Lawmakers and analysts remain divided over the scope, legality, and strategic aims of the campaign.
Federal Agents Met by Protests at San Francisco Bay Base as CBP Expands Immigration Operations
Federal immigration agents faced protests as they arrived at Coast Guard Island, a government-owned base in the San Francisco Bay Area, to support expanded enforcement operations.
The deployment of US Customs and Border Protection (CBP) agents to the island, which houses Coast Guard Base Alameda, comes amid broader federal efforts to target illegal immigration, narcotics trafficking, and potential security threats.
The Coast Guard said the agencies are working together under a “whole of government” approach.
Coast Guard Island, established in 1913 and home to more than 1,200 personnel, serves as a key West Coast command hub and base for four national security cutters.
Trump Halts Planned Federal Force Surge in San Francisco
President Donald Trump reversed plans to deploy federal forces to San Francisco after speaking with tech leaders and the city’s mayor, Daniel Lurie.
Trump said Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang and Salesforce CEO Marc Benioff urged him to hold off, praising the city’s recent progress in reducing crime.
Lurie, a centrist Democrat who has focused on local recovery over partisan politics, told Trump that violent and property crimes have dropped sharply and warned that a military presence would harm the city’s rebound.
Trump credited both Lurie and the business community for convincing him to pause the move but said he could “change his mind” if conditions worsen.
We’re bringing San Francisco back—and we are just getting started. pic.twitter.com/wP9FvMGthY
— Daniel Lurie 丹尼爾·羅偉 (@DanielLurie) October 23, 2025
Local officials and business figures welcomed the decision, though some expressed skepticism about Trump’s commitment.
The president said he received calls from multiple top executives urging restraint and agreed to give the city “a chance” to maintain order without federal intervention.
Rubio Visits US-Led Gaza Coordination Center as Washington Pushes for International Security Force
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio toured a US-led coordination center in southern Israel on Friday that oversees the Gaza ceasefire and plans for reconstruction.
The center, staffed by about 200 American troops and representatives from several allied countries, coordinates military and civilian efforts to stabilize Gaza following the truce between Israel and Hamas.
Rubio announced US Ambassador to Yemen Steven Fagin will head the center’s civilian operations, while Admiral Brad Cooper of US Central Command (CENTCOM) leads its military component.
The United States is seeking international support, particularly from Gulf nations, to establish a multinational security force in Gaza and train a Palestinian contingent, potentially under a United Nations mandate.
Rubio also met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to discuss the initiative.
🇵🇸 🇮🇱 US Secretary of State Marco Rubio voiced hope Friday of soon putting together an international force to police the ceasefire in Gaza and said Israel, which opposes including Turkey, could veto participants.
➡️ https://t.co/q2sEHS3dnD pic.twitter.com/D6rYQ9hoU9
— AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 24, 2025
Meanwhile, Gaza residents continue struggling to rebuild amid widespread destruction, and Israel maintains restrictions on UNRWA, the UN agency responsible for Palestinian aid, despite international pressure to allow its operations.
Turkey in Talks With Qatar and Oman to Buy Used Eurofighter Jets
Turkey is negotiating with Qatar and Oman to purchase used Eurofighter Typhoon fighter jets as part of efforts to strengthen its air force until its domestically built KAAN stealth jet becomes operational, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said Friday.
The discussions follow a preliminary agreement signed in July between Turkey and the United Kingdom for new Eurofighter sales.
Erdogan described the talks with Gulf nations as “progressing positively” after returning from a regional tour that included defense-related agreements.
Turkey aims to acquire 120 aircraft in total—40 Eurofighters, 40 F-16s, and 40 F-35s—as a transitional fleet.
#BREAKING President Erdogan says he discussed Eurofighter jet purchases with Qatar, Oman, adding talks involving many technical details ‘progressing positively’ pic.twitter.com/j27dNNwNPh
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 24, 2025
Ankara continues to seek reentry into the US-led F-35 program, from which it was expelled in 2019 over its purchase of Russian S-400 missile systems.
The KAAN jet is expected to enter service no earlier than 2028.
Interpol Operation Nets 225 Arrests in Latin America for Environmental Crimes
A two-month Interpol-led crackdown across nine Latin American countries resulted in 225 arrests and more than 400 new investigations into illegal logging, wildlife trafficking, and gold mining.
The operation, dubbed Madre Tierra VII, ran from May to June and involved police from countries including Colombia, Mexico, and Costa Rica. Authorities seized large quantities of timber, wildlife, and marine products, including 2.4 tons of shark and ray fins, 875 kilograms (almost 1,930 pounds) of endangered totoaba, and 7 kilograms (15 pounds) of dried sea cucumber.
Investigators identified deforestation hotspots covering over 50,000 hectares and uncovered criminal networks linking Latin America to Europe and Asia.
🚨 Americas: Environmental crime operation leads to 225 arrests, identifies hundreds more suspects
Operation Madre Tierra VII, led by INTERPOL’s Regional Bureau for Central America with support from the Environmental Security unit, brought together officers from nine countries… pic.twitter.com/zMD2jAdFTq
— INTERPOL (@INTERPOL_HQ) October 24, 2025
Interpol said the results highlight how organized crime groups increasingly drive environmental destruction for profit.
Additional investigations are underway, with a full report expected in November.
Croatia Reinstates Mandatory Military Service
Croatia’s parliament voted Friday to reinstate compulsory military service, ending a 17-year suspension as regional tensions rise following Russia’s war in Ukraine and increased militarization in the Balkans.
Lawmakers approved the measure in an 84-11 vote with 30 abstentions.
The new two-month program will provide basic military training, with the first group of conscripts—those born in 2007—set for medical checkups by year’s end.
#BREAKING #Croatia JUST IN: Croatia’s parliament has voted to reinstate mandatory military service by year’s end. The service will last two months, with about 4,000 conscripts called up annually, the Defense Ministry said. pic.twitter.com/wkuLIZeu3G
— The National Independent (@NationalIndNews) October 24, 2025
The Defense Ministry said the goal is to equip young citizens with crisis-response skills and strengthen national security.
Croatia, a European Union and NATO member, has been expanding its military capabilities and held a large parade in July commemorating its 1990s war of independence, amid ongoing strained relations with Serbia.
Kyrgyzstan Criticizes EU Sanctions on Local Banks as ‘One-Sided Pressure’
Kyrgyzstan’s foreign ministry expressed regret Friday over the European Union’s decision to sanction several Kyrgyz banks and companies in its latest package targeting Russia, calling the move “one-sided sanctions pressure.”
The EU’s 19th sanctions package includes Tolubay Bank and Eurasian Savings Bank, along with two banks in neighboring Tajikistan, for allegedly facilitating Russian sanctions evasion.
Bishkek said it complies with international obligations and invited Brussels to conduct an independent audit.
The country’s central bank said it is evaluating the impact of the measures on its financial system.
Western nations have tightened scrutiny of Central Asian trade routes that have become channels for Russia to bypass restrictions.
NEW: The People’s Republic of China (PRC) and Indian oil companies are reportedly significantly reducing direct purchases of Russian oil in the short term, and the European Union (EU) passed its 19th sanctions package against Russia, primarily targeting the Russian energy… pic.twitter.com/n90fsOyeBu
— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) October 24, 2025
Kyrgyzstan’s economy has grown ten percent this year, driven by increased trade with Russia and migrant remittances.
President Sadyr Japarov, who has aligned closely with Moscow, previously called such sanctions interference in domestic affairs.
Japan’s New PM Takaichi Pushes Defense Expansion as She Prepares to Meet Trump
Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s new coalition with the right-wing Japan Innovation Party (Ishin) has freed her to pursue major security reforms, including accelerating plans to double defense spending to two percent of GDP by the end of the fiscal year.
Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister and a close ally of the late Shinzo Abe, replaced the pacifist Komeito party with Ishin, aligning her government with conservatives who back constitutional revision, military strengthening, and potential nuclear-sharing talks with the United States. She is set to meet President Donald Trump next week after the ASEAN summit in Malaysia to discuss regional security and US-Japan cooperation.
BREAKING: Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi unveiled a plan to lift Japan’s defense-related spending to a level equivalent to 2% of gross domestic product in the current fiscal year ending March 2026.https://t.co/RHYuY1plOY pic.twitter.com/KijGT7Cloz
— Nikkei Asia (@NikkeiAsia) October 24, 2025
China criticized her plans and urged Japan to “adhere to the path of peace.”
Despite enjoying initial public support, Takaichi’s minority coalition faces limits in passing budgets or committing to major defense increases without opposition backing, a potential challenge in her talks with Washington.
Sources: News Agencies
Evening Brief: US Carries Out 10th Strike on Suspected Drug Boat, Croatia Reinstates Mandatory Military Service
US strikes drug boat, Rubio tours Gaza center, Croatia revives draft duty. Here’s what’s making headlines this Friday evening.
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