating inside Yemen could eliminate the threat — a force that does not currently exist.

Defence Budget Deadlock: Lapid Presses Netanyahu

Opposition leader Yair Lapid publicly called on Prime Minister Netanyahu — for the second time in two days, according to Ynet — to convene the defence budget committee and immediately release NIS 11 billion for urgent military purchases. Lapid stated there is "a legal mechanism to transfer 11 billion immediately." The Jerusalem Post confirmed the call. The budget remains frozen, with no resolution announced as of publication.

Netanyahu's UN Visit: Unusual Secret Service Arrangements

An American diplomatic source told Walla News that Netanyahu will land at Newark Liberty Airport in New Jersey for his upcoming UN visit, rather than at the airport he typically uses. The source denied any connection to New York Mayor Eric Adams, describing the change as a routine security matter. The shift in arrangements follows reported concerns about potential provocations surrounding the visit, a story first covered in yesterday's article.

Building Collapse in Gaza: Reports of Casualties

Maariv Breaking reported that a building collapsed in Gaza, with 16 people killed and more than 25 wounded. No further details about the cause or location of the collapse were provided in the available sources.

Air Canada Moves Up Tel Aviv Route — and Suspends an Antisemitic Staff Member

Air Canada announced it is bringing forward the resumption of its direct Toronto–Tel Aviv route to 30 November 2026, ahead of the previously planned date of 17 January 2027, according to Walla News. The route will operate four times weekly. In the same report, Walla noted that Air Canada has suspended a crew member following an antisemitic incident — the details of which were not further specified in the available source material. The early resumption of flights from North America to Tel Aviv will be welcomed by diaspora travellers and those with family ties to Israel.

October 7 Commemoration: Artists Named for National Memorial Ceremony

The "Komu" movement and families of October 7 victims announced the lineup of artists who will participate in the national memorial ceremony marking three years since the massacre, according to Walla News. The ceremony will be held on 7 October at Ganei Yehoshua Park in Tel Aviv. It will be hosted by former captive Eli Sharabi and an actress whose name appears in the Hebrew source. Singer Shlomo Artzi is among the confirmed performers. For diaspora communities already planning commemorations of their own — including the Manhattan ceremony covered in yesterday's article — the Tel Aviv event represents the national focal point of remembrance.

Senior Shin Bet Commander Reveals October 7 Order

A senior Shin Bet commander living on the Gaza border revealed to Arutz Sheva the order she gave on October 7: "If I'm captured, kill me." The commander described the terrifying dilemma faced as Shin Bet fighters raced to protect their own families before reaching her. The testimony adds to the accumulating personal accounts emerging as the third anniversary of the massacre approaches.

Ben-Gurion University Lecturer Faces Calls for Dismissal

A Ben-Gurion University lecturer identified by Walla News as Dr. Sebastian Ben Daniel, who writes on the social network X under the name "John Brown," has again provoked controversy after posting messages describing IDF soldiers as "the most dangerous child killers in the West Bank." The lecturer was previously suspended by the university. Calls for his permanent dismissal have now intensified. For diaspora communities who follow debates about academic freedom and anti-Israel expression in Israeli universities, the case illustrates that the tension between free speech and institutional responsibility is playing out within Israel itself.

Daughter of Former Gaza Hostage Confronts UN Over UNRWA

The daughter of a former Gaza hostage confronted the United Nations over its continued funding of UNRWA despite the agency's documented ties to Hamas, The Jerusalem Post reported. UNRWA, founded in 1949, operates in the West Bank and Gaza Strip providing humanitarian aid and education for Palestinians. The confrontation at the UN is directly relevant to diaspora Jewish communities engaged in advocacy around UN institutions.

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