The Times of Israel Daily Briefing

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.

Times of Israel founding editor David Horovitz, US bureau chief Jacob Magid and military correspondent Emanuel Fabian join host Jessica Steinberg on today's episode.

Horovitz, Magid and Fabian discuss Tuesday evening's Iranian attack on Israel, as Iran launched 181 missiles at Israel, sending millions of Israelis into sealed rooms and bomb shelters on the eve of the three-day Rosh Hashanah holiday.

Israel's Air Force, along with the US and Jordan, intercepted most of the projectiles, showing close coordination and alliance, said Magid. The US also vowed severe consequences for Iran, stressing the US-Israel coordination, without efforts to hold back Israel.

Fabian updates the latest in the front with Lebanon, including Tuesday's discovery that the IDF has been conducting small raids into Lebanon since last October, with special forces operating for a day or three to four days at a time, uncovering Hezbollah sites and tunnels, weapons depots, thwarting Hezbollah intentions to conduct another kind of October 7 attack.

Fabian comments that now the IDF has an entire division operating in Lebanon for a much larger scale operation but with similar goals, including the army's intention to demolish Hezbollah tunnels.

Horovitz remarks that Iran insisted on portraying the Tuesday night missile attack as a great success. He notes that Israel has changed course dramatically in the last two and a half weeks, beginning with the pager attack not yet officially claimed by Israel, and the elimination of Hezbollah leader Nasrallah and other leadership, all showing a different course by Israel and the expectation that Israel will hit back hard at Iran, with US support.

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

Discussed articles include:

Iran fires 181 missiles at Israel; PM: They made a ‘big mistake’ and ‘will pay for it’

Shrapnel from Iranian missile kills Palestinian man near Jericho

US: We will help Israel exact ‘severe consequences’ from Iran for missile attack

Seven people killed in shooting, stabbing terror attack in Jaffa

IDF: Hezbollah was ready to invade en masse after Oct. 7; we covertly raided 1,000 sites

IDF says strike kills head of Hezbollah unit charged with smuggling arms from Iran

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 Podwaves.

IMAGE: Israelis take cover inside a bomb shelter at Ben Gurion airport as a siren alert is sounded in Tel Aviv, October 1, 2024 (Photo by Dor Pazuelo/Flash90)

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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.

Diplomatic reporter Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode from the Jerusalem office.

The IDF announced the launch of limited raids into southern Lebanon late on Monday night against Hezbollah forces and infrastructure positioned along Israel’s northern border. We discuss the strategy here and whether this is a formal declaration of war even as the IDF’s 98th Division, an elite formation of paratrooper and commando units, conducted an overnight ground operation.

Yesterday, Lebanon’s caretaker Prime Minister Najib Mikati said the Lebanese government is ready to fully implement a UN resolution that had aimed to end Hezbollah’s armed presence south of the Litani River. We ask, what does it mean for Israel to have a weak state on its border and is it time for the west to bolster it?

The Biden administration appears to express its support for the raids that the IDF began conducting late Monday night during a call between US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin with Defense Minister Yoav Gallant. Berman weighs in.

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

Discussed articles include:

IDF announces launch of limited ground raids on Hezbollah sites across Lebanon border

Israel says ‘next phase’ beginning in Lebanon, amid global pleas against a ground op

Lebanese PM says willing to deploy army south of Litani River, fully implement UN resolution

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

IMAGE: Israeli soldiers work on tanks in a staging area in northern Israel near the Israel-Lebanon border, October 1, 2024. (AP Photo/Baz Ratner)

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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.

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode from the Jerusalem office.

Yesterday, the Israeli Air Force launched airstrikes Sunday against infrastructure in western Yemen that the military said was used by the Houthis, in a response to recent ballistic missile attacks on the Jewish state carried out by the Iran-backed group. Fabian explains how logistically complicated this mission is, what was struck and the messaging top Israeli officials released following the strikes.

At least three terror operatives were killed in an Israeli airstrike on a Beirut apartment building after midnight on Monday, the first such raid in the heart of the Lebanese capital since the outbreak of the war in Gaza last year. The Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) said three of its fighters were killed in the strike. Likewise, the Palestinian terror group Hamas said that its leader in Lebanon, Fateh Sherif Abu el-Amin, was killed in an Israeli strike in the south of the country. We hear about these strikes, as well as the Saturday strike that killed senior Hezbollah official Nabil Qaouk.

The body of Hezbollah terror chief Hassan Nasrallah was recovered from the site of an Israeli airstrike on Beirut’s southern suburbs on Sunday, alongside some 20 other top Hezbollah operatives. Fabian names those who have been identified and explains how resonant this strike was to the terror group's organizational structure.

The Israel Defense Forces may have begun or is about to begin small operations across the Lebanon border to take out nearby Hezbollah positions, according to two US reports. This is not yet the approved ground incursion, says Fabian, which is not off the table.

And finally, we learn about targeted airstrikes on two former schools in the Gaza Strip, as well as a kilometer-long tunnel that was discovered and destroyed.

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

Discussed articles include:

Dozens of Israeli planes strike port, power plants in Yemen after Houthi missile attacks

IDF intercepts ballistic missile that Houthis claim aimed at PM’s plane at Ben Gurion

Hamas leader, PFLP fighters killed in strikes on southern Lebanon, central Beirut

IDF kills another senior Hezbollah official in Beirut; fresh barrages target north

Nasrallah’s body retrieved from ruins as IDF names 20 more terrorists killed in blast

IDF may have already begun small raids on Hezbollah in south Lebanon – reports

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

IMAGE: A large fire and plume of smoke is visible in the port city of Hodeida, Yemen, September 29, 2024, after Israeli strikes on the Houthi-controlled city. (AP Photo)

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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.

Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode from the Jerusalem office.

Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made his first public comments since a massive Israeli airstrike killed Hezbollah’s leader Hassan Nasrallah in his southern Beirut headquarters on Friday. We hear about how the Israeli leader framed the decision and his view of its repercussions. We compare those remarks to Netanyahu's statements at the United Nations General Assembly on Friday, just prior to the strike.

We discuss how Nasrallah was in many ways became the "archetypical" enemy of Israel. Is it possible that his assassination could reshape the balance of power in the region?

Finally, we hear if this strike could shift Israelis' perceptions of their own army's competence as the country prepares to mark the first anniversary of the October 7 Hamas massacre of 1,200 and abduction of 251 hostages to the Gaza Strip.

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

Discussed articles include:

Touting Nasrallah killing, Netanyahu warns Iran: Israel can reach anywhere

In blistering UN speech, Netanyahu says Israel seeks peace but will fight until victory

Israel knew of Nasrallah’s location for months, some ministers opposed hit — reports

Killing of Nasrallah shows the IDF reasserting primacy, gradually restoring public trust

Nasrallah’s elimination is a direct blow to Iran, and a revival of Israeli deterrence

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

IMAGE: A portrait of Hezbollah's leader Hassan Nasrallah hangs on a street in Baghdad on September 29, 2024, after Iraq officially declared a three-day national mourning period following Israel's killing of the Lebanese leader. (Ahmad Al-Rubaye / AFP)

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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.

Today, we bring you a bonus episode of What Matters Now, a weekly podcast exploring key issues currently shaping Israel and the Jewish World. This episode features host Amanda Borschel-Dan speaking with best-selling author Dr. Micah Goodman in a conversation recorded on September 25, 2024, ahead of the IDF's targetted assassination of Hezbollah head Hassan Nasrallah. 

Best-selling author Goodman revisits a theory he discussed with Borschel-Dan on October 9, mere days after Hamas infiltrated Israel’s south and slaughtered 1,200 people and abducted 251 hostages to Gaza. We hear about Goodman’s idea of the “zero-sum game” that Israel must play to restore deterrence and maintain legitimacy and its results so far.

Now, a year into this ongoing war, we learn how the Israeli narrative of the war is shifting away from perceiving it through the prism of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Today, two other narratives are increasingly gaining steam: One states that October 7 was the opening salvo to a regional war and the other zooms out even further and places it in the context of a realignment of the global axis.

We hear how Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu was “right” in warning against Iran, but his coalition just may obstruct efforts to solve the conflict once and for all.

“We need new politics in order to defeat Iran,” said Goodman.

So this week, we ask Dr. Micah Goodman, what matters now.

What Matters Now podcasts are available for download on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube or wherever you get your podcasts. This episode was produced by the Pod-Waves. 

IMAGE: Philosopher and public intellectual Dr. Micah Goodman. (Yonit Schiller)

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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.

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

The Israeli Air Force carried out massive targeted airstrikes in the Lebanese capital of Beirut on Friday evening, with the military saying it had struck Hezbollah’s main headquarters. This morning, the IDF confirmed Nasrallah’s death and later Hezbollah also announced the targeted assassination of its leader. We hear about the timeline of the strike, as well as others who may have been killed alongside Nasrallah.

Since the strike on Friday, rockets have continued to be shot from Lebanon over the border. Fabian speaks about their inefficient guidance systems and what this may indicate.

On Thursday, the chief of the Israeli Air Force, Maj. Gen. Tomer Bar said that preventing all weapon transfers from Iran to Hezbollah is now a top priority. We hear about the efforts to prevent Hezbollah's rearmament as well as the potential for a ground incursion into Lebanon.

The Israel Defense Forces assessed on Friday that Hamas has been largely defeated militarily in the entire Gaza Strip, and it is now effectively a guerrilla terror group that will take some more time to dismantle. Fabian breaks this down.

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

Discussed articles include:

IDF says Hezbollah terror chief Nasrallah, other top commanders killed in Beirut strike

Israel targets Nasrallah in bombing of Hezbollah HQ; increasingly believes it killed him

Hassan Nasrallah: Terror chief made Hezbollah a regional force, ignored Israeli warnings

Official: With strike on Nasrallah, Israel hopes to avoid ground-op in Lebanon

IAF chief: Preventing all weapon transfers from Iran to Hezbollah now a top priority

IDF assesses Hamas defeated militarily in all of Gaza, is now a guerrilla terror group

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

IMAGE: Hassan Nasrallah, leader of Hezbollah, speaks during a ceremony in Beirut on July 24, 1994. (AP Photo/Ahmed Azakir, File)

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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 reviews the breakdown of the proposed 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is in the air, flying to the US to speak at the UN General Assembly after his far-right government partners threatened to bolt the coalition.

He also discusses the speech given by US President Joe Biden at the UN General Assembly earlier in the week, specifically his comments about the Middle East and the need to work on global alliances, as well as an emphasis on the October 7 atrocities, making a point of the horrors of that day and of the continuing war.

Magid also relates to Biden's possible plans during his lame duck period following the November elections and before the January inauguration and the steps his administration wants to take regarding a two-state solution.

US, frustrated, says ceasefire plan rejected by Netanyahu had been coordinated with him

At UNGA, Biden describes horrors of Oct. 7 and Gaza war, urging sides to accept deal

US officials weighing steps Biden could take to preserve two-states after election

Abbas, in UN speech, blasts Israeli ‘genocide’ in Gaza, sets out 12-point ‘day after’ plan

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

Discussed articles include:

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: Palestinian supporters march with a cutout depicting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu near the United Nations headquarters, Thursday, Sept. 26, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Julia Demaree Nikhinson)

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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.

Editor David Horovitz joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

The United States, France, and some of their allies called for an immediate 21-day ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah while also expressing support for a truce in Gaza, according to a joint statement of the countries released by the White House Wednesday following an emergency UN Security Council meeting on Lebanon. We begin by speaking about the apparent IDF achievements of the stepped-up airstrikes over the past week and then turn to the truce proposal and reactions to it.

Alongside the massacre of 1,200 and abduction of 251 hostages on October 7, Hamas head Yihya Sinwar attempted to launch a regional war. As such a war appears increasingly realistic, Borschel-Dan asks Horovitz if Israel is playing into Sinwar's hands.

We end today's episode by discussing this past year of journalism and how complicated responsible reporting is in this region. Horovitz explains some of the challenges facing news outlets and how some respected news sources are not rising to them.

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

Discussed articles include:

A fateful, devastating year; a little about ToI’s work; a thank you to ToI Community

US, France lead joint call for immediate 21-day truce between Israel and Hezbollah

Drone from Iraq hits Eilat port, causing damage and lightly injuring two

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: Lebanon's Prime Minister Najib Mikati speaks during a meeting of the Security Council, September 25, 2024, at U.N. headquarters. (AP Photo/Frank Franklin II)

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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.

Military reporter Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan on today's episode.

Hezbollah took responsibility for the missile attack on central Israel this morning, claiming to have targeted the Mossad headquarters near Tel Aviv with a “Qader 1” ballistic missile in response to the pager and walkie-talkie explosions and the assassinations of top commanders in the terror group. Fabian analyzes the relatively restrained Hezbollah response even as Israel continues to target Hezbollah leadership and infrastructure.

Hezbollah confirmed that Ibrahim Qubaisi, the commander of the terror group’s rocket and missile division, was killed in an Israeli strike yesterday in Beirut. Who was he and how important of a target is he?

This morning, the IDF issued a message in Arabic to Lebanese civilians who have evacuated their homes due to the presence of Hezbollah weapons, warning them it is not yet safe to go back. And on Monday, Israel published what it said was evidence of these Hezbollah munitions being placed in homes. What was this proof the IDF published?

Several drones launched from Iraq overnight struck open areas in the northern Golan Heights and the Arava, according to the IDF. The Iran-backed Islamic Resistance in Iraq took responsibility. Fabian weighs in on when the IDF may respond more forcefully to these increasing attacks.

We close the program with a brief update on what is happening on the ground in Gaza as the war against Hamas continues.

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

Discussed articles include:

In first, Hezbollah fires missile at Tel Aviv area; no injuries as IDF intercepts it

IDF strike in Beirut kills Hezbollah missile chief, as rockets pummel Israel

Missile in the attic: IDF releases photos of Hezbollah munitions in Lebanese homes

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: Hezbollah members march during a funeral procession in the southern suburb of Beirut, September 21, 2024. (AP Photo/Bilal Hussein)

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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.

Political correspondent Sam Sokol and health reporter Diana Bletter join host Jessica Steinberg for today's episode.

Sokol discusses latest with MK Gideon Sa'ar, who officially announced he would not consider replacing Defense Minister Yoav Gallant given the escalating situation in the north.

Sokol also looks at Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's consideration of an IDF plan to lay siege in northern Gaza, and comments made by opposition members of the government regarding the current war situation in the north.

Bletter talks about how residents of the north have been handling the ongoing war, speaking with a regional council head, hospital directors and residents about the escalating rocket attacks, and how they're dealing with the daily realities.

She also discusses a therapeutic visit by Israeli alternative care practitioners to the Druze village of Majdal Shams, where a Hezbollah rocket attack recently wiped out 12 of their children and teens.

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

Discussed articles include:

Sa’ar abandons pursuit of defense minister role as Lebanon fighting escalates

PM says weighing plan for siege on Hamas in north Gaza; believes half of hostages alive

North under siege: Rockets cause hospitals to nix procedures, schools and beaches to close

Fear and uncertainty: As war escalates, northern residents feel there’s nowhere to go

A northern kibbutz on the edge of the evacuated zone is Israel’s new de facto border

Women travel to Majdal Shams to help mothers of children killed in Hezbollah attack

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: Smoke rises after an Israeli air strike in southern Lebanon, as seen from Israel, September 23, 2024 (Photo by David Cohen/Flash90)

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