Welcome to The Hill's Defense & NatSec newsletter{beacon} Defense &National Security Defense &National Security   The Big Story  Biden, Harris mark 1 year since Oct. 7 attackPresident Biden and Vice President Harris on Monday marked the anniversary of the deadly Hamas attacks against Israel that killed nearly 1,200 people, backing Israel’s right to defend itself amid concerns about a wider war. © Bonnie Cash/UPI/Bloomberg via Getty Images The separate statements from the two leaders differed only slightly. Both said their support from Israel was unwavering, both condemned the wave of antisemitism that followed the Oct. 7 attacks in Israel and both highlighted the suffering in Gaza amid an Israeli military campaign that has killed tens of thousands of Palestinians.  “Today marks one year of mourning for the more than 1,200 innocent people of all ages, including 46 Americans, massacred in southern Israel by the terrorist group Hamas,” Biden said in a statement.  “One year since Hamas committed horrific acts of sexual violence. One year since more than 250 innocents were taken hostage, including 12 Americans. One year for the survivors carrying wounds, seen and unseen, who will never be the same. And one year of a devastating war."    Biden noted he visited Israel shortly after the Hamas attacks, and he cited his administration’s ongoing work to broker a cease-fire deal and free the remaining hostages. Hamas has so far released more than 100 hostages, including some Americans, though others have been found dead.   “One year later, Vice President Harris and I remain fully committed to the safety of the Jewish people, the security of Israel, and its right to exist,” Biden said. “We support Israel’s right to defend itself against attacks from Hezbollah, Hamas, the Houthis, and Iran. Last week, at my direction, the United States military once again actively assisted in the successful defense of Israel, helping to defeat an Iranian ballistic missile attack.”   The statements from both leaders called out the impact the past year has had on the Palestinians in Gaza. Biden in particular has drawn criticism from members of his party for not doing more to hold Israel accountable for its military campaign that has killed thousands of civilians, including women and children.   “We will not stop working to achieve a ceasefire deal in Gaza that brings the hostages home, allows for a surge in humanitarian aid to ease the suffering on the ground, assures Israel’s security, and ends this war,” Biden said. “Israelis and Palestinians alike deserve to live in security, dignity, and peace.”  Harris’s statement hit many of the same notes, including when it came to the situation in Gaza. She said she was “heartbroken over the scale of death and destruction in Gaza over the past year.” “It is far past time for a hostage and ceasefire deal to end the suffering of innocent people,” Harris said. “And I will always fight for the Palestinian people to be able to realize their right to dignity, freedom, security, and self-determination.” Read the full report at TheHill.com.  Welcome to The Hill’s Defense & National Security newsletter, I'm Ellen Mitchell — your guide to the latest developments at the Pentagon, on Capitol Hill and beyond.  Did someone forward you this newsletter? Subscribe here.   Essential Reads  How policy will affect defense and national security now and inthe future:  Intel defensive briefings surge as adversaries seek to influence congressional racesIntelligence community officials said they have given three times the number of defensive briefings this year to those who may be the target of foreign influence efforts as in past election cycles. The details come as officials warn that China, Russia and Cuba are making a concerted effort to target congressional races in the U.S., using tactics similar to those seen in bids to influence the presidential election. Intelligence …  Full Story  Israeli military warns of operations on southern Lebanon’s coastIsrael’s military on Monday said it would soon launch operations on Lebanon’s southern coast, which would mark a further escalation of its fight against Hezbollah. “Urgent warning to vacationers, beachgoers, and anyone using boats for fishing or any other use from the Awali River line southward, the IDF will soon operate in the maritime area against Hezbollah’s terrorist activities,” Avichay Adraee, …  Full Story  Oct. 7 anniversary: 26 moments that defined a devastating yearHamas shocked the world — and forever changed the Middle East — when hundreds of its fighters flooded into Israel on Oct. 7, massacring border communes, murdering revelers at a music festival and taking scores of people hostage. The attack quickly turned Gaza into a war zone, as Israel decimated much of the strip in the name of eliminating Hamas. The war has forced a global reckoning over the region’s future, fueled antisemitic …  Full Story  US spending on Middle East conflict tops $22B since Oct. 7, 2023: Research The United States government has spent more than $22 billion on fighting the conflict in the Middle East since war erupted a year ago on Oct. 7, 2023, according to new research. The Costs of War project at Brown University found the U.S. has spent at least $22.76 billion on supporting Israel over the past year and for related American military operations in the region, including battling the Iranian-backed Houthi militants …  Full Story   On Our Radar  Upcoming things we're watching on our beat:  Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin will meet with Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant at the Pentagon on Wednesday.  In Other News  Branch out with a different read from The Hill:A GOP rep asked ICE for an update. Then Trump ran with the number A previously obscure immigration dataset entered the public lexicon over the past week, sparking a new attack line for Republicans and a deluge of fact-checking over an accurate, yet decontextualized, number. Last week, Rep. Tony Gonzales (R-Texas) drew attention to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement … Full Story   On Tap Tomorrow  Events in and around the defense world:  The Center for Strategic and International Studies and the U.S. Naval Institute will hold an event on “At the Helm of Innovation: A discussion: Advancing Naval Capabilities,” with Vice Adm. James Pitts, deputy chief of naval operations for warfighting requirements and capabilities, at 10 a.m.  Quincy Institute for Responsible Statecraft will host a virtual book discussion on The Ukraine War and the Eurasian World Order, at 12 p.m.  Georgetown University, Alwaleed Center for Muslim-Christian Understanding, and Democracy for the Arab World Now will have a forum on “The Israel-Gaza War: One Year Later,” at 12 p.m.  Atlantic Council will have an online conversation on “The Future of U.S. Strategy Toward Iran: A Bipartisan Roadmap for the Next Administration,” with former Defense Secretary Leon Panetta and former White House national security adviser retired Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, among others, at 1:30 p.m.  The Council on Foreign Relations and Brookings Institution will hold a talk on “The Future of the Middle East,” at 4 p.m.   What We're Reading  News we've flagged from other outlets: Trump, during Fayetteville town hall, says he'd change Fort Liberty back to Fort Bragg (The Fayetteville Observer) Military bases evacuating troops, moving ships ahead of Hurricane Milton's projected landfall (Military.com) Iran’s missile attack on Israel raises questions about limits of arsenal (The Washington Post)  Trending Today  Two key stories on The Hill right now: White House, Fox News’s Peter Doocy spar over Helene response  White House press secretary Karine Jean-Pierre and Fox News reporter Peter Doocy sparred Monday over the Biden administration’s response to the … Read more ‘Call Her Daddy’ podcast jumps into the political ring   Alex Cooper’s ultra-popular podcast, “Call Her Daddy,” usually features Hollywood celebrities, social media influencers or even therapists to discuss … Read more  Opinions in The Hill Op-eds related to defense & national security submitted to The Hill: The Ships for America Act would be good for the Navy as wellDefeating Iran’s push for Armageddon Stop building China’s military with US tax dollars  You're all caught up. 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