The Evening: Hezbollah Vows Retaliation, DoD Worried, Running on Empty, and More

Newsletter - September 19, 2024

Hezbollah Leader Vows Retaliation

Hezbollah leader Hasan Nasrallah called the two days of deadly blasts linked to electronic devices in Lebanon this week an "act of war" by Israel, as the Israeli military stepped up strikes on southern Lebanon, flew warplanes over Beirut and approved plans for the next stage of the conflict along the border between the two countries, as The Washington Post reports.

Pentagon Worries Israel Is Close to Launching Ground War in Lebanon

A wave of deadly explosions of pagers and other electronic devices carried by militants in Lebanon has sharply heightened Pentagon concern about a potential ground war erupting in southern Lebanon between Israel and Hezbollah, as the WSJ reports.

Venezuela's Opposition Leader Says He Was Forced to Recognize Maduro

Venezuela's opposition leader, Edmundo González, said in a video address from exile that the country's autocratic government had forced him to sign a letter recognizing President Nicolás Maduro as the winner of the disputed July election, as the NYT reports.

Executive Education

As the 2024 election approaches, policy advocates face new uncertainties. Join Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and Peoplefrom October 15-18, 2024, to gain insights into how shifting power dynamics will impact your work-and how to stay ahead. Registerby October 1 to connect with Washington insiders and equip yourself with the tools to achieve your policy agenda.

Audio Briefs

CSIS now offers full audio versions of our latest analysis. Listen to CSIS's John J. Hamre's latest report,"A Strategic Framework for America in the Twenty-First Century."

In That Number

1.4 million

President Vladimir Putin said on Thursday that Russia was ramping up drone production by around ten times to nearly 1.4 million this year to ensure the Russian armed forces grab victory in Ukraine.
Source: Reuters

Critical Quote

Retribution will come.

- Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah leader

iDeas Lab

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Fossil fuels are increasingly being replaced by non-fossil energy consumption as the world moves towards global emissions goals. Facilitating accelerated economic growth in developing countries will allow for better resource management and increase the reliability of photovoltaic power generation and wind power. Read the full analysis here.

The Andreas C. Dracopoulos iDeas Lab at CSIS enhances our research with the latest in cutting-edge web technologies, design, and multimedia.

Optics

Photo: Anwar Amro/AFP/Getty Images

A man reacts while holding a Hezbollah flag during the funeral of people killed during an explosive attack on handheld communications devices, in Beirut, Lebanon, on September 18, 2024.

Recommended Reading

"The Middle East's View of the 'China Model'" by CSIS's Jon B. Alterman.

This Town Upcoming

Tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Americas Program and Trustee Chair in Chinese Business and Economics launch a new brief on China's investment strategy in Latin America's electric vehicle supply chains.

Also tomorrow at 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Intelligence, National Security, and Technology Program holds a discussion with Israel Soong, National Security Council Director of East Asia & Pacific Cyber Policy.

On Monday at 10:00 a.m., CSIS Renewing American Innovation and the Strategic Technologies Program welcome U.S. Deputy Secretary of Commerce Don Graves.

Video

Today, the CSIS International Security Program and the U.S. Naval Institute hosted a Maritime Security Dialogue event featuring Admiral Lisa Franchetti, Chief of Naval Operations, on the upcoming release of the 2024 Navigation Plan and Admiral Franchetti's strategic guidance for the Navy. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

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Kemi Okenyondo, founder and executive director of the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative, also known as Partners West Africa Nigeria, joins the podcast to discuss accountability for Nigeria's military and police and security issues in the country.

Listen on Spotify& Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Let's close out the week with perhaps Jackson Browne's most incendiary live performance-the legendary "No Nukes" concert at Madison Square Garden in '79.

I invite you to email me at [email protected] and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz