5 points of apparent failure in the Iran war

5 points of apparent failure in the Iran war

Author: The Times of Israel April 19, 2026 Duration: 23:58

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 correspondent Lazar Berman joins host Amanda Borschel-Dan for today's episode.

A damning Wall Street Journal report depicts US President Donald Trump as making key decisions about the war in Iran in a slapdash manner without input from his advisers, stating he was eager for a ceasefire to address rising fuel prices.

As the ostensible end of the two-week ceasefire with Iran looms, Berman assesses five points of apparent failure on the part of the joint US and Israel conflict with Iran, including the focus on the Strait of Hormuz and Iran's new position there; the percentage of missiles still available to Iran; the current strength of Iran's proxies; the uptick of Iranian-linked terror abroad and the status of the Iranian nuclear program.

We then turn our gaze to the Lebanon front, where Hezbollah was granted a reprieve from the conflict with Trump's imposed ceasefire. What are Israel's concerns -- even as this could be an opportunity for direct talks between Lebanese and Israeli leadership?

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

For further reading:

IDF reservist killed, nine wounded by explosive in southern Lebanon amid truce

IDF reservist killed by Hezbollah explosive in Lebanon amid truce, 3 troops hurt

Iran parliament speaker touts ‘progress’ in US talks, but Strait of Hormuz still shut

Iran reimposes Hormuz closure after US maintains blockade; IRGC gunboats fire at ships

Trump: Iran ‘got a little cute’ by blocking Hormuz again, but talks going ‘really well’

Netanyahu: ‘Road to peace’ with Lebanon begins; Trump: Israel ‘PROHIBITED’ from bombing there

Amid truce with Israel, Aoun says Lebanon to now seek ‘permanent agreements’

Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple PodcastsSpotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.

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Each morning, The Times of Israel Daily Briefing cuts through the noise to deliver essential context on the stories shaping Israel and the wider region. Produced by the seasoned journalists of The Times of Israel, this podcast provides more than just headlines; it offers grounded analysis and on-the-ground perspective that listeners won't find in a standard news bulletin. You'll hear directly from reporters and editors who live the story, discussing the political, security, and social developments that matter most. The conversation naturally extends to the broader Middle East and issues affecting Jewish communities worldwide, making sense of complex events with clarity and depth. Tune in for a concise, authoritative briefing that respects your time and intelligence, turning the day's most pressing news into understandable narrative. This is where informed listening begins, a trusted audio resource for anyone seeking a reliable, nuanced understanding of a dynamic and often misunderstood part of the world.
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