Morning Brief: Trump Vows Homeless Evictions in DC, UN Nuclear Watchdog Deputy to Visit Iran, Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UN in September

· Guy D. McCardle

Homeless encampments under M Street NE underpasses, Washington, D.C., July 3, 2021. (Elvert Barnes/Wikimedia Commons)

Another week, another round of global flashpoints. This Monday morning, August 11, 2025, Trump eyes a National Guard surge in D.C. and mass homeless evictions, the IAEA heads to Tehran without nuclear inspections, and Netanyahu broadens Gaza strikes as the civilian toll mounts. A Hezbollah-linked arms depot blast kills six in Lebanon, a Syrian hospital video shows a medic’s execution, and the UN confirms Taliban-linked death threats to Afghan women staff. Europe closes rank behind Ukraine ahead of the Trump-Putin summit, London police arrest over 500 in a pro-Palestinian protest, Australia moves to recognize Palestine, and the Philippines warns it could be pulled into a Taiwan clash after a dangerous run-in with China.

—

 

Trump Weighs National Guard Deployment, Homeless Evictions in DC

US President Donald Trump said Sunday he plans to remove homeless people from Washington, D.C., and jail criminals, despite city officials insisting there is no current crime surge.

A US official told Reuters the administration is preparing to deploy hundreds of National Guard troops to the capital, though Trump has not made a final decision on numbers or roles. The president directly controls the D.C. Guard, unlike in US states, and has used it before over local objections.

Trump posted on Truth Social that the homeless would be relocated “FAR from the Capital” with shelter provided, while criminals would be jailed.

The White House has not detailed the legal basis for mass evictions, given federal authority in D.C. covers only federal land and buildings.

The city has about 3,782 single homeless individuals, most in shelters or transitional housing.

The push follows a violent attack on a young administration staffer that angered Trump, prompting the deployment of 450 federal law enforcement officers citywide over the weekend. Federal agents reported multiple firearms offenses, traffic violations, and illegal dirt bike riding.

D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser said violent crime is down 26 percent and overall crime down seven percent compared to 2024, adding the city is at a 30-year low after a 2023 spike. She criticized Trump’s characterization, noting he had been briefed on joint crime-reduction efforts weeks earlier.

For Trump to take over city governance, Congress would likely have to revoke D.C.’s local leadership law.

The president is expected to hold a Monday press conference at 10 a.m. ET on “stopping violent crime” in the capital.

 

UN Nuclear Watchdog Deputy to Visit Iran

Iran’s Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi confirmed Sunday that the deputy head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) will visit Tehran on Monday to repair strained relations, but inspections of nuclear facilities will not take place.

This marks the first IAEA visit since Israel and Iran’s 12-day war in June, during which key Iranian nuclear sites were struck.

President Masoud Pezeshkian ordered a suspension of IAEA cooperation on July 3 after US and Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran’s most important nuclear facilities.

Araghchi said no cooperation will resume until a new framework, based on a law passed by Iran’s parliament, is agreed and approved by the Supreme National Security Council.

The suspension limits the IAEA’s ability to monitor Iran’s program, which has enriched uranium to 60 percent, near weapons-grade levels.

US intelligence and the IAEA assess Iran has not had an organized nuclear weapons program since 2003, but enrichment remains a key Western concern.

The June conflict killed nearly 1,100 people in Iran, including senior military officers and nuclear scientists, and 28 in Israel. The US conducted airstrikes on three major Iranian nuclear sites during the fighting.

It remains unclear when talks between Tehran and Washington over Iran’s nuclear program will resume.

 

Netanyahu Expands Gaza Military Campaign

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has confirmed a broader military campaign in Gaza, targeting not only Gaza City but also the “central camps” and Muwasi, areas sheltering over half a million displaced Palestinians.

The expansion comes despite growing domestic and international criticism of the 22-month war.

Netanyahu said the goal is to dismantle Hamas strongholds, demilitarize Gaza, and establish a non-Israeli civilian administration under Israeli security control. He pledged “safe zones,” though similar areas have been bombed in the past.


Late Sunday, an Israeli strike in Gaza City killed Al Jazeera correspondent Anas al-Sharif, three other journalists, and a driver near Shifa Hospital.

Israel’s military accused al-Sharif of ties to Hamas, which he had denied.

The Committee to Protect Journalists previously warned he had been targeted by an Israeli smear campaign.

Netanyahu also said he spoke with US President Donald Trump about the plan, thanking him for “steadfast support.”

At the UN Security Council, the US defended Israel’s right to decide its security needs and rejected genocide allegations, while China, Russia, and UN officials condemned the operation and warned of worsening humanitarian conditions. Germany halted certain arms exports to Israel, and Netanyahu accused Berlin of bowing to international pressure.

The humanitarian situation in Gaza continues to deteriorate. Hospitals and witnesses reported at least 31 Palestinians killed while seeking food aid, with multiple incidents in the Morag and Netzarim corridors, the Teina area, Zikim crossing, and southern aid sites.

Gaza’s Health Ministry says 100 children and 117 adults have died from malnutrition-related causes since June, adding to a war death toll of more than 61,000. The UN calls conditions “beyond horrific,” warning of widespread starvation.

Netanyahu maintains the offensive is essential to “free Gaza” from Hamas control, while Hamas accuses him of spreading “blatant lies.”

The Gaza campaign continues with no sign of a ceasefire, as both military operations and civilian casualties escalate.

 

Blast at Hezbollah-Linked Arms Depot in South Lebanon Kills Six Soldiers

Six Lebanese Army explosives experts were killed and several others wounded Saturday when munitions detonated at an arms depot near the village of Zibqin in Tyre province.

The Army said the cause of the blast is under investigation but did not provide details. The depot is believed to have been used by Hezbollah.

The explosion occurred south of the Litani River, in an area Hezbollah vacated under a ceasefire that ended a 14-month conflict with Israel in November.

Since then, Lebanese troops and UN peacekeepers have been taking over former Hezbollah positions.

The incident comes two days after Lebanon’s Cabinet approved a US-backed plan to disarm Hezbollah and implement a nationwide ceasefire with Israel. The plan tasks the army with ensuring only state institutions hold weapons by year’s end.

Hezbollah has rejected disarmament until Israel withdraws from five disputed border hills and halts airstrikes that have killed over 250 people since the ceasefire.

Protests have erupted in Hezbollah strongholds in response to the disarmament plan. The Lebanese Army has warned it will prevent any attempts to undermine security, including blocking roads or damaging property.

 

Syrian Hospital Video Shows Killing of Medical Worker

Security footage from Sweida National Hospital in southern Syria, published Sunday by activist group Suwayda 24, appears to show armed men in military clothing killing a medical worker during clashes on July 16 between Druze militias, armed tribal groups, and government forces.

The video shows staff in scrubs kneeling before gunmen, who pull one man aside, strike him, and shoot him twice. Another camera captured a tank stationed outside the facility. Activists claim the attackers were Syrian military and security forces, though a government official said their identities remain under investigation.

Syria’s Interior Ministry condemned the killing and assigned Deputy Minister Maj. Gen. Abdul Qader Al-Tahhan to lead an inquiry, promising accountability regardless of affiliation.

The government recently formed a committee to investigate civilian attacks during the sectarian violence, with a report expected within three months.

The incident has deepened tensions between the Druze community and Damascus following July clashes that triggered sectarian reprisals and worsened relations with President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s Islamist-led government, which seeks to disarm Druze factions.

Druze leaders say government forces have besieged Sweida, restricting aid deliveries.

On Saturday, the Syrian Arab Red Crescent reported one of its convoys came under fire, damaging vehicles.

The UN Security Council condemned the violence against civilians and medical personnel, urging a credible and impartial investigation. The statement also warned against foreign interference, implicitly referencing Israel, which carried out airstrikes in support of Druze fighters during last month’s conflict.

 

UN Confirms Death Threats Against Afghan Women Staff as Taliban Restrictions Intensify

The United Nations has confirmed that dozens of Afghan women working for its agencies received explicit death threats in May, marking the first official acknowledgment of such incidents.

The threats, linked to their roles with the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan and other UN programs, prompted interim security measures.

The Taliban told the UN they were not responsible, and the Interior Ministry said no threats occurred, though it announced an investigation.

Since seizing power in 2021, the Taliban have imposed sweeping restrictions on women, including a ban on their employment with non-governmental organizations (NGOs) and the UN Women still work in limited sectors like health care, but humanitarian groups accuse the Taliban of interfering with operations.

The UN report also detailed new measures targeting women’s personal freedoms.

In Herat, Vice and Virtue Ministry inspectors barred women without a full-body chador from markets and transport. In Uruzgan, women were arrested for wearing a hijab instead of a burqa. In Ghor and Herat, women and girls were denied access to public spaces, while Kandahar health workers must now have a male guardian with an ID card verifying their relationship — a process that can take weeks.

The UN Security Council and humanitarian agencies have repeatedly called on the Taliban to respect women’s rights and protect aid workers, warning that the restrictions undermine critical relief efforts in Afghanistan.

 

Europe Backs Ukraine Ahead of Trump-Putin Alaska Meeting

European leaders reaffirmed support for Ukraine, declaring that any peace deal must involve Kyiv, ahead of next Friday’s planned meeting between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin in Alaska.

The statement, signed by leaders of the European Union, France, Germany, Italy, Poland, Finland, and the UK, called for a “just and lasting peace” with “robust and credible” security guarantees and stressed that “international borders must not be changed by force.”

The White House confirmed the bilateral Trump-Putin meeting at Russia’s request, with Trump indicating that talks would focus on ending the war and could include “some swapping of territories.” This raised fears among European officials and Kyiv that Ukraine could be pressured to cede land.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy publicly thanked allies for their stance and reiterated that Ukraine “will not give their land to the occupier.”

US officials said a trilateral meeting with Zelenskyy is possible later, but the Kremlin maintains that a Putin-Zelenskyy meeting should only happen when negotiations are near agreement.

Vice President JD Vance said Trump had secured Putin’s agreement to meet with Zelenskyy, pending scheduling.

The Alaska summit comes amid a stalled US-led push for a truce, with Moscow demanding Ukraine give up annexed territories, abandon NATO ambitions, and accept military limits. Trump has warned of further sanctions and tariffs targeting nations buying Russian oil if the Kremlin does not move toward settlement.

European leaders, NATO’s Secretary General, and Russian opposition figures urged Washington to increase pressure on Moscow through tougher sanctions and continued military support to Ukraine.

Analysts warned that for Putin, simply delaying US action and securing a high-profile meeting is already a win, while any territorial concessions by Kyiv would be politically dangerous for Zelenskyy.

 

London Police Arrest 532 in Pro-Palestinian Group Protest Over Terror Ban

London’s Metropolitan Police reported 532 arrests over the weekend after supporters of the recently banned group Palestine Action staged a protest to challenge the government’s enforcement of its proscription.

Police said 522 people were detained for displaying placards supporting the group in violation of anti-terror laws, while 10 others were arrested for offenses including assaulting and obstructing officers.

The protest was organized to oppose the ban, which Home Secretary Yvette Cooper defended, citing Palestine Action’s history of violent attacks, injuries, and significant property damage. She emphasized the distinction between lawful protest and public support for a proscribed terrorist organization.

Almost half of those arrested were over 60.

The group was outlawed after activists broke into a Royal Air Force base and damaged two tanker planes to protest British support for Israel in the Gaza war.

Palestine Action has also targeted Israeli defense contractors and other sites linked to Israel’s military. Supporters are challenging the ban in court, arguing it violates human rights law.

Police said case reviews, led by the Counter Terrorism Command, could take weeks and will require prosecutorial and attorney general approval before charges are filed. The arrests came a day before a separate London march calling for the release of Israeli hostages still held in Gaza.

 

Australia to Recognize Palestinian State at UN in September

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Monday that Australia will formally recognize a Palestinian state at the United Nations General Assembly in September, joining France, Britain, and Canada in signaling similar moves.

Albanese said the decision follows commitments from the Palestinian Authority to exclude Hamas from government, demilitarize Gaza, and hold elections.

Albanese described Gaza’s situation as a “humanitarian catastrophe” and criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s newly announced military offensive. He said a two-state solution remains “humanity’s best hope” to end the conflict and bring lasting peace, while condemning Israel for denying adequate aid to civilians.

Netanyahu rejected the recognition push by Australia and European states, calling it “shameful.”

Australia designates Hamas as a terrorist group, and Albanese repeated calls for the release of hostages taken on October 7, 2023. He recently spoke with Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas, who has agreed to the conditions set by Western leaders for recognition.

Nearly 150 UN member states already recognize Palestinian statehood, though Israel rejects such moves and the US has withheld recognition pending a final peace deal.

Albanese dismissed claims the step is purely symbolic, calling it a “practical contribution” toward momentum for peace.

New Zealand said it will decide on recognition by September, reaffirming that it views recognition as a matter of “when, not if.”

 

Philippine President Says Nation Would Be Drawn Into Taiwan Conflict, Vows to Defend South China Sea Claims

Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. said Monday his country would inevitably be pulled “kicking and screaming” into any war over Taiwan due to its proximity and the presence of about 200,000 Filipino workers there.

The remarks, which drew strong protests from Beijing, came as he also pledged that Philippine forces will not back down in defending territorial claims in the South China Sea.

Marcos spoke after the Chinese coast guard used dangerous blocking maneuvers and a high-pressure water cannon against Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal, forcing one Philippine coast guard ship to evade a direct hit.

During the incident, a Chinese coast guard vessel collided with a Chinese navy ship, sustaining heavy damage. The Philippine side offered medical assistance.

China has accused Marcos of interfering in its internal affairs and violating the “One China” policy.

Marcos dismissed the criticism, saying he was stating facts and that Manila must plan for the possibility of being drawn into a Taiwan conflict.

The Scarborough Shoal clash marks another escalation in long-running maritime disputes between China and the Philippines, which have intensified under Marcos’ administration. Since taking office in 2022, he has deepened defense ties with the US and expanded security partnerships with allies including Japan, Australia, India, and European Union states to counter Beijing’s assertiveness.

Marcos reaffirmed that Philippine vessels would remain present in contested waters, continuing to defend sovereignty and exercise sovereign rights despite any opposition.

 

Sources: News Agencies