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Evening Brief: Pentagon Defends National Guard Deployments, Putin Reaffirms Support for Maduro, Myanmar Airstrike Destroys Hospital

BY Guy D. McCardle

Flooding hits Washington as US–Venezuela tensions rise and NATO sounds warnings. Here’s what’s making headlines this Thursday evening.

A hospital lies in ruins after a deliberate aerial strike by Myanmar’s military in Mrauk-U. Image grab via X.

Evening rundown for Thursday, December 11, 2025.

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Pentagon Defends National Guard Deployments as Lawful Amid Congressional Scrutiny

Senior military officials told senators on Thursday that the deployment of National Guard units to US cities under President Donald Trump’s orders is lawful and does not compromise military readiness.

US Air Force General Gregory Guillot said troops are trained to avoid law enforcement actions and have detained only one civilian since deployments began, handing the person over immediately to police.

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Lawmakers pressed officials on the legality, cost, and safety implications of the missions, which have drawn objections from local leaders and prompted court rulings blocking some deployments.

Democrats argued the administration is misusing troops for domestic operations and noted more than $340 million has been spent on mobilizations. Pentagon officials countered that costs are reimbursable and have minimal impact.

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About 700 Guard members have been federalized, though only 100 in California are currently authorized to protect federal facilities.

Legal battles continue over more than 2,000 Guard troops in Washington, D.C. Republicans defended the deployments as necessary support for strained law enforcement agencies.

 

Washington Declares Emergency as Torrential Rains Trigger Major Flooding and Evacuations

Washington state faced widespread flooding on Thursday after days of intense rain pushed rivers over their banks, triggered mudslides and cut off key roads.

Governor Bob Ferguson declared a statewide emergency as the Skagit River and other waterways surged toward near-record crests, prompting evacuation orders for tens of thousands of residents. Heavy rainfall in the Cascade Mountains forced road closures, suspended Amtrak service between Seattle and Vancouver and left nearly 16,000 customers without power.

National Guard units were mobilized, and emergency crews carried out multiple rescues in communities such as Mount Vernon, Burlington and Sumas.

Officials warned that older levees could fail despite floodwalls holding in some areas. Mudslides blocked sections of US Route 2 and Interstate 90, and more storms are expected to hit the region starting Sunday.

 

US Coast Guard Begins Ice-Breaking Season on Lake Superior as Winter Sets In

The US Coast Guard activated Operation Taconite this week as ice formation increased on the northern Great Lakes, marking the start of the winter ice-breaking season.

The mission, the Coast Guard’s largest domestic ice-breaking operation, covers Lake Superior, Lake Michigan, the St. Marys River, the Straits of Mackinac and Georgian Bay.

The cutter USCGC Spar (WLB-206) is the first vessel assigned and will break ice between Duluth, Minnesota, and Superior, Wisconsin, with more icebreakers to be added as conditions worsen. Some waterways may close to protect the environment and ensure safety for residents who rely on ice bridges.

The Coast Guard urged recreational users to exercise caution and reminded commercial vessels of seasonal restrictions, including reduced speeds, daylight-only tanker transits and enhanced reporting requirements.

 

USS George Washington Returns to Yokosuka After Six-Month Deployment

The USS George Washington (CVN-73) completed its annual deployment on Thursday, sailing into Yokosuka to cheers from families and friends after a six-month, 56,000-mile journey through the Indo-Pacific.

The carrier, on its first full deployment since returning to Japan in 2024 after midlife refueling, made port calls in Guam, the Philippines, and South Korea and took part in major exercises including Talisman Sabre, ANNUALEX, and drills with South Korea.

Carrier Strike Group 5 leaders praised the crew’s performance and noted the first operational deployment of the F-35 with the embarked air wing. One escort, USS Shoop (DDG-86), returned earlier, while USS Robert Smalls (CG-62) is due back soon.

The deployment also included a memorial ceremony for a sailor lost overboard in September. US President Donald Trump visited the ship in October during a stop in Japan.

 

US Links Venezuela Tanker Seizure to Counterdrug Campaign as Tensions Rise

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Thursday that the US seizure of an oil tanker off Venezuela was part of the Trump administration’s counterdrug operations in Latin America, framing it as an effort to disrupt revenue streams for narcotics trafficking tied to Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro’s government.

The action, carried out under a Justice Department warrant targeting sanctioned “black market” oil, marked a sharp escalation in US pressure on Caracas.

The administration also imposed new sanctions on three of Maduro’s relatives, while Maduro discussed the situation with Russian President Vladimir Putin, who reaffirmed his support.

The White House said additional seizures are possible and argued that illicit oil sales fund criminal networks.

The tanker operation follows a series of deadly US strikes on suspected drug-smuggling vessels as Washington expands its military footprint in the region. Venezuela condemned the seizure as “international piracy,” accusing the United States of seeking regime change.

 

Putin Reaffirms Support for Maduro as US Seizure of Venezuelan Tanker Raises Tensions

Russian President Vladimir Putin voiced strong support for Venezuelan leader Nicolás Maduro on Thursday amid escalating tensions with the United States.

In a phone call, Putin expressed solidarity with Venezuela and backed Maduro’s stance against what Moscow called growing external pressure.

Russia said direct communication with Venezuela would remain open and pledged continued assistance. The two countries have long maintained close ties, with Russia offering vaccines, economic support and past military cooperation.

Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko also met with Venezuela’s ambassador, signaling further coordination among Moscow’s allies.

 

Zelenskyy Says Territorial Questions Dominate US-Led Peace Talks as Ukraine Resists Donbas Concessions

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said on Thursday that US-brokered peace talks with Russia hinge on contested territory, including the Donetsk region and the Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant. He said Ukraine will not accept surrendering Donbas and called holding current positions along the front a “fair outcome.”

Zelenskyy outlined US proposals under discussion, including a potential “free economic zone” in Donbas and joint management of the Zaporizhzhia facility, while stressing that key details remain unresolved.

The talks come as Washington pushes for faster progress and US President Donald Trump signals frustration over stalled negotiations. European leaders, concerned about being sidelined, are coordinating closely with Kyiv and preparing further meetings.

Russia, meanwhile, claims battlefield gains and has submitted new security proposals to Washington.

In parallel, Ukraine intensified long-range strikes, hitting a Russian Caspian Sea oil rig and launching a major drone attack that disrupted flights at Moscow airports.

 

NATO Chief Warns Europe Is Running Out of Time to Prepare for Potential War With Russia

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte said on Thursday that the alliance must accelerate defense spending and preparations for a potential conflict with Russia, warning that Europe is already “in harm’s way.”

Speaking in Berlin, Rutte pushed back on concerns sparked by the new US national security strategy but said some NATO members still underestimate the urgency of the threat. He said Russia could be ready to confront NATO within five years and emphasized that higher defense investment is critical to deterrence.

Rutte praised Germany for boosting military spending and dismissed reports that the US plans to shift most defense responsibilities to Europe by 2027. He added that supporting Ukraine remains essential to keeping Russia off balance, noting Moscow’s incremental battlefield gains and expanding weapons production.

Rutte said Russia has suffered more than one million casualties since 2022 but warned that Russian President Vladimir Putin’s willingness to absorb losses signals a long-term danger to Europe.

 

Israel Approves 764 New West Bank Settlement Homes, Drawing Condemnation and Annexation Warnings

Israel approved 764 additional housing units in three West Bank settlements, a move likely to intensify regional tensions and draw further international criticism.

Israel’s Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich said the approvals in Hashmonaim, Beitar Illit and Givat Ze’ev reflect a strategy to expand and strengthen settlement presence. With this decision, more than 51,000 units have been advanced since Smotrich took office.

Palestinians condemned the expansion as a provocation that risks fueling further violence and urged the Trump administration to intervene. Watchdog group Peace Now warned the government is moving toward “de facto annexation,” arguing the ongoing construction deepens an untenable status quo.

Most countries view the settlements as illegal under international law.

The approvals come amid reports of Israel planning further land seizures and follow a surge in settler violence documented by the United Nations.

 

Pakistan Court-Martials Former Spy Chief Faiz Hameed, Sentences Him to 14 Years

A Pakistani military court on Thursday sentenced retired Lieutenant General Faiz Hameed, former director general of the Inter-Services Intelligence, to 14 years in prison after finding him guilty on four charges, including engaging in political activities, violating the Official Secrets Act, misusing authority and causing wrongful loss.

The court-martial, conducted under the Pakistan Army Act, lasted 15 months.

The Pakistani military said Hameed received full legal rights and may appeal.

Hameed, viewed as an ally of imprisoned former Prime Minister Imran Khan, was detained in 2024 following a Supreme Court–ordered probe linked to a land development scandal.

Pakistan’s government officials and political parties welcomed the verdict, saying it demonstrated that no officer is above the law. Analysts said the ruling signals the military’s intent to prevent serving or retired officers from involvement in politics.

 

Myanmar Airstrike Destroys Hospital in Arakan Army Territory, Killing 34

A Myanmar military airstrike destroyed a hospital in Mrauk-U township, an area controlled by the Arakan Army in Rakhine state, killing 34 patients and medical staff and injuring about 80 others, according to local rescue workers and independent media.

A jet reportedly dropped two bombs Wednesday night, one of which hit the recovery ward.

The hospital, a key medical facility amid widespread closures caused by the civil war, was left largely in ruins.

The Arakan Army, which has seized most of Rakhine’s townships since renewing its offensive in 2023, has been fighting for autonomy from Myanmar’s central government. Myanmar’s shadow National Unity Government condemned the strike and called for international pressure.

The attack comes as the military escalates air operations ahead of December 28 elections widely expected to entrench its rule.

 

Sources: News Agencies

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