‘LIMITED, LOCALIZED, AND TARGETED’: Israel troops crossed the border into southern Lebanon, launching a ground invasion it described as “limited, localized, and targeted” and “ based on precise intelligence” to clear Hezbollah forces from a buffer zone to enable some roughly 60,000 Israelis to safely return to their homes in the north.
“These targets are located in villages close to the border and pose an immediate threat to Israeli communities in northern Israel,” the Israel Defense Forces said in a statement on social media. “The Israeli Air Force and IDF artillery are supporting the ground forces with precise strikes on military targets in the area.”
Tens of thousands of displaced Israelis have been out of their homes for nearly a year, since Hezbollah began firing rockets into Israel in support of the Oct. 7 attack by Hamas that killed 1,200 people, and sparked an Israeli retaliation that led to some 40,000 deaths.
“The IDF is operating according to a methodical plan set out by the General Staff and the Northern Command which IDF soldiers have trained and prepared for in recent months,” the statement said. “The IDF is continuing to operate to achieve the goals of the war and is doing everything necessary to defend the citizens of Israel and return the citizens of northern Israel to their homes.”
ISRAEL LAUNCHES ‘TARGETED’ GROUND RAIDS AGAINST HEZBOLLAH IN LEBANON
AUSTIN: ‘DISMANTLING ATTACK … NECESSARY: Despite expressing hope last week that Israel would refrain from launching a ground incursion into Lebanon out of concern it could “broaden” the conflict, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin backed the Israeli operation in a conversation with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant .
“I made it clear that the United States supports Israel’s right to defend itself. We agreed on the necessity of dismantling attack infrastructure along the border to ensure that Lebanese Hizballah cannot conduct October 7-style attacks on Israel’s northern communities,” Austin posted on X .
“I reaffirmed that a diplomatic resolution is required to ensure that civilians can return safely to their homes on both sides of the border and made clear that the United States is well-postured to defend U.S. personnel, partners, and allies in the face of threats from Iran and Iran-backed terrorist organizations and determined to prevent any actor from exploiting tensions or expanding the conflict,” Austin said. “I reiterated the serious consequences for Iran in the event Iran chooses to launch a direct military attack against Israel.”
Speaking at a Defeat ISIS ministerial in Washington yesterday before the ground operation began, Secretary of State Antony Blinken said the U.S. has not given up on a diplomatic resolution to the conflict. “Diplomacy remains the best and only path to achieving greater stability in the Middle East. The United States remains committed to urgently driving these efforts forward,” Blinken said . “The United States will continue to work with our partners in the region and around the world to advance a diplomatic resolution that provides real security to Israel, to Lebanon, and allows citizens on both sides of the border to return to their homes.”
U.S. SENDS MORE FORCES TO REGION : The Pentagon has placed more U.S. troops on heightened alert for possible deployment to the Middle East and moved more fighter aircraft closer to Israel.
“I won’t talk specific timelines or numbers for OpSec [Operational Security] reasons, but I can tell you these augmented forces include F-16, F-15e, A-10, F-22 fighter aircraft and associated personnel,” Sabrina Singh , deputy Pentagon press secretary, said in a meeting with reporters. “This includes a certain number of units already deployed to the Middle East region that will be extended, and the forces due to rotate into theater to replace them will now instead augment the in-place forces already in the region.”
In addition, Austin has ordered the aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln and the ships in its carrier strike group to remain in the region for the time being.
NETANYAHU: ‘WHEN IRAN IS FINALLY FREE … EVERYTHING WILL BE DIFFERENT’ : In a recorded speech directed at the Iranian people, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu expressed the hope that one day the two countries would live in peace.
“At this pivotal moment, I want to address you — the people of Iran. I want to do so directly, without filters, without middlemen,” Netanyahu said. “Every day, you see a regime that subjugates you, makes fiery speeches about defending Lebanon, defending Gaza. Yet every day, that regime plunges our region deeper into darkness and deeper into war.”
“When Iran is finally free and that moment will come a lot sooner than people think — everything will be different. Our two ancient peoples, the Jewish people and the Persian people, will finally be at peace,” he said. “Don’t let a small group of fanatic theocrats crush your hopes and your dreams. You deserve better. Your children deserve better. The entire world deserves better.”
“I know you don’t support the rapists and murderers of Hamas and Hezbollah, but your leaders do. You deserve more,” he concluded. “The people of Iran should know — Israel stands with you. May we together know a future of prosperity and peace.”
NETANYAHU THREATENS IRANIAN LEADERSHIP AND WARNS OF REGIME CHANGE
Good Tuesday morning and welcome to Jamie McIntyre’s Daily on Defense, written and compiled by Washington Examiner National Security Senior Writer Jamie McIntyre ( @jamiejmcintyre ) and edited by Christopher Tremoglie . Email here with tips, suggestions, calendar items, and anything else. Sign up or read current and back issues at DailyonDefense.com . If signing up doesn’t work, shoot us an email and we’ll add you to our list. And be sure to follow me on Threads and/or on X @jamiejmcintyre .
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HAPPENING TODAY: THE LAST DEBATE : Vice presidential debates usually have minimal impact on the presidential elections, but there’s little usual about this year’s nail-biter. With the national polls showing no clear leader with just over a month before the election, today's 9 p.m. faceoff between Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH), the Republican vice presidential nominee, and Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN), the Democratic vice presidential nominee, could move the needle for some voters still on the fence.
The debate, the last one scheduled before the Nov. 6 election, is hosted by CBS but can be viewed on your favorite cable network, public television station, or streaming service.
2024 VICE PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE LIVE UPDATES
ALSO TODAY: NATO HAS NEW SECGEN: At NATO headquarters in Brussels this morning, there was a passing of the torch from Jens Stoltenberg , who has been NATO’s top civilian leader, to former Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte , who assumed the position of NATO secretary-general at a ceremony. Among his first statements, he expressed strong support for Ukraine.
Rutte also dismissed concerns that a second Trump presidency might fracture the alliance, praising both former President Donald Trump and Vice President Kamala Harris . “I know both candidates very well,” he said. “I will be able to work with both, whatever is the outcome of the election.”
At a later press conference, the first question Rutte was asked was whether he supported Ukraine's request to use long-range weapons to strike deeper into Russia.
“Let’s not forget, according to international law there’s a right that does not end at the border so that means that supporting Ukraine’s right to self-defense means that it is also possible for them to strike legitimate targets on the aggressive territory,” Rutte said, but then added, “At the end it’s up to each ally to determine its support for Ukraine. That’s not up to me. This is for the individual allies in their relationship with Ukraine.”
“We also have to be clear that not a single, one single weapon alone will win the war,” he said. “But obviously this is an important debate.”
U.S. PROTESTS HOTDOGGING PILOT: A Sept. 23 press release from the North American Aerospace Defense Command, aka NORAD, described the interception of four Russian military aircraft in Alaska’s Air Defense Identification Zone as something that “occurs regularly” and was “not seen as a threat.”
But yesterday, NORAD released a 13-second video, which showed that during the tracking of a Russian Bear bomber, the pilot of a Russian Su-35 fighter jet nearly sideswiped a U.S. F-16 in the aerial equivalent of a road rage incident. “The conduct of one Russian Su-35 was unsafe, unprofessional, and endangered all — not what you’d see in a professional air force,” Gen. Michael Guillot , head of the U.S. Northern Command, posted on social media.
LESSONS FROM UKRAINE DRIVE EFFORT TO IMPROVE DRONE DEFENSES: Based on the lessons the war in Ukraine has provided about the lethal capabilities of small attritable drones, and the success of the Pentagon’s Replicator program to ramp up efforts to acquire thousands of the offensive drones in the near future, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin has ordered a follow-up program called Replicator 2, which will focus on the other side of the equation — drone defenses.
“I have determined that Replicator 2 will tackle the warfighter priority of countering the threat posed by small uncrewed aerial systems to our most critical installations and force concentrations,” Austin wrote in a memorandum to senior leaders and combatant commanders. “I am confident the Replicator Initiative will complement and advance the significant C-sUAS [counter small uncrewed aerial systems] work already underway in the DOD.”
Austin says Deputy Defense Secretary Kathleen Hicks , who is already in charge of the Replicator 1 program, and Joint Chiefs Vice Chairman Adm. Christopher Grady will head up the new effort, which will be proposed to Congress in next year’s defense budget.
“The expectation is that Replicator 2 will assist with overcoming challenges we face in the areas of production capacity, technology innovation, authorities, policies, open system architecture and system integration, and force structure,” Austin wrote. “My expectation is that Replicator 2 will deliver meaningfully improved C-sUAS protection to critical assets within 24 months of Congress approving funding.”
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THE RUNDOWN:
Washington Examiner : Congress urged to return to DC to pass hurricane aid
Washington Examiner : Israel launches ‘targeted’ ground raids against Hezbollah in Lebanon
Washington Examiner : Israeli commandos conduct raids into Lebanon ahead of possible ground invasion
Washington Examiner : Netanyahu threatens Iranian leadership and warns of regime change
Washington Examiner : NORAD releases video of ‘unsafe, unprofessional’ Russian fighter aircraft intercept
Washington Examiner : Ryan Routh pleads not guilty to Trump assassination attempt charges
Washington Examiner : International Longshoremen’s Association strike begins as deadline passes with no deal
New York Times : U.S. Officials Believe Israel Will Not Conduct Full Invasion Of Lebanon
AP : Iran Reluctant So Far To Retaliate Against Israel After Airstrike Kills Hezbollah Leader
New York Times : Russia to Boost Defense Budget as Ukraine War Drags On
Air & Space Forces Magazine : US Sending More Air Force Fighters to Middle East
Defense One : In Ukraine, a US Firm Tests a Promising Tool Against GPS Jammers: Cell Phones
Wall Street Journal : Defense-Tech Startups Need a New Supplier: Anyone but China
Defense Scoop : Defense Secretary Austin Unveils Aims to Push Counter-UAS tech in Replicator 2.0
Bloomberg : U.S. Concerned About Russia Supplying Missiles To Yemen’s Houthis
AP : Yemen’s Houthi Rebels Claim Shooting Down Another US-Made Drone as US Acknowledges Losing One
CNN : CNN Aboard Israeli Tanker For Strike On Houthi-Controlled Port In Yemen
AP : A Drone Boat Loaded With Explosives Has Struck A Ship In The Red Sea In A Suspected Houthi Attack
Stars and Stripes : The Air Force’s Special Recruitment Problem: Americans Know SEALs and Green Berets, Not PJs
Air & Space Forces Magazine : Lockheed Gets $3.5 Billion for JASSM/LRASM Missiles as It Eyes ‘Extreme Range’ Variant
Aviation Week : Will CCAs Need Defensive Systems?
Air & Space Forces Magazine : First Guardian Launches into Space Aboard NASA Mission
Breaking Defense : NGA Seeks Help Training AI to Translate Imagery for Targeting Intel
Air & Space Forces Magazine : Moody, MacDill Still Closed in Wake of Hurricane Helene
National Security Journal : Let Israel Finish the Job
National Security Journal : There is No Ukraine ‘Victory’ Strategy to Defeat Russia
National Security Journal : F-35I Adir: Israel’s ‘Custom’ Stealth Fighter No Other Nation Flies
National Security Journal : Poland: NATO’s Growing Military Powerhouse Is Truly Impressive
National Security Journal : Will Iraq Follow Lebanon’s Disastrous Path?
THE CALENDAR:
TUESDAY | OCTOBER 1
9 p.m. New York, New York — CBS News 2024 Vice Presidential Debate with Republican vice presidential nominee Sen. J.D. Vance (R-OH); and Democratic vice presidential nominee Gov. Tim Walz (D-MN) Available on CBS Television Network and Paramount+ or livestreamed on CBS News 24/7, or your favorite cable or public television service.
WEDNESDAY | OCTOBER 2
10 a.m. — Council on Foreign Relations virtual briefing: "Israel, Gaza, and the Middle East a Year After the Hamas Attack," with Steven Cook , CFR senior fellow for Middle East and Africa studies; Farah Pandith , CFR adjunct senior fellow; Ray Takeyh , CFR senior fellow for Middle East studies; and Elliott Abrams , CFR senior fellow for Middle Eastern studies https://cfr.zoom.us
10 a.m. — Wilson Center Polar Institute virtual discussion: "UK and U.S. Antarctic Collaboration: The Cutting Edge of Polar Science and Future Directions," with Jane Francis , director, British Antarctic Survey; Alex Isern , assistant director for geosciences, National Science Foundation; Kate Hendry , ocean climate scientist, British Antarctic Survey; Henry Burgess , head, NERC Arctic Office; and Theodore Scambos , senior research scientist, University of Colorado Earth Science and Observation Center https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/uk-and-us-antarctic-collaboration
11:15 a.m. — Carnegie Endowment for International Peace virtual discussion: “The Biden administration's approach to foreign policy," with Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell https://carnegieendowment.org/events/2024/09/a-conversation
11:30 a.m. 1957 E St. NW — George Washington University Elliott School of International Affairs discussion: "France's assessment of the geostrategic landscape," with French Ambassador to the U.S. Laurent Bili https://calendar.gwu.edu/event/a-conversation-with-laurent-bili
12:15 p.m. 1763 N St. NW — Middle East Institute discussion: "U.S. Strategy Since Oct. 7: Assessing the Biden Administration's Middle East Policy One Year On," with former Defense Undersecretary for Policy Eric Edelman , counselor, Center for Strategic and Budgetary Assessments; Patricia Karam, senior policy adviser on Iran, Freedom House; Mara Rudman , professor at the University of Virginia's Miller Center; Rana Abtar, senior Washington correspondent, Asharq Al Awsat; and Brian Katulis , MEI senior fellow for U.S. foreign policy https://www.mei.edu/events/us-strategy-oct-7
1 p.m. 1775 Massachusetts Ave. NW — Brookings Institution 2024 Knight Forum on Geopolitics, with Arati Prabhakar , director, White House Office of Science and Technology Policy; Mara Karlin , visiting fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Jeffrey Feltman , John C. Whitehead visiting fellow in International Diplomacy, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Samantha Gross , fellow and director, Energy, Security, and Climate Initiative, Brookings; Danielle Resnick , nonresident fellow, Global Economy and Development, Brookings; Valerie Wirtschafter , fellow, Artificial Intelligence and Emerging Technology Initiative, Brookings; Alexander Noyes, fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Fiona Hill, senior fellow, Center on the U.S. and Europe, Brookings; Colin Kahl , Sydney Stein, Jr. Scholar in Residence, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; Lynn Kuok , fellow and Lee Kuan Yew Chair in Southeast Asia Studies, Brookings; Suzanne Maloney , vice president and director, Foreign Policy, Brookings; Melanie Sisson , fellow, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings; retired Marine Gen. Joseph Dunford , former Chairman, Joint Chiefs of Staff and former Marine Corps Commandant; and Michael O'Hanlon , senior fellow, Philip H. Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy, and director, Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology, Brookings https://connect.brookings.edu/register
THURSDAY | OCTOBER 3
9:30 a.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: "What's Going on with Japan's Election?" with Sheila Smith , Council on Foreign Relations senior fellow for Asia-Pacific studies; Yuki Tatsumi , director, Stimson Center's Japan Program; Victor Cha , CSIS Korea chair; and Mark Lippert , CSIS nonresident senior adviser https://www.csis.org/events/whats-going-japans-election-capital-cable-99
1 p.m. 1616 Rhode Island Ave. NW — Center for Strategic and International Studies discussion: "The National Reconnaissance Office Story," with NRO Director Christopher Scolese https://www.csis.org/events/nro-story-conversation-dr-chris-scolese
6:30 p.m. 37th and O Sts. NW — Georgetown University Institute of Politics and Public Service discussion: "Reflections on Running.” with former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. and Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley https://www.facebook.com/gupolitics
FRIDAY | OCTOBER 4
10 a.m. 1300 Pennsylvania Ave. NW — Wilson Center Middle East Program book discussion: The Melting Point: High Command and War in the 21st Century, with author retired Marine Gen. Frank McKenzie , former commander of U.S. Central Command https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/book-talk-melting-point
11 a.m. 11200 SW Eighth St., Miami, Florida — Brookings Institution discussion: "The U.S. and China in Latin America: Rivalry, Cooperation, or Something In-Between?" with R. Evan Ellis, research professor, U.S. Army War College Strategic Studies Institute; Leland Lazarus , associate director of national security policy, Florida International University Institute for Public Policy; Valerie Wirtschafter , fellow, Brookings Institution Foreign Policy Program; Ted Piccone , nonresident senior fellow in the Brookings Institution Foreign Policy Center and Strobe Talbott Center for Security, Strategy, and Technology; and Arantxa Loizaga , network news anchor for NBCUniversal Telemundo https://www.brookings.edu/events/the-united-states-and-china-in-latin-america
SATURDAY | OCTOBER 12
TBA Germany — President Joe Biden hosts a leader-level meeting of the Ukraine Defense Contact Group to coordinate with international partners on additional assistance for Ukraine
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