Hezbollah Commander Killed

An Israeli strike killed a senior Hezbollah commander in Lebanon on Monday in the second attack to kill a militant leader there in less than a week, as the WSJ reports.

Targeted Gaza Campaign

Israel said its military is starting to shift from a ground and air campaign in Gaza to a targeted phase, hoping the transition in strategy is complete by the end of the month, as the NYT reports.

Gaza’s Post War Future

Secretary of State Antony Blinken said today that four key Arab nations and Turkey have agreed to begin planning for the reconstruction and governance of Gaza post conflict, as the AP reports.

Executive Education

Ready to take the next step towards policy success in Washington? Join CSIS experts March 18-21, 2024, at CSIS Headquarters for "Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People," to unlock the secrets to thriving in the capital's unique policy landscape. Register here by March 4.

Audio Briefs

CSIS experts give short, spoken-word summaries on the biggest takeaways from their latest reports, white papers, and commentaries—in their own words.

Listen here: "U.S.-China Relations in 2024: Managing Competition without Conflict" with CSIS's Scott Kennedy.

In That Number

$100 billion

Russia’s military budget, at over $100 billion for 2024, is the highest it has been since Soviet times, growing by more than two-thirds from last year.
Source: WSJ

Critical Quote

“We are fighting an axis, not a single enemy. Iran is building up military power around Israel in order to use it.”

—Yoav Gallant, Israel’s defense minister

iDeas Lab

To build outposts that support their competing claims in the South China Sea, claimants have engaged in dredging and land fill across the region, destroying vast areas of coral reef ecosystems. CSIS satellite imagery analysis shows irreparable and long-term changes to the overall structure and health of reefs due to dredging.

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

Optics

(Photo credit: Chuck Kennedy/Department of State/Handout/Anadolu/Getty Images.) United States Secretary of State Antony Blinken is welcomed by United Arab Emirates President Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan during his official visit in Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates on January 8, 2024.

This Town Tomorrow

At 9:00 a.m., the CSIS Japan Chair hosts the 2024 U.S.-Japan Security Seminar, featuring remarks from H.E. Kamikawa Yoko, Japan's Minister of Foreign Affairs.

Then, at 11:30 a.m., the CSIS Wadhwani Center for AI and Advanced Technologies welcomes Dr. Michael C. Horowitz, Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for Force Development and Emerging Capabilities.

Earlier, at 10:00 a.m., Brookings unpacks the first anniversary of SECURE 2.0 and the future of retirement policy.

Video

The CSIS Europe, Russia, and Eurasia Program held a conversation about the status of further Western military and financial aid to Ukraine, and the impact a lack of additional assistance would have on the battlefield. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

Jonathan Shank, CEO of Terrapin Station Entertainment, joins the podcast to discuss live music, immersive entertainment, and the impact of the Grateful Dead on social media and the future of rock and roll.

Listen on Spotify & Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Happy New Year all! I thought I’d start smiles off in 2024 with a smiley performance by the Grateful Dead with special guest Clarence Clemons.

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

The Evening is my daily guide to key insights CSIS brings to the events of the day. It is composed by Lauren Adler, Ava Rose, and the External Relations team.