Evening Brief: Anchorage Airspace Restricted Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit, Israel to Approve E1 Settlement Project, Taliban Deny US Report Alleging Aid Diversion

· Guy D. McCardle

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich unveils a long-delayed settlement plan that would divide the West Bank and sever it from East Jerusalem. (Screenshot/Reuters)

Good evening. Here’s your Thursday evening brief: Trump and Putin’s Anchorage summit comes with tightened airspace, DC police join federal immigration crackdowns, and the VA faces a class-action over caregiver benefits. Raytheon lands a $258M missile contract, the US backs a UN security mission in Haiti, and aid groups accuse Israel of blocking Gaza relief as West Bank settlement plans advance. Europe ramps up arms production, Pakistan unveils a new Rocket Force Command, and the US eyes more missile deployments to the Philippines.

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Anchorage Airspace Restricted Ahead of Trump-Putin Summit

The United States will impose flight restrictions over Anchorage, Alaska, on Friday as President Donald Trump meets Russian President Vladimir Putin at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson to discuss the war in Ukraine.

North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) will enforce the restrictions and warned that it will intercept any aircraft violating the rules.

The meeting is significant given frequent Russian military flights near US airspace, including recent incursions into the Alaskan Air Defense Identification Zone.

This marks Putin’s first visit to US soil in a decade.

The White House has downplayed expectations, noting only Russia will be represented and signaling a follow-up meeting with Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy will likely be needed.

 

D.C. Police Ordered to Aid Federal Immigration Efforts as Trump Operation Expands

Washington, D.C., Police Chief Pamela Smith ordered immediate cooperation between city officers and federal immigration authorities as President Donald Trump’s federal law enforcement operation intensified in the capital.

The order allows Metropolitan Police to share information with immigration agencies and assist in transporting detainees.

National Guard troops, unarmed but stationed across major landmarks and transport hubs, joined federal agents in visible patrols, traffic control, and monument security.

The heightened presence followed Wednesday night arrests of 45 people, including 29 undocumented immigrants, on charges ranging from drug offenses to assaulting a federal officer.

Meanwhile, homeless encampments were cleared with volunteer help, though advocates warned of more sweeps ahead.

The operation, which Trump can continue for 30 days before congressional review, has drawn both public concern and presidential praise.

 

Veteran Affairs Faces Class-Action Challenge Over Caregiver Benefit Denials

Two survivors of Vietnam-era veterans have filed a potential class-action lawsuit challenging the Department of Veterans Affairs’ practice of automatically dropping family caregiver benefit appeals when a veteran dies.

Both plaintiffs were denied entry into the VA’s Program of Comprehensive Assistance for Family Caregivers and had their appeals dismissed after the veterans passed away, despite providing medical evidence of the need for full-time care. Their attorneys argue the Board of Veterans Appeals should allow cases to proceed so caregivers can receive compensation for the period they provided care, which could offset significant medical expenses.

The case, backed by the National Veterans Legal Services Program (NVLSP), could affect dozens of caregivers each month.

A federal judge will decide if the lawsuit moves forward as a class action.

 

Raytheon to Deliver Advanced SM-2 Missiles for Destroyers and Frigates

The US Department of Defense recently awarded Raytheon a $258 million contract to develop and manufacture the Standard Missile-2 (SM-2) Block IIICU, with completion set for September 2031.

The upgrade features a dual-mode seeker combining semi-active and active guidance, improved trajectory control, and shared components with the SM-6 Block IAU.

Designed for Arleigh Burke-class, Zumwalt-class, Ticonderoga-class, and upcoming Constellation-class warships, the missile will enhance air-defense capabilities against threats like anti-ship cruise missiles and tactical aircraft.

Operational testing begins in 2027, with the United States, Australia, Canada, Japan, and South Korea as initial recipients.

 

US Backs United Nations Plan to Fund Haiti Security Force Support Office

The Trump administration will back UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ proposal to create a UN Support Office for the Kenya-led multinational security mission in Haiti, funded through the UN peacekeeping budget.

The State Department confirmed, as cited in a Thursday Miami Herald report, that it will present a draft UN Security Council resolution to establish the office, which would provide structural and logistical backing.

The move follows months of US silence on the plan as gang violence worsened and displacement reached 1.3 million.

The mission, intended for 2,500 personnel, faces equipment and funding shortages, with $112.5 million in pledges only covering salaries. Kenya has 261 trained officers on standby due to logistical funding gaps, and its base contract expires September 30 when the mission’s mandate comes up for renewal.

US support comes amid tensions with the UN after major American aid cuts and anticipated resistance from China and Russia.

Secretary-General António Guterres favors a “dual-track strategy” for peace enforcement, but the Security Council remains divided on the next steps.

 

Aid Groups Accuse Israel of Blocking Gaza Relief as Death Toll and Settlement Plans Rise

Over 100 nonprofit organizations, including Oxfam, Doctors Without Borders, and CARE, accused Israel of using new registration rules to obstruct aid to Gaza and the West Bank, replacing independent relief groups with ones aligned to its political and military agenda.

The non-governmental organizations (NGOs) say they have delivered almost no aid since Israel’s March blockade, while Israel claims aid delays occur only when groups fail to meet security requirements.

The humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen, with hospitals reporting new casualties from airstrikes, over 61,700 Palestinians killed since October 2023, and rising malnutrition deaths, now at 239.

Amid mounting international criticism, Israel advanced a major West Bank settlement expansion in Maale Adumim’s E1 area, a move rights groups say would destroy chances for a two-state solution.

Meanwhile, Italy evacuated 114 Palestinians from Gaza, including severely injured children, bringing its total evacuees to over 900 since the war began.

 

Israel to Approve E1 Settlement Project, Cutting West Bank in Two

Israeli Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich announced that the long-delayed E1 settlement project in the occupied West Bank will proceed, with final approval expected on August 20.

The development, east of Jerusalem, would link settlements in a way that effectively splits the West Bank, forcing Palestinians to take lengthy detours between Ramallah and Bethlehem and undermining prospects for a contiguous Palestinian state.

Smotrich called the move a direct answer to countries planning to recognize Palestinian statehood at the UN in September.

Rights groups and Palestinian officials condemned the plan as a deliberate step to block peace and entrench occupation.

The E1 project, frozen for decades under US pressure, could see infrastructure work begin within months.

More than 700,000 Israelis now live in settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem, considered illegal under international law.

 

European Leaders Hail US Support for Ukraine Reassurance Force

European leaders praised US President Donald Trump for agreeing to provide US military support to a planned European-led “reassurance force” to secure Ukraine after a potential peace deal.

While no US troops will be deployed, American airpower or equipment could back the force of 10,000-30,000 troops, greatly enhancing its deterrent against Russia.

The Multinational Force Ukraine, involving about 30 countries, aims to strengthen Ukraine’s land, sea, and air defenses, with headquarters initially in Paris and later in London.

The US commitment marks a shift after months of reluctance, though details remain unclear and Russia has condemned the plan as unacceptable.

 

Europe’s Arms Industry Triples Growth Rate Amid Ukraine War, Massive Defense Push

Europe’s arms industry is expanding at a record pace, growing three times faster since Russia’s 2022 invasion of Ukraine, according to a recent Financial Times report.

Satellite data from 150 facilities across 37 companies show 7 million square meters of new production capacity, driven by the European Union’s 500 million euros ($580 million) Act in Support of Ammunition Production (ASAP) program to produce two million shells annually by 2025.

Major projects include Rheinmetall’s new Hungary plant for tank rounds and artillery shells, MBDA’s missile production boost in Germany, and BAE Systems’ 16-fold increase in shell output in Wales.

The surge aligns with NATO’s new defense spending goal of five percent of gross domestic product (GDP) by 2035 and the European Union’s 800-billion-euro ($843 billion) ReArm Europe initiative, which promotes joint procurement, industry expansion, and support for Ukraine.

 

Pakistan Launches Rocket Force Command After Deadly India Clash

Pakistan will create a new Rocket Force Command to oversee its missile capabilities following its deadliest clashes with India in decades.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the force during Independence Day celebrations, saying it will be equipped with modern technology and capable of striking from all directions to boost conventional war capabilities.

The move follows a four-day conflict in May that killed over 70 people on both sides, involving missiles, drones, and artillery.

Pakistan is increasing defense spending by 20 percent, pursuing the purchase of 40 Chinese fighter jets and new air defense systems as part of a broader military buildup after the conflict.

 

Taliban Deny US Report Alleging Aid Diversion, Bias, and Corruption in Afghanistan

The Taliban denied allegations in a US watchdog report that they use force and manipulation to control the flow of international aid in Afghanistan.

The report by the US Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) claims the Taliban redirect aid to favor Pashtun communities, block NGOs serving minority groups, require use of Taliban-linked businesses, and engage in corruption, including currency manipulation and kickbacks from UN vendors.

It also documents severe restrictions on women-led NGOs and female participation in aid work.

The Taliban rejected the findings, saying aid is distributed independently through the UN.

The UN acknowledged the challenging operating environment and pledged to investigate any misconduct. Over half of Afghanistan’s population, about 23 million people, currently needs humanitarian assistance.

 

US, Philippines Weigh More Missile Deployments Amid South China Sea Tensions

The US and the Philippines are discussing the possible deployment of more missile launchers, including the Navy Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS), to bolster deterrence in the South China Sea and other regional hotspots.

Philippine Ambassador Jose Manuel Romualdez confirmed the talks but said no decision has been made.

The US has previously deployed mid-range Typhon missile systems and anti-ship launchers to northern Philippine regions near Taiwan, drawing strong protests from China, which has demanded their removal. Manila has rejected the demands, emphasizing its defense partnership with Washington.

The discussions come amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea, including a recent collision between Chinese and Philippine vessels near Scarborough Shoal and increased US naval operations in contested waters.

 

Sources: News Agencies