The Evening: Hezbollah, Russian Army to Become World’s Second Largest, the Boss, and More

Newsletter - September 16, 2024

Israeli Defense Minister Says Military Action Against Hezbollah Is Needed

Meeting with a senior Biden administration adviser, Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant said "the only way" for Israel to return its displaced citizens to the northern border is through military action against Hezbollah, as the NYT reports.

Putin Orders Russian Army to Become Second Largest after China's at 1.5 Million-Strong

Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the regular size of the Russian army to be increased by 180,000 troops to 1.5 million active servicemen in a move that would make it the second largest in the world after China's. In a decree published on the Kremlin's website, Putin ordered the overall size of the armed forces to be increased to 2.38 million people, of which he said 1.5 million should be active servicemen, as Reuters reports.

Taliban Suspends Polio Vaccination

The Taliban have suspended polio vaccination campaigns in Afghanistan, the UN said Monday, as the AP 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 Zane Swanson, Anita Kirschenbaum, and Caitlin Welsh's latest Critical Questions, "Conflict, Hunger, and Famine in Sudan."

In That Number

1.5 million

President Vladimir Putin on Monday ordered the regular size of the Russian army to be increased to 1.5 million active servicemen in a move that would make it the second largest in the world after China's.
Source: Reuters

Critical Quote

The only way left to return the residents of the north to their homes is via military action.

- Yoav Gallant, Israeli Defense Minister

iDeas Lab

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The CSIS Congressional Affairs team recently led its third bipartisan delegation of members of Congress to Ukraine. The trip allowed members the opportunity to meet with government, business, and civil society leaders, witness how U.S. aid to Ukraine affects the war, and hear directly from civilians what life in the country is like nearly 3 years into the war. Watch the full video 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: Mateusz Slodkowski/Getty Images

A woman takes a photo of debris next to a building damaged as a result of the floods in Ladek-Zdroj, southern Poland, on September 16, 2024.

Recommended Reading

"Observations on the War in Ukraine: Impressions from Our Visit" by CSIS's Daniel Byman and Elizabeth Hoffman.

This Town Tomorrow

At 10:00 a.m., the CSIS Aerospace Security Project hosts a discussion on the impacts of GPS jamming and spoofing on public safety.

Later, at 4:30 p.m., the CSIS Human Rights Initiative holds a conversation on the state of forced labor globally and what can be done to better combat it.

Then, at 5:30 p.m., the CSIS Global Health Policy Center welcomes Dr. Hanan Balkhy, WHO Regional Director for the Eastern Mediterranean, to discuss her evolving vision for the region.

Video

CSIS recently led a symposium presenting fresh insights into comparative computational analysis of Congressional discourse on U.S. rivals challenging the notion of a new Cold War between the United States and China. Watch the full video here.

Podcasts

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On this episode of China Field Notes, Scott Kennedy speaks with Yuan Haiying, one of the pioneers of the government affairs profession in China, about the origins of the industry.

Listen on Spotify& Apple Podcasts.

Smiles

Can you imagine walking into a small historic rock club and witnessing a surprise performance by one of the greatest rockers to ever live? Well, that's what happened this past weekend in Asbury Park, NJ, when the Boss burned up the stage at the Stone Pony.

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