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 for today's episode.
Over the past night, 10 Israelis were killed and 200 injured in Iranian barrages, in addition to three killed the previous night and dozens injured, including seven IDF soldiers. Berman fills us in on the overnight strikes.
We turn to a discussion of Iran's military capabilities and what's known about its missile arsenal. And Borschel-Dan poses the to-date hypothetical question of Iran's naval fleet reaching Israel.
So far, American air defense systems and a Navy destroyer have helped Israel shoot down incoming ballistic missiles that Tehran has launched in response to Israeli strikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities and top military leaders. We hear how the US has used both ground-based Patriot missile defense systems and Terminal High Altitude Air Defense systems that are capable of intercepting ballistic missiles. A Navy destroyer in the eastern Mediterranean Sea also shot down Iranian missiles heading toward Israel, one official said. Berman weighs in on whether the US may step up its efforts and join Israel in the possible scenario of a ground offensive on Iranian soil.
To close out, Berman describes the daring Mossad operation in Iran that allowed Israel to launch the airstrikes. We hear that Israel spent years preparing for the operation against Iran’s nuclear and missile programs, including building a drone base inside Iran and smuggling precision weapons systems and commandos into the country.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
6 dead, including 2 children, in Iranian missile strike on Bat Yam apartment building
Devastation grows as Iran targets civilian areas, despite interceptors and shelters
4 Arab women – mother, 2 daughters and a sister-in-law – killed by Iranian missile near Haifa
US air defense systems, naval destroyer help down Iranian missiles fired at Israel
Trump: Iran will face American might ‘at levels never seen before’ if it attacks US
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: Illustrative: US President Donald Trump gets out of a THAAD missile truck at the White House in Washington, DC, on July 15, 2019. (Brendan Smialowski / AFP)
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