Welcome to The Times of Israel's Daily Briefing, your 20-minute audio update on what's happening in Israel, the Middle East and the Jewish world.

US bureau chief Jacob Magid joins host Jessica Steinberg on today's episode.

Magid discusses the latest US administration comments regarding the uptick in Israeli strikes against Hezbollah, noting the carefully couched understanding of the escalation, given the continual Hezbollah missile attacks against Israel over the last year.

He also reviews comments made by US officials to the Wall Street Journal about the lack of a Gaza ceasefire and hostage deal, and expectations that none would be forthcoming before the end of the Biden administration.

Magid then talks about two talks given by former President Donald Trump to two Jewish groups in the US, and Trump's stance that he is the only candidate who can save Israel from the destruction that he says would take place under a Kamala Harris administration.

For news updates, please check out The Times of Israel’s ongoing live blog.

Discussed articles include:

Blinken warns against ‘escalatory actions’ in Mideast, cites risk to Gaza deal

US: ‘Additional military ops’ not the best way to prevent Israel-Hezbollah escalation

US says it wasn’t involved in or tipped off about Hezbollah pager detonations

Senior US officials think Gaza ceasefire unlikely by end of Biden’s term — report

Trump: If I lose election, Jewish people will ‘have a lot to do with’ it

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod Waves.

IMAGE; US Secretary of State Antony Blinken exits a vehicle as he departs Egypt, taking off from Cairo, Thursday, Sept. 19, 2024, for meetings in Paris, France. (Evelyn Hockstein/Pool Photo via AP)

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