The Evening: Israel Destroys Syrian Navy, Yellen’s Warning, Malibu, and More

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Good Evening,

It's Tuesday, December 10th.

Israel Destroyed Syria’s Navy

Israel said Tuesday that it had destroyed Syria’s navy in overnight airstrikes, as it continued to pound targets in Syria, as the NYT reports

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U.S. Says It Will Support New Syrian Leaders

The Biden administration said Tuesday it will recognize and support a new Syrian government that renounces terrorism, destroys chemical weapons stocks, and protects the rights of minorities and women, as the AP reports

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Yellen’s Warning

U.S. Treasury secretary Janet Yellen warned the incoming Donald Trump administration against imposing sweeping tariffs, saying they would lead to higher inflation, as the FT reports

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Executive Education

The impending presidential transition signals major shifts in policy, processes, and personnel. Join Decoding D.C.: Policy, Power, and People

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from March 24-27, 2025 to unpack the changing landscape of Washington D.C. Led by Washington insiders, gain the skills and knowledge needed to achieve policy success. Register

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by March 12.

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: "Al-Assad’s Syria Was Brutal. Will What Comes Next Be Better?

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" with CSIS's Daniel Byman in the NYT.

In That Number

90

Taiwan said on Tuesday that China was conducting its largest maritime operations in nearly three decades, sending nearly 90 naval and coast guard vessels into waters stretching from the southern Japanese islands to the South China Sea.

​​​Source: NYT

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Critical Quote

“From here, I warn the rebel leaders in Syria: Those who follow Assad’s path will end like Assad.”

—Israel Katz, Israeli Defense Minister

iDeas Lab

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Satellite imagery from March 2024 indicates that the Bejucal facility

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in Cuba is active and has been for some time. South of the base are at least five entrances to underground facilities. What these facilities house is difficult to determine from satellite imagery, but unconfirmed sources from Cuban defectors suggest they may be the headquarters of the radio-electronic brigade of Cuban military intelligence.

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: Omar Haj Kadour/AFP/Getty Images.) This aerial view shows the aftermath of an overnight strike attributed to Israel on the Barzeh scientific research center affiliated with the Syrian defense ministry in northern Damascus, Syria, on December 10, 2024.

Recommended Reading

“China’s Intelligence Footprint in Cuba: New Evidence and Implications for U.S. Security

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” by CSIS’s Matthew P. Funaiole, Aidan Powers-Riggs, Brian Hart, Henry Ziemer, Joseph S. Bermudez Jr., Ryan C. Berg, and Christopher Hernandez-Roy.

This Town Tomorrow

At 8:30 a.m.

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, the CSIS Energy Security and Climate Change Program hosts a conference focused on American energy strategy in a new era of electric demand growth.

Then, at 9:30 a.m.

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, the CSIS Critical Minerals Security Program holds a conversation on advancing U.S.-Zambia minerals cooperation, particularly for copper.

And, at 9:00 a.m.

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, Brookings unpacks a recent collection of essays on the future of U.S. relations with Turkey with several of the contributors.

Video

CSIS's J. Stephen Morrison sat down with Loyce Pace, Assistant Secretary for Global Affairs at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, to discuss the newly released HHS Global Strategy and its implications for U.S. climate and health policy. Watch the full video here.

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Podcasts

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CSIS’s Jon Alterman joins the podcast to discuss the dramatic developments in Syria, the external actors involved, and potential U.S. approaches.

Listen on Spotify

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& Apple Podcasts

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Smiles

“California's been good to me

Hope it don't fall into the sea

Sometimes you got to trust yourself

It ain't like anywhere else”



I’m having a hard time smiling today because there’s a dangerous fire raging in Malibu, California. Those who read this space will know that Malibu is my happy place and it is always in my heart. As of late this afternoon, a brush fire blaze, called the Franklin Fire, grew overnight from five acres to nearly 2,700 acres along the steep mountainous terrain, spreading south over the sublime Pacific Coast Highway. About 10,000 people live in Malibu. The fire is not contained, but so far hasn’t caused any injuries or deaths, and only a small number of homes have been destroyed. Malibu is fragile, and when I’m there I don’t take it for granted. Please hold the residents of Malibu in your prayers. This is for everyone who loves California and Malibu as I do.

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I invite you to email me at [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]

and follow me on Twitter @handrewschwartz

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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.

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Connect w/ H. Andrew Schwartz



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