If we're going to go for a deal, his ballot is going to stop firing in the north,

and then we're going to have some sort of ceasefire. This could be a ladder for them to climb off the tree.

If we're not going to go to a deal at a certain point something will happen like the terrible tragedy of marginal chums and the murder there and this will lead to an escalation because this is how these wars progress. And the sides are definitely ready for an escalation

and are preparing for an escalation.

And it's the US administration and the moderate Arab countries in the region,

as well as parts of the Israeli government

and the Israeli defense apparatus

that are trying to prevent this escalation from happening. It's 8 o'clock AM on Sunday, August 25th in New York City, it is 3 o'clock

PM in Israel as Israelis begin their week with Israel's most significant

attack on Hezbollah since the war began more than 10 months ago and since Hezbollah has been

attacking Israel just a mere days after October 7th. We are recording this special

episode with Ronan Bergman, senior reporter for Yiddioahronut in the New York Times and Nadavayel,

columnist and correspondent for Yiddioahachronut, a few hours after Israel preemptively attacked Hezbollah as they were preparing

to attack Tel Aviv. Ronin, Nadev, thanks for being here.

Thanks that.

Thanks for having us.

Ronin, let me start with you.

What do we know about Hezbollah's plan of attack as of now this morning, my time, afternoon, your time?

Yeah, well, much of that changed throughout the last three weeks since the two assassinations that were the reason why both Iran and Hezbollah wanted to retaliate, one assassination of Hezbollah chief of staff in Lebanon and one of Palestinian Hamas leader in Tehran.

So at a certain point, Iran decided that it gives all the responsibility for retaliation to Hezbollah.

Hezbollah was set on a plan that was aiming at three main military targets, two at the center of Israel, one in the north of Israel and

Airbus in the north and two intelligence bases not far away from where I'm speaking now. They were waiting until the negotiation for the

...