Evening Brief: US Strikes Kill 14 in Eastern Pacific, Israel Orders New Strikes in Gaza, Russia Approves Year-Round Conscription

Hegseth and President Trump have compared the operation to the post-9/11 war on terrorism, arguing that cartels are unlawful combatants and pose a national security threat.   US Military Officers Asked to Sign NDAs as Latin America Buildup Raises Invasion Fears US military officials involved in President Donald Trump’s expanding operations in Latin America have been required to sign non-disclosure agreements (NDAs), three officials told Reuters, an uncommon move that has fueled concerns about secrecy surrounding the mission. Exclusive: US military officials required to sign NDAs tied to Latin America mission, sources say https://t.co/4lD41ejwkN — Reuters Legal (@ReutersLegal) October 28, 2025 The Pentagon has deployed the Gerald Ford carrier strike group, adding about 10,000 troops to a buildup already including destroyers, F-35s, a nuclear submarine, and roughly 6,500 personnel. Officials say the buildup supports counter-narcotics operations, but experts and lawmakers question the scale and lack of transparency. Since early September, US forces have launched at least 13 strikes on suspected drug vessels, killing 57 people from countries including Venezuela and Colombia. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has tightened information control at the Pentagon, limiting staff contact with Congress and restricting press access. The Trump administration has accused Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and Colombian President Gustavo Petro of drug trafficking, drawing denials and regional tension. Senator Lindsey Graham said Trump may soon present potential military plans against both countries, adding that US forces are “moving forward” to confront drug networks tied to American deaths.   Judge Orders Border Patrol Chief to Daily Check-Ins Over Chicago Immigration Crackdown A federal judge in Chicago ordered senior Border Patrol official Greg Bovino to meet with her every evening to review the government’s immigration enforcement actions after weeks of protests, tear gas use, and allegations of excessive force. US District Judge Sara Ellis criticized the agency’s tactics under Operation Midway Blitz, which has led to more than 1,800 arrests since September, and condemned agents’ reported use of tear gas near a children’s Halloween parade. Ellis ordered Bovino to submit all use-of-force reports since early September and to begin wearing a body camera by Friday. U.S. Border Patrol chief Greg Bovino arrives to appear before a federal judge amid accusations that he and other officers have defied court limits on tear gas and other crowd control tactics during President Donald Trump’s Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago and its suburbs. Bovino… pic.twitter.com/j6gYjXFA6n — Getty Images News (@GettyImagesNews) October 28, 2025 The order follows multiple incidents where agents allegedly ignored court restrictions on riot-control measures. Bovino, who also oversaw recent large-scale immigration operations in Los Angeles, is now required to brief the judge daily on enforcement activities as the lawsuit from protesters and media organizations continues.   Senate Democrats Seek Budget Probe Into Cost of Trump’s National Guard Deployments Eleven Senate Democrats, led by Senator Jeff Merkley of Oregon, have asked the Congressional Budget Office to investigate the cost of President Donald Trump’s deployment of National Guard troops to several US cities. The lawmakers cited concerns about the fiscal, legal, and constitutional implications of using military forces domestically for immigration enforcement, crime prevention, and protection of federal property. NEW: Ranking Member @SenJeffMerkley is demanding answers on how much taxpayer money is being used to fuel Trump’s mobilization and deployment of troops to U.S. cities like Portland. The American people deserve full transparency. pic.twitter.com/34etlH5F0i — Senate Budget Democrats (@SenateBudget) October 27, 2025 The request follows Trump’s recent orders sending Guard units to cities including Los Angeles, Chicago, Portland, and Washington, D.C., often over the objections of state and local officials. Critics say the deployments break with long-standing norms that limit federal use of the Guard within states. Lawmakers noted that while the Los Angeles mission alone cost an estimated $134 million, the administration has not disclosed full spending figures. The senators said Congress needs a complete accounting to ensure fiscal transparency and proper oversight of the president’s domestic military actions.   Senate Panel Advances General Wilsbach’s Nomination for Air Force Chief of Staff The Senate Armed Services Committee on Tuesday approved General Kenneth Wilsbach’s nomination to become the next Air Force chief of staff, moving it to the full Senate for a final vote expected this week. Wilsbach, a veteran pilot and former head of Air Force Combat Command, was preparing to retire before being asked to return to service. If confirmed, he will succeed General David Allvin, who announced an early retirement after serving half of his four-year term. The committee also advanced 3,475 other military promotions and plans to review additional top nominees soon, including Navy Vice Admiral Richard Correll for US Strategic Command and Lt. General Christopher LaNeve for Army vice chief of staff.   3rd Infantry Division Takes Over US Army Mission in Black Sea Region The US Army’s 3rd Infantry Division assumed command of operations in the Black Sea region this week, replacing the 1st Armored Division during a ceremony at Mihail Kogalniceanu Air Base in Romania. The nine-month deployment involves about 3,000 soldiers operating across Romania, Slovakia, Hungary, and Bulgaria. The outgoing Task Force Iron strengthened US-NATO coordination on crisis response and eastern flank defense planning. The continued US troop presence reflects Pentagon efforts to reinforce NATO’s southeastern defenses following Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine. The rotation comes as the Pentagon reviews its European force posture, with allies watching closely amid speculation that President Donald Trump may scale back troop levels to shift focus toward the Pacific.   Zelenskyy Says Strikes Cut Russian Refining by 20%, Urges More Aid for Weapons Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukraine’s long-range strikes have reduced Russia’s oil refining capacity by 20 percent, citing Western intelligence. Zelenskyy said over 90 percent of the attacks on Russian refineries used domestically made weapons and called for more international funding to expand production. The strikes coincide with new US and European Union sanctions targeting Russian energy exports. US President Donald Trump recently announced sanctions against Rosneft and Lukoil, effective November 21, which Zelenskyy said could become leverage in US-Russia negotiations. He added that India plans to cut Russian oil imports and expressed hope that Trump’s meeting with China’s Xi Jinping this week would further reduce purchases. Ukraine’s long-range strikes on refineries inside Russia have reduced Moscow’s oil refining capacity by 20%, Ukrainian President Zelenskyy says. Oil exports play a key role in funding Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. ➡️ https://t.co/MP3m4bAKao pic.twitter.com/lyCbrVLsH9 — euronews (@euronews) October 28, 2025 Zelenskyy also said Ukraine has secured 70 percent of its winter gas import funding, captured 2,200 Russian troops in six months, and will soon produce up to 800 interceptors daily to counter drone attacks. Kyiv is negotiating with Sweden, France, and the US to build a future fleet of 250 combat aircraft.   Russia Approves Year-Round Conscription to Bolster Military Amid Prolonged War in Ukraine Russia’s lower house of parliament approved a bill Tuesday making military conscription a year-round process, a major step to sustain troop levels as the war in Ukraine enters its fourth year. The measure, expected to pass the upper house and be signed by President Vladimir Putin, would allow draft offices to summon recruits at any time, though conscripts would still begin service during traditional intake periods. Lawmakers said the change will streamline the draft system, which currently calls up 130,000 to 160,000 men twice a year. Officials claim draftees are not deployed to Ukraine, but rights groups say many are pressured to sign volunteer contracts. The State Duma, the lower house of parliament, has adopted in a third and final reading a bill to carry out conscription throughout the entire calendar year:https://t.co/9843ygh74T pic.twitter.com/f4wyyKF6nA — TASS (@tassagency_en) October 28, 2025 The reform follows earlier efforts to expand the army—Putin ordered troop levels raised to 1.5 million last year—and the introduction of electronic summonses to curb draft evasion. Authorities say more than 700,000 troops are now fighting in Ukraine, with 776,000 new volunteers and contractors joining since 2024. Lawmakers also approved a separate bill allowing reservists to guard critical infrastructure against Ukrainian drone attacks.   Israel Orders New Strikes in Gaza After Ceasefire Breach Dispute Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ordered the military to launch “powerful strikes” in Gaza on Tuesday after accusing Hamas of violating a US-brokered ceasefire by firing on Israeli forces and returning only partial remains of a hostage. Witnesses reported explosions and tank fire across Gaza City and Deir al-Balah following the order. Hamas responded by delaying the handover of another hostage’s body, escalating tensions in the fragile truce that began on October 10. 🚨 BREAKING: Israel has resumed attacks on Gaza, Al Jazeera reporters on the ground confirm. An airstrike hit an area behind Al-Shifa Hospital, triggering a massive explosion. Palestinian journalists are also reporting heavy tank fire and multiple blasts across Gaza. pic.twitter.com/E89HCdV3Xj — Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) October 28, 2025 Both sides have accused each other of repeated violations, including attacks, delays in returning bodies, and limited aid deliveries. The renewed violence followed the identification of remains belonging to Ofir Tzarfati, one of the hostages taken during Hamas’ October 2023 assault that killed about 1,200 people in Israel. Gaza’s Health Ministry says more than 68,500 Palestinians have died since the war began, a figure Israel disputes. Regional mediators are working to prevent the ceasefire from collapsing.   Myanmar Crackdown on Cybercrime Hub Sends Over 1,500 Fleeing to Thailand More than 1,500 people have fled from Myanmar to Thailand in the past week after Myanmar’s military raided KK Park, a major cybercrime hub near the border town of Myawaddy, Thai authorities said Tuesday. The exodus has since slowed, with 25 people crossing into Thailand on Tuesday, according to Maj. Gen. Maitree Chupreecha of the Naresuan Task Force. Myanmar’s military and allied Karen Border Guard Force demolished parts of the scam complex with explosives, causing damage on the Thai side of the border. Most of those fleeing are believed to have worked at KK Park under coercion. 🇲🇲 VIDEO Myanmar scam centre raid sends people fleeing to Thailand Men swim across the Moei river to Thailand after a military raid on KK Park, one of Myanmar’s most notorious scam centres, sent hundreds of people fleeing across the border. pic.twitter.com/m0jTEPJexb — AFP News Agency (@AFP) October 24, 2025 Thai officials are screening the migrants—who come from 28 countries including India, China, Vietnam, Ethiopia, and Kenya—to determine if they were trafficking victims before repatriation. The raid is part of Myanmar’s wider effort to curb cross-border cybercrime and illegal gambling operations, though independent media report such scams remain active in the region.   Sources: News Agencies