Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-10 at 08:03

HEADLINES
- Turkey warns Iran could spark nuclear race
- Israel foils Lebanon-backed terror plot
- Lapid seeks criminal probe into Netanyahu circle

The time is now 8:02 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, Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan warned that Turkey could be pulled into a nuclear arms race if Iran acquires nuclear weapons, arguing that such a development would reshape regional security and create pressure on neighboring countries, in an interview with CNN Turk on Tuesday. "If Iran gets a nuclear weapon, it will not be possible for others to remain indifferent," Fidan said. He added that the outcome would not be limited to Iran, warning of a chain reaction across the Middle East driven by deterrence logic and heightened threat perceptions. Fidan said Turkey remains opposed to nuclear proliferation and supports a diplomatic solution, but stressed that regional realities could force states into reassessing their options. "You can’t expect countries to just watch," he said, describing a scenario in which Iran’s nuclear capability could create a "race" that would be difficult to contain once it begins. He framed the issue as one of strategic balance rather than ideology, saying the emergence of new nuclear powers in the region would increase the risk of escalation and miscalculation. "This is not only Iran’s problem," he said.

In the Disputed Territories (Gaza, Judea and Samaria, East Jerusalem), Israeli security forces have foiled multiple terror cells operating in Judea and Samaria/West Bank, under the direction of operatives based in Lebanon, the Israel Security Agency (Shin Bet) announced. The dismantled network was tasked with gathering intelligence, filming Israeli communities, conducting weapons training, and preparing attacks, according to security officials. Shin Bet investigators said the cells were recruited, guided, and funded by Lebanese handlers linked to terror groups Hamas and Hezbollah, highlighting ongoing cross-border efforts to direct terror activity into Judea and Samaria/West Bank.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, the United States issued a maritime warning urging ships to stay well clear of Iran’s territorial sea, advising commercial vessels to keep their distance from Iranian waters.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Gabrielle Sivia Weiniger, a Times journalist focusing on the Middle East, apologized after posting a fake AI-generated picture showing Israeli President Isaac Herzog with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. She said she posted the photo without checking the source and deleted the post, noting that the image was AI-generated and that her article did not mention Herzog. "I can only apologise for the grave error in judgement for reporting the photo, and to the president for any harm this has caused," she wrote on X/Twitter. Archived screenshots of the image circulated on social media.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, opposition leader Yair Lapid on Tuesday called for a criminal investigation into figures within Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s inner circle, accusing them of falsifying official security protocols and manipulating intelligence materials in the lead-up to the October 7 Hamas attacks. “Taking security discussions, cutting out what’s convenient for you, and then saying you’re just a guest on security matters is something that must not be done,” Lapid said. He said investigators should determine who wrote the security protocol reports, lied, and distorted them, noting that someone took these intelligence materials and turned them into a false version, while asserting that both the IDF and the government bore responsibility for failures.

ברשות הפוליטיקה הישראלית, ברמזים נוספים, דווח כי עם פוטנציאל לפיזור הכנסת באופק וחסרון של חוק גיוס, החרדים משנים אסטרטגיה ומסמנים כי ינסו לשרוד עד מרץ. בראיון לרדיו צפון 104.5FM הסביר המתרגם מתי טוכפלד מדוע החרדים משנים גישה וגישת התמודדות עם השאלות התקציביות והפוליטיות, בעוד שהממשלה עדיין עשויה לשרוד עד מרץ. בנוסף, מזהירים כי בתוך ישראל עצמה מתפתח איום של ממש: בגליל ובנגב מאוים אובדן משילות, ואי-אכיפה עלול להוביל לאירוע בטחוני רחב היקף, כאשר בגליל יש מיעוט יהודי משמעותי ובנגב אזורים עם נוכחות יהודית דלה. אזהרה זו מוצגת כאיום פנימי שעל הממשלה והמערכת הביטחון לתת עליו את הדעת כדי למנוע הידרדרות בטחונית פנים-מדינתית.

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/middle-east/iran-news/article-886203
https://t.me/StandWithUsBreakingNews/7202
https://worldisraelnews.com/us-issues-maritime-warning-urging-ships-to-avoid-iranian-waters/
https://www.jpost.com/omg/article-886206
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/politics-and-diplomacy/article-886197
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1283303
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1283299