| HEZBOLLAH DEFANGED: Israel's stunningly effective campaign to decapitate Hezbollah's leadership with exploding devices and precision airstrikes has left the once fearsome terrorist group rudderless and in seeming disarray. The death of Hassan Nasrallah, Hezbollah's longtime leader, capped a week in which the group's entire military chain of command was wiped out, along with several high-ranking Iranian commanders who were working with Hezbollah. "Nasrallah … made the fateful decision to join hands with Hamas," President Joe Biden said in a statement. "His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians." Both Biden and Vice President Kamala Harris, who hopes to succeed him, expressed support for Israel's right to defend itself while warning of the risk of escalation. "I have an unwavering commitment to the security of Israel. I will always support Israel's right to defend itself against Iran and Iran-backed terrorist groups such as Hezbollah, Hamas, and the Houthis," Harris said in her statement. However, the vice president added, "President Biden and I do not want to see conflict in the Middle East escalate into a broader regional war." Ultimately, our aim is to de-escalate the ongoing conflicts in both Gaza and Lebanon through diplomatic means," said Biden "It is time for these deals to close, for the threats to Israel to be removed, and for the broader Middle East region to gain greater stability." HEZBOLLAH LEADER HASSAN NASRALLAH ASSASSINATED BY ISRAELI MILITARY AUSTIN: ALL-OUT WAR WOULD BE ‘DEVASTATING’: While the Pentagon has deployed a small number of additional U.S. troops to the region and taken other undisclosed steps to “increase its force posture,” Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said Friday he hopes “all-out war” can be averted. "All-out war between Lebanese Hezbollah and Israel would be devastating for both Lebanon and Israel," Austin said in an interview with CNN. "We anticipate that we'd see a number of people displaced, casualties that equal or exceed what we have seen in Gaza." "The prime minister [Benjamin Netanyahu] has been clear that his goal is to get Israeli civilians who have been displaced from their homes in the north back to their homes as soon as possible," Austin said. "I believe, we believe the best way to do that is through diplomacy." "The Department of Defense continues to maintain a significant amount of capability in the region and to dynamically adjust our force posture based on the evolving security situation," the Pentagon's chief spokesman, Maj. Gen. Pat Ryder said in a Sunday statement. On Saturday, Austin spoke by phone with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant and "reinforced that the United States is committed to deterring Iran and Iranian-backed partners and proxies from taking advantage of the situation or expanding the conflict," said Ryder in a separate statement. "Austin emphasized that the United States remains postured to defend U.S. forces in the region." COTTON: 'HEZBOLLAH IS ON ITS KNEES': Republican backers of Israel argue that with Israel's longtime adversary on the ropes, talk of avoiding a "wider war" only projects weakness. "Now is not the time for a ceasefire or to de-escalate, as Joe Biden and Kamala Harris want," Sen. Tom Cotton (R-AK) said on the CBS program Face the Nation. "Hezbollah is on its knees. The United States should help Israel drive Hezbollah to the mat and choke it out and finish it off once and for all." "Hezbollah has over 100,000 rockets and missiles and mortars aimed at Israel. Iran has used that threat to deter Israel for years, going back probably 20 years or so," Cotton said. "Israel is trying to win. We should let Israel win." "We need strength back in the White House," House Speaker Mike Johnson (R-LA) said in an interview on Fox. "The reason that Ukraine is in trouble, and Israel is in trouble, and Taiwan is in trouble, and all of our allies are nervous around the world is because Joe Biden and Kamala Harris have projected weakness on the world stage." "Nobody in Israel is even talking to the Biden administration," said Sen. Lindsey Graham on CNN. "The Biden administration is paralyzed by fear of Iran. In the name of not escalating, the world is on fire. So I promise you, if Trump does win, we're going to fix this pretty quick." NETANYAHU USES UN ADDRESS TO WARN IT WILL HIT IRAN IF PROXIES CONTINUE AGGRESSION Good Monday 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. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP OR READ BACK ISSUES OF DAILY ON DEFENSE HAPPENING TODAY: The Pentagon is assessing what additional support it can provide to state and local authorities in response to the widespread devastation wrought by Hurricane Helene. The storm has wiped some small towns off the map and left some communities completely cutoff from outside help. Thousands of National Guard troops have been activated across Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, and Virginia. "This is a rapidly evolving situation," Deputy Pentagon Press Secretary Sabrina Singh said Friday. "The department remains prepared to support response efforts as necessary." Major disaster declarations were approved for Florida and North Carolina, the hardest-hit states. Emergency declarations were also approved for Tennessee, South Carolina, Georgia, Virginia, and Alabama. The U.S. Coast Guard is conducting post-storm assessments to support the rapid reopening of impacted ports, while the Army Corps of Engineers has deployed teams for temporary emergency power, debris removal, and infrastructure assessment. "Additionally, the Federal government is closely monitoring an additional weather disturbance in the Caribbean Sea that has the potential to form into another storm in the coming week," The White House said in a statement. "Residents throughout the Gulf Coast should remain alert, listen to local officials, and make additional preparations as needed." SOUTHEAST US DEVASTATED BY REMNANTS OF HURRICANE HELENE U.S. 'TRANSITIONING' IN IRAQ: In a low-key announcement the Pentagon telegraphed was coming for months, U.S. officials gave a background briefing to reporters in which they outlined a two-phase plan to transition from a "military mission to an enduring bilateral security relationship." "In the first phase, we'll be concluding the global coalition's military mission in Iraq, the Combined Joint Task Force — Inherent Resolve, and ending the presence of coalition forces in certain locations in Iraq as mutually determined. The transition period in Iraq will begin this September and end one year, concluding at the end of September 2025," a senior administration official said. "In the second phase, to prevent the return of the ISIS terrorist threat from northeast Syria, the U.S. and the government of Iraq have reached an understanding to allow the coalition to continue to support counter-ISIS operations in Syria from Iraq." The briefers were cagey about what the agreement meant for the 2,500 U.S. troops now in Iraq. "As we go through this transition into a bilateral relationship, there could very well be changes in the numbers," the official said. "A lot of that is going to be an ongoing discussion, and we will, you know, see where that takes us." "I don't have numbers to read out and locations to share with you," Sabrina Singh told reporters at Friday's Pentagon briefing. "I think it's fair to say that our footprint is going to be changing within the country." NO LONGER WELCOME, THE US IS RELUCTANTLY GETTING OUT OF IRAQ U.S. KILLS 37 'OPERATIVES' IN SYRIA: Meanwhile, the U.S. Central Command has announced that in two separate operations this month, U.S. forces killed more than three dozen ISIS, al Qaeda, and other "terrorist operatives." The strikes on Sept. 16 and 24 were against "leadership and operatives of ISIS and the Al Qaeda affiliate, Hurras al-Din," the U.S. Central Command said in a statement. "The airstrikes are part of CENTCOM's ongoing commitment, along with partners in the region, to disrupt and degrade efforts by terrorists to plan, organize, and conduct attacks against civilians and military personnel from the U.S., our allies, and our partners throughout the region and beyond." FAULTY SHIP WELD SPARK PROBE: Following a report from USNI News last week that faulty welds that may have been made intentionally on "non-critical components" on Navy submarines and aircraft carriers, the House Armed Services Committee has launched an investigation. Newport News Shipbuilding informed the Department of Justice that welds on new construction and in-service submarines and Ford-class aircraft carriers were not made according to proper welding procedures, USNI reported. "It is deeply concerning to learn that faulty welds may have been knowingly made to U.S. Navy submarines and aircraft carriers. The House Armed Services Committee is investigating how this occurred, Chairman Mike Rogers (R-AL) and Adam Smith (D-WA), ranking member, said in a statement along with Trent Kelly (R-MS) and Joe Courtney (D-CT). "The safety of our sailors is our top concern, and we need to immediately understand any risks associated with the faulty work. The Department of Defense needs to immediately provide our committee with answers and a plan for how they will protect U.S. Navy vessels against tampering. Absolute transparency with Congress is essential." CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER THE RUNDOWN: Washington Examiner: Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah assassinated by Israeli military Washington Examiner: Netanyahu uses UN address to warn it will hit Iran if proxies continue aggression Washington Examiner: Army passes active duty recruiting goal after 16,000 go through extra training Washington Examiner: At Arizona border, Harris supporters say sensible views reap votes Washington Examiner: Harris vows to go further than Biden to stop illegal immigration at border Washington Examiner: If Israel has killed Hezbollah leader Nasrallah, Iran retaliation is almost certain Washington Examiner: Three Iranians indicted for hacking Trump campaign material Washington Examiner: Trump meets with Zelensky and thanks him for ending 'impeachment hoax' Washington Examiner: DOJ files sealed Trump Jan. 6 evidence document Washington Examiner: Latest talks between Boeing and its striking machinists break off without progress, union says Washington Examiner: Opinion: In defense of our ally, Israel Military.com: Military Bases Assessing Damage After Hurricane Helene's Brutal Winds, Storm Surge Hit Southeast Washington Post: Nasrallah's assassination shreds illusion of Hezbollah's military might Wall Street Journal: How Israel Killed Hezbollah's Leader in Underground Bunker AP: An Israeli airstrike hits central Beirut for the first time in nearly a year of conflict AP: Israel says it struck Hezbollah's headquarters as huge explosions rocked Beirut AP: Russia Downs Over 100 Ukrainian Drones in One of the Largest Barrages Defense One: Is the US Military Learning Enough from Ukraine? Washington Examiner: Japan elects new Prime Minister AP: Japan's likely next leader says he will call an election for Oct. 27 once he takes office DefenseScoop: Big Decisions Coming for the Air Force's Next-Gen Aircraft Platforms Washington Post: US Downplays Talk of Iraq Withdrawal, Says Troops Will Stay in Syria Breaking Defense: Pentagon Asks Lawmakers to Kill Third-Party Look at an Independent Cyber Force Air & Space Forces Magazine: F-16 Navigation System Failure in Bad Weather Led to Crash off Korea: New Report Defense One: Aerojet Digging 'Out of This Hole' as It Clears Rocket Backlog, President Says Defense News: Space Development Agency Studying Options for Satellite Tow Services SpaceNews: Anduril Lands $25 Million Contract to Upgrade Aging Space Surveillance Network Air & Space Forces Magazine: USSF Awards Contracts for New C2 Software to Manage Frequently Moving Satellites Air & Space Forces Magazine: Russian Aircraft Intercepted By US F-16 in Russian-Style Camo. Here's Why Defense News: Opinion: The Case for Giving Ukraine Long-Range Striking Power in Russia Air & Space Forces Magazine: Opinion: The Berlin Airlift: An Example to Emulate 75 Years Later THE CALENDAR: MONDAY | SEPTEMBER 30 12:30 p.m. — Center for Strategic and International Studies virtual discussion: “One Day One: A U.S. Economic Contingency Plan for a Taiwan Crisis,” with Eyck Freymann, nonresident research fellow, Naval War College China Maritime Studies Institute; and Hugo Bromley, research associate, Cambridge Center for Geopolitics https://www.csis.org/events/day-one-us-economic-contingency-plan-taiwan-crisis 3:30 p.m. — Atlantic Council virtual discussion: “Adapting U.S. Strategy to Account for China’s Transformation into a Peer Nuclear Power,” with Eric Chan, senior nonresident fellow at the Global Taiwan Institute; and Bonny Lin, director of the Center for Strategic and International Studies’ China Power Project https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/event/adapting-us-strategy 4 p.m. — Wilson Center History and Public Policy Program virtual book discussion: Weapons in Space: Technology, Politics, and the Rise and Fall of the Strategic Defense Initiative, with author Aaron Bateman, assistant professor of history and international affairs, George Washington University https://www.wilsoncenter.org/event/weapons-space-technology TUESDAY | OCTOBER 1 3 a.m. Brussels, Belgium — Ceremony to mark the transition from Jens Stoltenberg to new NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, former Prime Minister of the Netherlands, at NATO Headquarters https://www.nato.int 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 | | | | "Hassan Nasrallah and the terrorist group he led, Hezbollah, were responsible for killing hundreds of Americans over a four-decade reign of terror. His death from an Israeli airstrike is a measure of justice for his many victims, including thousands of Americans, Israelis, and Lebanese civilians." | | President Joe Biden, on the Israel airstrike that killed Nasrallah Friday |
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