IDF on standby to rejoin Iran fight

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 correspondent Emanuel Fabian joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

The US military said it launched another round of strikes on Iran early Sunday, the third in recent days, after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps struck a container ship traveling through the Strait of Hormuz and declared the waterway closed until further notice. Fabian speaks to what it may take for the IDF to rejoin the fight.

US Democratic lawmaker Ro Khanna said he was detained by Israeli settlers armed with US-made rifles during a West Bank visit late last week. Also making headlines, four Israeli settlers were detained for allegedly attacking a CNN media crew near the West Bank town of Sinjil on Saturday. After allegations of IDF inaction, Fabian reviews the military's role in defusing similar situations.

The Israel Defense Forces on Friday announced that three Hamas commanders were killed in airstrikes in Gaza, including one who raided the IDF’s Re’im base in southern Israel during the October 7, 2023, onslaught that sparked the subsequent war in the Strip. This comes amid an uptick in similar announcements of targeted killings of terrorists who participated in the massacre or held hostages in Gaza. Fabian tells us about the apparent trend.

Yesterday, a US military delegation met with Lebanon’s army in Beirut to discuss the implementation of Israel’s withdrawal from a “pilot zone” in southern Lebanon. We hear where and how it may take place.

And finally, to end the program, we learn about Pvt. Yaakov Zarihan, killed in action on April 20, 1948, during Israel’s War of Independence. He had been considered missing for 78 years, and last week it was announced that he was identified as buried in a mass grave in a kibbutz near Jerusalem.

Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.

For further reading:

US strikes Iran again, after IRGC attacks ship in Hormuz and declares strait closed

US Democrat Ro Khanna says he was detained by armed settlers during West Bank visit

4 settlers detained for alleged attack on CNN crew in West Bank town of Sinjil

Off-duty IDF soldier, two Israeli women extracted from West Bank’s Jericho

IDF kills three Hamas commanders, including Oct. 7 invader, in Gaza airstrikes

US military delegation visits Beirut to discuss IDF ‘pilot zone’ withdrawal

IDF troops to withdraw from Lebanon pilot zones in coming days, says US official

IDF says soldier missing since 1948 war determined to be buried near Jerusalem

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