Evening Brief: Trump Deploys 1,700 Guard Troops; Syrian Election Skips Three Provinces; Russia Captures More Villages in Donetsk

· Guy D. McCardle

Kostiantynivka, a town in the Donetsk region, has come under heavy Russian airstrikes. (@iryna_rybakova/X)

Top stories this Saturday evening, August 23, 2025.

 

Trump Administration to Deploy 1,700 National Guard Troops for ICE Support Across 19 States

The Trump administration plans to mobilize up to 1,700 National Guard troops in 19 states to support federal immigration and anti-crime operations, according to Pentagon sources and internal documents obtained by Fox News.

The deployments, set to occur mostly in Republican-led states, will aid Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) with data collection, fingerprinting, DNA swabbing, and photographing detainees.

Troops will operate under Title 32 Section 502F authority, keeping them under state control while performing federally funded missions. This status allows their deployment without violating the Posse Comitatus Act, which restricts military involvement in domestic law enforcement.

Texas is expected to receive the largest troop presence. Other participating states include Alabama, Florida, Georgia, Ohio, Utah, and Virginia. Officials from states like Nevada and Idaho stated that their Guardsmen will only perform clerical, administrative, and logistical duties without direct law enforcement roles or weapons.

The expansion follows a May request from the Department of Homeland Security and a July Pentagon announcement raising troop support for ICE operations.

In D.C., nearly 2,000 Guard troops from six states are already deployed as part of the broader crackdown, which the Trump administration claims has led to over 700 arrests.

The president also threatened to send troops to cities like Chicago and New York to tackle crime, drawing backlash from local leaders and residents.

 

Israeli Strikes Kill 33 in Gaza as Famine and Pressure Mount

Israeli strikes and gunfire killed at least 33 Palestinians in Gaza on Saturday, including women and children sheltering in tents and civilians seeking food, according to local hospitals.

The attacks come as famine grips Gaza City, increasing international pressure on Israel amid its nearly two-year offensive.

Seventeen people died in Khan Younis when Israeli strikes hit tents for displaced families. In northern Gaza, Israeli gunfire killed at least five civilians near the Zikim crossing as they sought food. Eleven others died in separate incidents.

Israel’s military said it was unaware of a strike in Khan Younis and is investigating.

The United Nations and aid groups warn that famine is spreading, driven by Israel’s prolonged blockade and restricted aid access. A recent food security report found nearly half a million Gazans face catastrophic hunger.

Israel denies famine claims and says it allows sufficient aid, while blaming Hamas for hostage starvation.

Israel’s defense minister signaled a potential new operation in Gaza City within days. Israeli forces are already active around the city’s outskirts and Zeitoun neighborhood. Aid groups report rising airstrikes and mass displacement, while civilians remain trapped by the growing danger.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks are on hold.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said he ordered negotiations to resume but insists on ending the war on Israeli terms. Hamas says it will release hostages only if the war ends and a Palestinian state is recognized.

US President Donald Trump voiced frustration with Hamas, suggesting a faster military operation may now be more effective.

Gaza’s health ministry reported over 62,600 Palestinians killed in the war, including 281 from malnutrition. Protesters in Israel continue to demand a deal to bring hostages home, including demonstrations against far-right security minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, a vocal opponent of any agreement with Hamas.

 

Syria Excludes Three Provinces from Upcoming Election Over Security Fears

Syria’s Islamist-led government will exclude the provinces of Sweida, Hasaka, and Raqqa from its September parliamentary elections due to security concerns, the country’s electoral commission announced Saturday.

The decision follows deadly clashes in July in Sweida, where fighting between Druze fighters, Sunni Bedouin tribes, and government forces left hundreds dead.

Israel carried out airstrikes during the conflict, claiming it aimed to prevent mass killings of the Druze minority by regime troops.

Sweida, a predominantly Druze region with a history of tension with Sunni communities, remains unstable. Hasaka and Raqqa in the north are also deemed unsafe.

The electoral commission stated that seats assigned to these provinces will remain vacant until elections can be safely held there.


Commission spokesperson Nawar Najmeh emphasized that voting will only occur in areas fully controlled by the government. The elections for Syria’s 210-member People’s Assembly are scheduled to take place between September 15 and 20.

 

Russia Captures Two More Villages in Donetsk as Peace Efforts Stall

Russia announced Saturday that its forces captured the villages of Sredneye and Kleban-Byk in Ukraine’s Donetsk region, intensifying pressure along Kyiv’s eastern defensive line.

The advance toward Kostiantynivka brings Moscow closer to Kramatorsk, a critical Ukrainian logistics hub.

The Russian defense ministry confirmed the gains on Telegram, following Friday’s report of three other villages taken in the region. All lie within the territory Russia claims to have annexed in 2022.

The slow but steady advance comes as diplomatic efforts to end the war remain deadlocked.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said no summit between President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is planned.

Zelensky accused Russia of deliberately prolonging the offensive.

US President Donald Trump, who has advocated a summit as part of his peace initiative, said Friday he would decide within two weeks whether to impose massive sanctions on Russia or take no action.

 

India, France to Jointly Produce Fighter Jet Engines as Part of Defense Push

India is partnering with a French company to develop and manufacture fighter jet engines domestically, Defense Minister Rajnath Singh announced Friday.

Though Singh did not name the company, Indian media identified it as Safran, which has a longstanding presence in India’s defense and aviation sectors.

The announcement supports India’s push for self-reliance in defense. In May, Singh approved a prototype for the country’s fifth-generation Advanced Medium Combat Aircraft (AMCA), calling it a major milestone for indigenous military capabilities.

India recently signed a multi-billion-dollar deal with France to acquire 26 Rafale fighter jets from Dassault Aviation, adding to the 36 Rafales already in service and replacing Russian MiG-29K fighters. Singh has also committed to awarding at least $100 billion in domestic defense contracts by 2033.

India, one of the world’s top arms importers, has stepped up local production in recent years, launching its first indigenous aircraft carrier, new warships, submarines, a helicopter factory, and testing a long-range hypersonic missile.

The country continues to face regional threats, particularly from Pakistan, with whom it had a four-day military standoff in May—the worst since the 1999 Kargil conflict.

 

Sources: News Agencies