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Resources on the Iran–Israel–US War

 

Latest Update — August 6, 2026

 

Over the weekend, President Trump said he had called off planned strikes on Iran and that talks would begin on reopening the Strait of Hormuz, but Iranian officials denied any negotiations were underway, saying they were instead working with Oman on a route through the strait. By Wednesday, Iran and Oman had agreed on a shipping route through the strait, one that would leave Tehran in control of traffic and let it collect transit fees, though implementation depends on the US lifting its naval blockade, which the administration has not signaled it will do.
 

In Gaza, Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu met Monday with Nickolay Mladenov, the Board of Peace's Gaza envoy, as the group works to build support for a disarmament deal the Board of Peace reached with Hamas, an agreement Israel did not join. Netanyahu reiterated that the IDF would not withdraw from the Yellow Line or halt its operations, and the Prime Minister's Office has said the framework does not adequately guarantee Hamas's full disarmament and Gaza's demilitarization before Israeli forces draw down.  Israeli strikes killed several Hamas and Islamic Jihad figures who took part in the October 7 attack, and the IDF reportedly tightened its approval process for strikes in Gaza, requiring sign-off from the chief of staff.

 

A seventh round of US-mediated talks between Israel and Lebanon opened in Rome on Tuesday, advancing the framework signed in June, with Israel seeking working groups on borders, the pilot zones where the Lebanese Armed Forces have replaced the IDF, Hezbollah's disarmament, Iranian financing, and reconstruction. The UN reported that more than 800,000 displaced Lebanese have begun returning to the south, though over 360,000 remain displaced. Talks briefly stalled after two IDF reservists, Maj. Harel Birenstock, 34, and Sgt. Maj. Tamir Vaknin, 33, were killed and four others severely wounded by an explosive device in southern Lebanon, prompting a wave of Israeli strikes in response, before negotiations resumed the next day. 

 

Meanwhile, our security initiative, SAFE Cincinnati, continues to coordinate with local law enforcement, partner agencies, and national security partners to keep our institutions and gatherings secure and as safe as possible. Jewish Federations of North America (JFNA), Secure Community Network (SCN), and Anti-Defamation League (ADL) have issued joint security guidance for Jewish communities that you can read here.

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Travel Guidance

 

Israel Educational Travel Alliance (IETA) is in touch with all organizational trips of which we are aware, and there is a form to submit to ensure that we are tracking any trip with which you, your family, or anyone in your community may be involved.

 

The United States State Department has issued the following guidance for Americans in the Middle East who need consular assistance:

  1. Enroll in STEP to receive the latest updates from the nearest US embassy.
  2. Follow @travelgov on social media and join the State Department's WhatsApp channel: "U.S. Department of State - Security Updates for U.S. Citizens"
  3. Call to request emergency assistance:

         +1-202-501-4444 from overseas

         +1-888-407-4747 from the US and Canada

 

 

Trusted Media Sources

 

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Jewish Federation of Cincinnati CEO Updates

 

Updates from JDC & Jewish Agency for Israel

 

JDC Israel Emergency Briefing: March 24, 2026

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Israel Updates

 

Navigating the News

 

There is a lot of information circulating right now—in the news, on social media, in group chats. Some of it is reliable. Some is not. 

 

Watch for fabricated images. AI-generated and manipulated images related to the war have already been identified. If an image seems designed to provoke outrage, pause before sharing. Check whether a reliable news outlet has verified it. 

 

When you see specific casualty numbers, ask where they originally came from. In this conflict, many figures first appeared in Iranian state media and were then repeated by Western news outlets—sometimes without noting the original source. Until an independent organization verifies a claim, treat it as unconfirmed. 

 

Even reliable sources can carry unverified claims. The outlets listed below generally provide solid reporting. But in this conflict, major Western news organizations have repeated Iranian government figures without always noting the origin. When you see a specific claim, look for the original source behind the reporting, not just the outlet that published it. 

 

Questions You May Be Hearing

 

You may encounter these claims in conversation, at work, on social media, or in the news. Here is what we know. 

 

“Israel dragged America into this war.” 

 

The United States and Israel are close allies conducting a joint military operation against a regime that threatened both countries—including a reported plot to assassinate the President of the United States. The decision to act was made by the President based on American national security interests, with the support of his military and political advisers. Iran’s nuclear program, its ballistic missile buildup, and its network of armed proxies across the Middle East posed direct threats to American forces and allies in the region. Framing this as one country controlling another echoes a very old and very dangerous accusation against Jewish people. 

 

“Israel bombed oil refineries and caused gas prices to spike.” 

 

Israel has stated that the fuel depots struck were controlled by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)—the regime's primary revenue stream, not civilian energy infrastructure. Gas prices are rising primarily because Iran effectively closed the Strait of Hormuz, which normally carries about 20% of the world's oil supply. That closure — not any single strike — is the main driver of price increases at the pump. 

 

“A school full of children was bombed in Minab.” 

 

A school in Minab, Iran, was destroyed on February 28. It was located adjacent to a major Iranian military naval base. Children were killed, and we grieve that loss. However, the specific casualty numbers being widely reported have not been independently verified — they trace to a single Iranian government source chain. The U.S. military has confirmed it is investigating. The facts are still being established, and we urge caution about accepting any government's unverified claims as settled. 

 

“A Jewish religious movement is secretly behind the war.” 

 

Claims that any Jewish organization orchestrated this conflict are false. These accusations are theologically baseless and factually wrong—and the President of the United States has publicly rejected them. More importantly, they are dangerous. Jewish institutions have been attacked by people who believed similar conspiracy theories. We take threats to our community seriously, and we ask everyone to do the same.