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Earlier today, Iran launched approximately 100 ballistic missiles at Israel, prompting multiple rounds of nationwide sirens. Some missiles landed in Tel Aviv and other areas in Central Israel, damaging buildings and wounding dozens of Israelis, with at least one reported fatality.

This followed Friday’s extensive Israeli Air Force attack on Iranian nuclear, military, and leadership targets. The attacks damaged nuclear enrichment sites and killed Hussein Salammi, the head of the IRGC, the Army Chief of Staff, other members of the Iranian military leadership, as well as leading nuclear scientists.

Just minutes before the evening’s sirens began, we wrapped up a conversation with Nadav Eyal, senior analyst at Yedioth Achronot and Call me Back regular, where he explained how the Israeli attack on Iran unfolded and what it took for the IDF to prepare.

These historic developments are certain to evolve over the next few days. We’ll be monitoring the situation closely, so stay tuned for more analysis.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer

The Ark is Expanding

At around 8 PM New York time, the Israeli Air Force launched a historic preemptive strike on Iran’s nuclear infrastructure, military assets and military leadership. The Israel-Iran War has begun, or at least entered a new stage. In response, the IDF Home Front Command swiftly updated its guidelines, banning all educational, social, and workplace gatherings. Israelis have been instructed to stay near bomb shelters as the nation braces for Iran’s counterstrike.

As you try to process all the fast-moving, history-making developments, we want to offer an expanded suite of voices and content from Israel.

You might have noticed that over the past few months, I’ve referred to Call me Back as an “Ark Media” podcast. After four-and-a-half years of Call me Back standing on its own, we are now building a podcast network. Ark Media is home to the topics bringing us together — Jewish life, Israel’s future, and our rapidly changing geopolitics — even when many of our guests have spirited and good faith disagreements about these issues.

About a month ago, Ark Media launched its second podcast, What’s Your Number, and today we are excited to announce that Ark Media will be joined by a third podcast - For Heaven’s Sake, co-hosted by Donniel Hartman and Yossi Klein Halevi, of the Shalom Hartman Institute. Donniel is the Hartman Institute’s president, and Yossi, who has been a recurring guest on Call me Back, is a Senior Fellow.

I don’t always agree with Donniel’s or Yossi’s views on contentious political topics - but that's precisely the point. At Ark Media, we believe that engaging with diverse Jewish perspectives, grounded in shared values, is central to presenting the dilemmas that Israel is facing as it strives to survive and thrive in a world turned upside down. Whatever your politics, Donniel and Yossi are essential voices to consider, as we navigate the challenges facing Israel and Jews worldwide.

Starting this week, Ark Media will publish For Heaven’s Sake episodes on a weekly basis. You can find them wherever you listen to your podcasts - just don’t forget to subscribe!

Watch Call me Back on YouTube: youtube.com/@CallMeBackPodcast

Subscribe to Ark Media’s new podcast ‘What’s Your Number?’: lnk.to/DZulpY

For sponsorship inquiries, please contact: callmeback@arkmedia.org

To contact us, sign up for updates, and access transcripts, visit: arkmedia.org/

Ark Media on Instagram: instagram.com/arkmediaorg

Dan on X: x.com/dansenor

Dan on Instagram: instagram.com/dansenor

Today’s episode:

Around 3AM in Israel, a nation-wide siren awoke Israelis to the news that the Israeli Air Force was conducting extensive strikes on the Islamic Republic of Iran. As far as we know so far, the strikes have targeted nuclear enrichment sites, military sites, the IRGC leadership, including Hussein Salammi, the head of the IRGC, the Army Chief of Staff, and leading nuclear scientists.

Shortly after the blitz began, the IDF Home Front Command announced immediate changes to its guidelines, prohibiting all gatherings for educational, social, and workplace purposes. Israelis have been instructed to remain near bomb shelters as they await the Iranian response.

It is an extremely tense moment for Israelis and Jews around the world. For years we’ve discussed the danger of Iran inching closer and closer to a nuclear weapon. The IDF said in a statement that in recent months it had accumulated evidence that Iran’s nuclear program was “approaching the point of no return.”

Joining us to unpack the ongoing events that are reshaping the Middle East in real time is Ronen Bergman. Ronen is a staff writer for The New York Times and Senior Correspondent for Military and Intelligence Affairs at Yedhiot Ahronot. Ronen is the recipient of a Pulitzer price for his reporting on the Israel-Hamas war.

CREDITS:

ILAN BENATAR - Producer & Editor

MARTIN HUERGO - Sound Editor

MARIANGELES BURGOS - Additional Editing

MAYA RACKOFF - Operations Director

GABE SILVERSTEIN - Research

YUVAL SEMO - Music Composer