HEADLINES Tel Aviv drug operation dismantled cash seized US seizes Iran-linked tanker off Venezuela Byron storm brings floods to Israel The time is now 1:06 AM in New York, I'm Noa Levi and this is the latest Israel Today: Ongoing War Report. At 1:05 a.m., here is your hourly update on the Middle East security landscape and related regional developments with emphasis on Israeli and international perspectives. Israeli security and law enforcement actions dominated a portion of today’s domestic briefings. In south Tel Aviv, in the Neve Sha’anan area, police and security units dismantled a drug trafficking operation that had functioned as a makeshift station for illicit trade. Investigators recovered approximately 120,000 Israeli shekels in cash, as well as quantities of hashish and cannabis, a pistol described as an Ersopt-style firearm, and a forged license plate. A suspect in his twenties from the city of Lod was detained and is being held for questioning on drug distribution charges. The operation involved Shin Bet or police anti-crime units working in coordination with Tel Aviv Metropolitan Police and municipal authorities, and followed a broader, ongoing push against illicit drug networks in the southern city. Authorities say further searches were conducted at a residence under a court-issued warrant, where the suspect allegedly ran the operation. Officials emphasize that the anti-drug campaign will continue with zero tolerance for those who traffic in dangerous substances and endanger young people and the social fabric. Turning to weather and public safety, Israel is contending with a significant winter storm system named Byron that has brought heavy precipitation to the coastal plain and inland areas. Early rainfall totals in the north have ranged from around 60 to 77 millimeters in places such as Zichron Yaakov, Haifa, and the Carmel region, with the system moving toward the center and Greater Tel Aviv. Forecasters warn of intensified downpours, strong winds, and a heightened risk of urban and flash floods in the Coastal Plain and Shfela, as well as in the Judean Desert, Dead Sea region, and northern Arava. Municipal authorities have activated full storm protocols, reinforcing drainage and road-clearing capabilities, deploying pumping crews and engineering equipment, and elevating emergency call capabilities. Road closures have already begun in some areas, including Route 40 in portions of the north-south corridor, and residents are urged to stay away from flooded roadways and secure loose objects as winds intensify and temperatures drop below seasonal norms. Internationally, a major development in how sanctions and non-state actors intersect with regional security broke this week. US forces conducted a high-profile operation off the coast of Venezuela and seized a large crude-oil tanker that US authorities say was linked to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps and Hezbollah and used in an illicit oil shipping network. The operation, executed with two helicopters, coast guard personnel, and Marine support from a US carrier, resulted in the capture of the vessel, named The Skipper, and the US indicating it would retain the cargo. Venezuela condemned the move as piracy and theft of its resources. The seizure is described by US officials as part of a broader campaign to disrupt sanctioned oil flows tied to foreign militant networks, and it comes amid a broader backdrop of sanctions and enforcement actions that have already disrupted a global fleet known to carry sanctioned crude. Analysts note that more than 80 vessels are either near or within Venezuelan waters, including several under sanction, and they expect short-term impacts on export schedules and maritime risk premiums as shippers reassess routes and insurance. In the Palestinian and broader regional diplomacy space, there were interactions at high levels that drew international attention. Spain’s prime minister met in Madrid with Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, underscoring accountability for the violence and urging path to a just and enduring peace grounded in coexistence. In parallel, European Union representatives reportedly pressed Palestinian authorities with evidence that funds were continuing to flow to groups designated as terrorist organizations, highlighting ongoing concerns about financial support networks in the region. Amnesty International released a report accusing Hamas of crimes against humanity in connection with the October 7 attacks and the handling of hostages, a finding that the organization says should inform international accountability and the push toward a lasting resolution to the Gaza crisis. From the US policy perspective, the actions of seizing the tanker off Venezuela reflect a broader enforcement posture aimed at deterring sanction violations and disrupting networks that support designated entities in the region. Washington has signaled a willingness to pursue both maritime and on-land actions t
