Israel Today: Ongoing War Report - Update from 2026-02-13 at 03:03

HEADLINES
Ford to Middle East Amid Iran Pressure
Jerusalem Hosts 300 Rabbis After Baku Threats
Israelis Plant Trees Across Lebanon Border

The time is now 3:02 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, the United States is moving a major asset to the Middle East to bolster its forces, according to The New York Times. The USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships had previously been deployed in the Caribbean and were informed of their new destination on Thursday, four anonymous US officials said. The development follows reports that the USS George H.W. Bush would deploy to the region, with a Wall Street Journal source saying the Bush was performing training exercises off the Virginia coast and could expedite those exercises. Ford had originally been intended for a European deployment but was redirected to the Caribbean in order to participate in what officials described as the abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro. The carrier is not expected to return to its home port in Norfolk, Virginia, until late April or early May, extending an already lengthy deployment and delaying the implementation of planned upgrades and repairs. The USS Lincoln and several other vessels are stationed in the Middle East. President Donald Trump told N12 on Tuesday.

In US Policy Concerning Israel, Against the backdrop of talks between the US and Iran, with the strike option still on the table, the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford and its escort ships will be redirected to the Middle East and are not expected to return to their home ports until late April or early May. According to a New York Times report citing official sources, the new orders direct it to join the strike group led by the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln in the Persian Gulf, as part of President Trump's renewed pressure campaign against Iran. Earlier this week, Trump hinted that he wanted to send a second aircraft carrier to the region – and indeed he has. The Ford departed Norfolk, Virginia, on June 24 and was originally planned for a European deployment. The tensions between the US and Iran, which also included military action on South American soil, redirected it to the Caribbean as part of Trump's pressure campaign. The Ford's fighter jets participated in the January 3 attack on Caracas, which led to the capture of President Nicolás Maduro.

In Antisemitism and Anti-Jewish Hate, Security fears, surging antisemitism and growing uncertainty about the future of Jewish life in Europe dominated discussions as some 300 Orthodox rabbis from across the continent gathered in Jerusalem for the Conference of European Rabbis’ annual convention. The conference, originally scheduled to take place in October in Baku, Azerbaijan, was canceled following what organizers described as “very real terror threats,” forcing relocation what was meant to be the group’s first-ever conference in a Muslim country. In late January, three individuals were arrested in Azerbaijan on suspicion of planning an attack on the Israeli embassy in the capital Baku at the instructions of Islamic State Khorasan (ISIS-K), the Afghan offshoot of the Islamic State terror group. The conference was rescheduled for Jerusalem under the theme “Identity, connection and unity in a changing world.” It marked 70 years since the CER was founded in the aftermath of the Holocaust to help rebuild Jewish religious life across Europe.

In Israeli Domestic Politics, The IDF said that two Israelis crossed the border fence near Yir’on on Thursday, and were handed to police; the Uri Tzafon movement called the action a “moral and historical step” aimed at protecting northern communities. Dozens of activists from the Uri Tzafon movement crossed the border fence near Yir’on on Thursday and planted trees inside Lebanon, according to the group. The IDF said its surveillance identified a gathering of about 20 Israelis at the frontier and that two suspects crossed the fence before being detained, returned to Israeli territory, and transferred to the Israel Police for further handling. The activists, including bereaved families, northern residents, and reservists, carried signs reading “Striking roots, planting security,” and demanded a renewal of Jewish settlement in southern Lebanon. According to the movement, the action commemorated Yisrael Sokol, who fell during the Iron Swords War. In a statement, the IDF called the crossing a serious criminal offense that endangers civilians and forces operating along the border. The military emphasized that unauthorized activity in the area risks escalation amid ongoing tensions with Hezbollah and the presence of armed groups along the frontier.

In Israeli Economy and Business, Ashdod refinery disaster: Suspicion oxygen tanks were mislabeled, may have contained toxic substance. Tanks stamped “oxygen” and connected to the victims’ suits may not have contained oxygen and could have held a toxic material; forensic institute has yet to determine the cause of death of two chemical engineers. הצהרת הכלכליים: הצמיחה של המשק הישראלי צפויה השנה להגיע לכ-5.2% ובשנה הבאה לכ-4.3%, כך על פי הערכת מחלקת המחקר של בנק ישראל שהוצגו בפני ועדת הכספים של הכנסת. משלחת של קרן המטבע הבין לאומית זה עתה סיימה ביקורה המקצועי בישראל והביעו כי המשק הישראלי מגלה חוסן, עם התפרצות הפעילות הכלכלית לאחר הפסקת האש. עם זאת, קיימים סיכונים, כולל עלויות הביטחון הגבוהות, פרמיות סיכון מהגבוהות וזמני עבודה מאורגנים בקפיצה הגורמים למחסור בעובדים זרים. המשלחת גם ציינה כי ייעול ההיצע והפריון הוא דחוף כדי להשיג צמיחה בינונית. למאמר המלא לחצו כאן. לא רק טורקיה רוצה טילים: הידידה הגדולה של ישראל כבר שם הקורבן ה-40 מתחילת השנה: ופאא רפיק עוואד נרצחה בטמרה לאחר חקירה נוספת - מח"ש הודיעה: קובי יעקובי מזומן לשימוע פלילי המידע שיש לחיזבאללה הדהים את צה"ל - והתרגיל הנרחב שהגיע לאחר מכן ישראל זיו נשבר ובוכה בראיון: "אני הכי סמרטוט"

In Uplifting News, President Isaac Herzog brings Israel’s embrace to Australian Jews as protests rage outside. In Melbourne and Sydney, Herzog underscored that Israelis feel a shared responsibility with Jewish communities abroad as he led a four-day visit marked by protests surrounding the Bondi Beach massacre. At a Sydney gathering, roughly 7,000 people attended an event titled “An Evening of Light and Solidarity,” where Herzog said, “You, the Jews of Australia, are as much a part of Israel as Israel is a part of you.” He and his wife Michal participated in gatherings to reinforce ties between the Israeli state and Australian Jewry as communities coped with the attack and its aftermath.

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-886560
https://www.jpost.com/israel-news/article-886561
https://www.jpost.com/diaspora/article-886525
https://www.israelhayom.com/2026/02/13/uss-ford-persian-gulf-iran-pressure/
https://www.timesofisrael.com/european-rabbis-bemoan-antisemitism-brainstorm-sustainability-at-jerusalem-confab/
https://www.ynetnews.com/article/ry11mw83vzx
https://www.maariv.co.il/breaking-news/article-1284403