Evening Brief: Pentagon Installs ‘Department of War’ Plaques, Renewed Clashes in Syria’s Sweida, Greece Showcases Homegrown Drones

  Trump Administration Labels Four European Left-Wing Groups as Terrorist Organizations US President Donald Trump’s administration recently designated four European left-wing networks as terrorist organizations, expanding its crackdown on leftist extremism following the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The targeted groups include Italy’s International Revolutionary Front, two Greek organizations (Armed Proletarian Justice and Revolutionary Class Self-Defense) and Germany’s Antifa Ost, all accused of past bombings or violent attacks in Europe. The designation allows US authorities to block any financial ties to the networks within the country, though none are believed to operate directly in the United States. Antifa Ost is a terrorist organization based in Germany that is infamous for wielding hammers in premeditated attacks against unsuspecting victims. This Antifa group was named a terrorist organization by Hungary after it attacked nine victims in Budapest. pic.twitter.com/uszz3beosZ — Department of State (@StateDept) November 13, 2025 The move follows Trump’s earlier executive order labeling antifa as a domestic terrorist group after Kirk’s killing, though that designation carries limited legal weight.   Lawmakers Push Back Against Senate Plan to Close Navy Reserve Centers A bipartisan group of 19 US House members is urging congressional leaders to block a Senate proposal that would eliminate more than 100 Navy Reserve Centers nationwide, warning the move would harm readiness and weaken ties between the Navy and local communities. The call came in a letter led by Representative Chris Deluzio, D-Pa., following reports that the closures were included in the Senate’s version of the National Defense Authorization Act. The Senate Armed Services Committee justified the cuts as a way to reduce inefficiency and costs, but House members and veterans argue the centers are essential for training, administration, and recruitment. Facilities slated for closure include those in Moon, Erie, Harrisburg, and Avoca, Pennsylvania. The Navy Reserves are crucial to our communities and to our nation’s military readiness – especially here in Maryland’s 3rd District. They are stewards of the Navy’s core values of Honor, Courage, and Commitment, and represent the high ideals of national service. But the… pic.twitter.com/NJj0tR1AJC — Congresswoman Sarah Elfreth (@RepSarahElfreth) November 14, 2025 Retired Navy officers and reserve advocates said shuttering the centers would force reservists to travel long distances and discourage reenlistment. The dispute comes months after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth fired Navy Reserve chief Vice Admiral Nancy Lacore, reportedly after she opposed the closures. The final decision is expected to be fought over as Congress works through defense spending legislation later this year.   US Army Adopts Anduril’s AI Software to Power Next-Generation Drone Defense System The US Army has selected Anduril Industries’ Lattice artificial intelligence (AI) software as the core of its new Integrated Battle Command System (IBCS), marking a major step in modernizing command and control for drone warfare. The software uses AI to detect, track, and prioritize drone targets, coordinating countermeasures such as Patriot missile systems to destroy them in real time. Army Chief Technology Officer Alex Miller said the service needed an adaptive, software-driven approach to handle fast-changing threats from drone swarms. Lattice allows soldiers to manage multiple aerial threats simultaneously while integrating data from a network of sensors and vehicles. @USArmy has selected Anduril for the Integrated Battle Command System Maneuver (IBCS-M) program, solidifying Lattice as the Army’s fire control platform for Counter-UAS missions. pic.twitter.com/TkafjtUV8D — Anduril Industries (@anduriltech) November 10, 2025 The system has already been tested successfully at Yuma Proving Ground, Arizona, where it intercepted four drones in seven days of trials. The first operational Patriot battalion to field the IBCS is based in Baumholder, Germany, with allies in Europe and the Indo-Pacific expected to adopt the technology next.   South Africa Probes Mystery Flight Carrying 150 Palestinians Without Documents South Africa is investigating how a chartered plane carrying more than 150 Palestinians from Gaza landed in Johannesburg without proper travel documents, President Cyril Ramaphosa said Friday. The passengers, including families and a pregnant woman, were held onboard for about 12 hours Thursday after immigration officials found they lacked exit stamps from Israeli authorities and could not specify their travel plans. The Palestinian Embassy in South Africa said an unregistered group called Al-Majd arranged the flight and exploited desperate families seeking to escape the war. An Israeli military official confirmed Al-Majd’s involvement, saying the organization had coordinated the transfer of Palestinians from Gaza through Israel’s Ramon Airport. Questions have been raised over how hundreds of Palestinians were able to leave Gaza, board a plane in Israel, and arrive in South Africa without departure stamps in their passports or indication of their intended destination. pic.twitter.com/zjYeGHW7DK — Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) November 14, 2025 Rights groups criticized the conditions on board, calling the flight’s secrecy suspicious. Some non-governmental organizations accused Al-Majd of ties to Israel, alleging it was helping remove Palestinians from Gaza, though no evidence has been presented. Ramaphosa said 130 of the passengers were later allowed to enter South Africa “out of compassion,” while 23 continued to other countries.   Renewed Clashes in Syria’s Sweida Raise Fears of Wider Escalation Fighting between Druze armed groups and Syrian government forces in Sweida province subsided Friday after intense clashes the previous day, reigniting tensions despite a ceasefire reached in July. Both sides accused each other of violating the truce, with reports of several injuries but no deaths. The Druze-led National Guard said government troops attacked the town of al-Majdal using drones and heavy weapons, while Damascus officials claimed the factions launched the first assault on de-escalation zones. Analysts said the violence likely stemmed from a government retaliation after local forces seized a checkpoint in northern Sweida. Israeli warplanes were heard over the area, though it was unclear if they participated. Renewed clashes ERUPT in Syria’s As-Suwayda between the Syrian government forces and local Druze factions — local media Reports indicate that the clashes are still ONGOING accompanied with drones and mortar attacks targeting the frontlines pic.twitter.com/iQHekA6qb7 — RT (@RT_com) November 14, 2025 The renewed fighting follows July’s deadly conflict that killed hundreds, displaced tens of thousands, and led to Israel striking Syrian government targets in support of the Druze community. Since then, Sweida’s Druze groups have formed their own de facto administration and military force, largely rejecting Damascus’s authority.   Netherlands, Partners Abandon Plans to Buy US E-7 Wedgetail Surveillance Jets The Netherlands and several partner nations have withdrawn from plans to purchase six US-made Boeing E-7 Wedgetail surveillance aircraft, the Dutch defense ministry announced Thursday. The ministry said the “strategic and financial basis” for the deal had collapsed, prompting participating countries to explore other options to replace NATO’s aging E-3A airborne early warning and control (AWACS) fleet. The decision follows the US withdrawal in July from the multinational replacement program, citing escalating costs, production delays, and concerns over aircraft survivability. Dutch State Secretary Gijs Tuinman said the move highlights the need to strengthen Europe’s own defense industry. NATO’s current fleet of 14 E-3A aircraft, based in Geilenkirchen, Germany, is expected to retire by 2035 and continues to play a key role in alliance surveillance and air policing operations. E-7A gets its wings. The first @USAirForce E-7A Wedgetail Rapid Prototype was joined with its fuselage and wings. Next up, ➡️ adding vertical fin and horizontal stabilizers. pic.twitter.com/aZEyNmcUQm — Boeing Defense (@BoeingDefense) April 10, 2025   Greece Showcases Homegrown Drones in NATO Exercise Greece conducted its first large-scale military exercise integrating domestically developed drones and counter-drone systems Friday, marking a major step in NATO’s push for rapid battlefield innovation. The live-fire drill, held in rural Greece, featured a range of aerial and ground-based unmanned systems from quadcopters dropping mines to experimental robots delivering supplies and broadcasting psychological messages. Military observers from the United States, France, Turkey, Bulgaria, and Armenia attended the event. The exercise reflects a broader NATO trend toward faster, tech-driven defense development amid lessons from the war in Ukraine. Greece, investing 25 billion euro ($29 billion) to modernize its forces after years of austerity, views autonomous systems as key to maintaining an edge in its long-running rivalry with Turkey. Η Άσκηση σήμερα στον #Έβρο είχε μια εντελώς διαφορετική προσέγγιση. Είναι φανερό ότι έχουμε ενσωματώσει πλέον τις νέες τεχνολογίες στις Ένοπλες Δυνάμεις και σε αυτή την κατεύθυνση θα συνεχίσουμε, με ακόμη πιο γοργά βήματα. Τα θερμά μου συγχαρητήρια σε όσους συνέβαλλαν στην… pic.twitter.com/hiBrMGlaHp — Nikos Dendias (@NikosDendias) November 14, 2025 NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte recently urged European nations to speed innovation and adopt “startup” models for defense production. Greek drone firms such as Ucandrone say the shift favors small, agile companies capable of rapid adaptation. Defense Minister Nikos Dendias said the initiative requires a fundamental cultural shift within the military, as warfare evolves toward mobile, tech-centered operations rather than traditional heavy forces.   Ukraine Begins Mass Production of Interceptor Drones to Counter Russian Strikes Ukraine has launched mass production of its domestically developed interceptor drones to bolster air defenses against Russia’s escalating drone attacks, the defense ministry announced Friday. The drones, built on the Ukrainian “Octopus” technology, are designed to intercept and destroy Russian Shahed drones, including under night and electronic-jamming conditions. Three manufacturers have begun production, with 11 more preparing to open assembly lines. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said Ukraine aims to produce up to 1,000 interceptor drones per day. Ukraine has launched serial production of the Octopus drone interceptor, designed to counter Shahed drones. Defense Minister Shmyhal said the technology has been handed to three manufacturers, with 11 more preparing production. Developed with the UK, Octopus is expected to be… pic.twitter.com/1xTx85aZ3k — NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) November 14, 2025 The move comes as Russian forces increasingly rely on large-scale drone assaults, with 430 used in the latest wave of attacks. The lower-cost interceptors will allow Ukraine to conserve expensive missile systems for faster, high-priority threats such as cruise and ballistic missiles.   North Korean Troops Aid Russia in Mine-Clearing Operations After Kursk Battle North Korean troops are assisting Russian forces in clearing mines from western Russia’s Kursk region after helping repel a major Ukrainian incursion last year, the Russian Defense Ministry said Friday. Under a mutual defense pact, Pyongyang deployed about 14,000 soldiers to support Moscow, with more than 6,000 reportedly killed, according to South Korean, Ukrainian, and Western sources. Russian officials said the North Korean sappers are now working alongside Russian engineers to remove what they described as a “dense concentration” of NATO-made mines left by retreating Ukrainian forces. Video released by Russia’s Defense Ministry showed North Korean troops undergoing mine-detection training and joining Russian soldiers in patriotic songs. North Korean troops who helped Russia repel a major Ukrainian incursion into its western Kursk region are now playing an important role in clearing the area of mines https://t.co/OeKfxhFJVP pic.twitter.com/0rQFYI2NWH — Reuters (@Reuters) November 14, 2025 Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov praised the North Koreans’ “selfless, heroic assistance,” underscoring growing military cooperation between Moscow and Pyongyang. The mine-clearing operations remain dangerous, with Russian media reporting continued Ukrainian artillery and drone attacks in the area, claims that could not be independently verified.   Chinese Astronauts Return Safely After Space Debris Damages Capsule Three Chinese astronauts landed safely Friday after a nine-day delay caused by damage to their original return capsule, likely from space debris. The crew, who spent 204 days aboard China’s Tiangong space station (a record duration for the program) returned to Earth using the newly arrived Shenzhou-21 spacecraft instead of their planned Shenzhou-20. The China Manned Space Agency said a window on Shenzhou-20 had developed small cracks from debris impact, forcing the last-minute change. The capsule touched down in northern China’s Gobi Desert under parachute after a five-and-a-half-hour journey. The astronauts, who launched in April, were in good condition and assisted in transition activities with the incoming crew before returning. Three astronauts of China’s Shenzhou-20 mission landed safely on Earth aboard the Shenzhou-21 spacecraft on Friday, marking the first successful implementation of an alternative return procedure in the country’s space station program history https://t.co/e2cckjIgP2 pic.twitter.com/TAuY7ubReD — China Xinhua News (@XHNews) November 14, 2025 Also on board were four research mice that had spent two weeks in orbit to study how small mammals adapt to microgravity. The mission underscores China’s growing space ambitions, including plans for a lunar landing by 2030, as it continues developing the Tiangong station independently of the US-led International Space Station.   Sources: News Agencies