Why is Iran attacking its Gulf neighbors?

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. There are at least 19 US warships in the Arabian Sea, including two aircraft carriers and an amphibious assault ship with more than 1,000 Marines aboard. This threat -- and US President Donald Trump's renewed blockade on the Strait of Hormuz -- is not deterring the Iranians' determined chokehold on the waterway. Berman delves into the logic behind Iran's moves. Adding further nuance, we take a look at Iran's strikes on its Gulf neighbors and Jordan. What is being targeted and how is this conveying the regime's message? Next, we turn to an unexpected escalation in the Gulf: The Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen said they launched missiles and drones at Saudi Arabia’s Abha International Airport on Monday in response to airstrikes they blamed on Saudi Arabia that struck Sanaa International Airport earlier in the day. What is behind this flare-up? And finally, Rome is host this week to a sixth round of talks between Israel and Lebanon. On the agenda is a pilot IDF pullout from specific locations in southern Lebanon. Berman raises the pluses and minuses of this plan. Check out The Times of Israel's ongoing liveblog for more updates. Subscribe to The Times of Israel Daily Briefing on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, YouTube, or wherever you get your podcasts. Yitzhak Ledee filmed and edited this episode.