Day 620 - Israel rules Tehran skies. Is greater turbulence on the horizon?
The Times of Israel Daily Briefing
The Times of Israel
4.4 • 864 Ratings
🗓️ 17 June 2025
⏱️ 23 minutes
🧾️ Download transcript
Summary
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.
Two Israeli soldiers were killed fighting in separate incidents in southern Gaza’s Khan Younis on Monday. Cpt. Tal Movshovitz, 28, from Re’ut, was killed by an explosive device planted in a building.
Hours later, Staff Sgt. Naveh Leshem, 20, from Nokdim, was killed, and 10 other soldiers were wounded. Berman addresses the rumors of progress towards a negotiated deal to get the hostages out and a ceasefire in the Strip. What is happening in the war and what has changed?
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday did not rule out plans to target Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei. Instead, he suggested that it would be a surefire way to “end the conflict” with the Islamic Republic. Berman updates us on other statements from the prime minister -- in English and Hebrew.
Downtown Tehran appears to be emptying out, with many shops closed, including in the city’s ancient Grand Bazaar, perhaps in light of US President Donald Trump’s impromptu evacuation call for the entire city of Tehran Monday night, citing what he said was the country’s rejection of a deal to curb nuclear weapons development, as the conflict between Israel and the Islamic Republic appeared poised for further escalation. Berman explains what happened in the G7 and where the war could be turning.
French authorities erected black partition walls around Israeli company exhibits displaying offensive weapons systems at the Paris Air Show overnight Sunday, hours before the event opened at Le Bourget Airport. Berman weighs in, explaining the nuance of the situation -- and why this is hardly the first time Israel is singled out at this show.
Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates.
For further reading:
2 soldiers killed in Gaza; another mass casualty incident reported near GHF aid site
Netanyahu admits Gaza Humanitarian Foundation was Israeli initiative
Netanyahu says Israel won’t rule out killing Khamenei: It would ‘end the conflict’
Trump urges ‘everyone’ to flee Tehran, sparking speculation of widening conflict
Trump, G7 heads call for ‘de-escalation’ in Iran, but US president denies ceasefire bid
Paris Air Show closes off pavilions of Israeli companies displaying ‘offensive weapons’
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IMAGE: Handout image of Israeli fighter jet lifting off to strike Iran, June 17, 2025. (IDF)
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Transcript
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| 0:00.0 | Welcome to the Times of Israel's daily briefing. |
| 0:05.9 | I'm Amanda Borchelle Dan. |
| 0:07.7 | Today's Tuesday, June 17th, day 620 of the war. |
| 0:13.2 | I'm here with our diplomatic reporter, Laser Bearman. |
| 0:16.2 | Laser, thank you so much for joining me today. |
| 0:18.3 | Good to be here. |
| 0:19.2 | Always such a pleasure to have you. |
| 0:21.5 | Last night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu updated the nation of the progress of the war with Iran, |
| 0:27.4 | and Laser will fill us in on the highlights or the main points of the Prime Minister's remarks. |
| 0:32.8 | Missile barrages are ongoing, and just shortly before our recording, another barrage hit Central Israel, |
| 0:39.8 | we'll hear how much more retaliatory capabilities Israel thinks that Iran still has. |
| 0:45.5 | We'll also learn about some optimism on another front, the ongoing war in Gaza, where two soldiers fell yesterday. All of this and more when we're back. |
| 1:02.4 | Nothing has given me such delight as the proposal to establish a Hebrew university in Jerusalem. |
| 1:10.1 | More than a century has passed since Albert Einstein wrote this in his diary. |
| 1:14.8 | A century of cutting-edge research and innovation at Israel's leading academic institution |
| 1:19.6 | that Einstein, alongside many other luminaries, helped establish. |
| 1:24.5 | Join me, Gilad Halpern, for the view from Mount Scopus, |
| 1:29.3 | a podcast series exploring the past, present, and future of the Hebrew University. The View from Mount Scopus, available |
| 1:34.8 | wherever you get your podcasts. I'm Amanda Borchelle Dan here with our diplomatic reporter, Laser Bearman. |
| 1:47.8 | Laser two Israeli soldiers were killed fighting in separate incidents in the Gaza Strip. |
| 1:53.1 | Yesterday, the military announced the first was Captain Tal Mavchovitz, who was from Ruut, |
| 2:00.6 | who was killed by an explosive device, |
... |
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