Evening Brief: Homeland Security Confirms Expanded Immigration Operations Planned for Chicago, Israel Says It Killed Hamas Spokesperson Abu Obeida

· Guy D. McCardle

Abu Obeida, the spokesman for Hamas’ Qassam Brigades. (Image grab via X)

Your Sunday evening news brief for August 31, 2025.

 

DHS Confirms Expanded Immigration Operations Planned for Chicago Amid Trump-Pritzker Clash

Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem said Sunday that the Trump administration will expand immigration operations in Chicago, confirming additional federal resources will be deployed to the city.

The move follows DHS’s request for logistical support from Naval Station Great Lakes and comes as President Donald Trump continues to criticize Illinois Governor JB Pritzker and Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson over crime.

Both state and city leaders have vowed to resist the plan, citing Chicago’s declining crime rates and pledging legal action if Trump proceeds.

Johnson has already barred Chicago police from assisting federal immigration enforcement.

Illinois and Chicago, home to large immigrant communities, have strong sanctuary protections that conflict with Trump’s mass deportation agenda.

Noem declined to give operational details but said it remains Trump’s prerogative to deploy National Guard troops, as he did in Los Angeles earlier this year.

Pritzker accused Trump of using federal mobilization as a political tactic tied to future elections.

 

Judge Blocks Deportation Flights of Guatemalan Children Amid Legal Challenge to Trump Crackdown

A federal judge temporarily halted US government flights deporting unaccompanied Guatemalan children, blocking removals even as dozens were already on planes.

Judge Sparkle L. Sooknanan ruled Sunday that the expulsions violated legal safeguards for migrant minors, stressing her order applied broadly to Guatemalan children who entered the US without guardians.

The Trump administration had planned to deport nearly 700 children, with some already bussed to airports in Texas.

Government officials claim they are reuniting the children with families, but attorneys argue many face danger, neglect, or abuse in Guatemala and that proper legal process was ignored.

Advocates reported canceled immigration hearings and interviews with children by federal agents in recent weeks, signaling the operation.

Families in Guatemala gathered at an air base awaiting flights, uncertain whether any had departed.

The case is part of broader immigration enforcement measures under Trump, which include expanded deportations and increased federal operations in US cities. For now, the children will remain in the US while the legal battle continues.

 

Lebanon’s Speaker Rejects US Push for Fast Hezbollah Disarmament, Calls for National Dialogue

Lebanese parliament speaker Nabih Berri criticized US efforts to swiftly disarm Hezbollah, urging instead a calm national dialogue to decide the group’s future.

Berri, a Hezbollah ally who helped negotiate last year’s ceasefire with Israel, said weapons should be addressed through consensus, calling them “honorable” in Lebanon’s context. His Sunday remarks came as Israeli airstrikes hit southern Nabatieh province, damaging homes and shops.

The Lebanese military is preparing a plan to disarm Hezbollah by year’s end, backed by President Joseph Aoun, Prime Minister Nawaf Salam, and US envoy Tom Barrack.

Washington has pressed for disarmament before Israel withdraws from Lebanese territory, while Hezbollah insists it has already met its obligations under the 2023 ceasefire and refuses talks until Israel halts strikes and withdraws from contested hilltops.

The standoff unfolds as Lebanon faces the aftermath of a yearlong war with Israel, which began after Hezbollah joined the conflict following Hamas’s October 7 attack. The fighting has left more than 4,000 people dead and caused an estimated $11 billion in damage, raising fears of a confrontation between Lebanon’s army and Hezbollah if disarmament proceeds.

 

Houthis Raid UN Offices in Yemen, Detain Staff After Israeli Strike Kills Rebel Leaders

Iran-backed Houthi forces raided offices of the United Nations’ World Food Program (WFP), World Health Organization (WHO), and UNICEF in Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, on Sunday, detaining several employees.

The raids came days after an Israeli airstrike killed Houthi Prime Minister Ahmed al-Rahawi and at least five Cabinet members during a government workshop. Security was tightened across Sanaa following the strike.

UN agencies confirmed they were conducting head counts of staff in Houthi-held areas as contact with several employees was lost.

The detentions mark the latest in a series of Houthi crackdowns on international organizations in Yemen, where dozens of UN staffers and aid workers have been detained in recent years.

The Israeli strike, which also killed a deputy interior minister, followed a Houthi missile attack on Israel in August that used a cluster bomb aimed at Ben Gurion Airport.

UN envoy Hans Grundberg urged de-escalation, warning Yemen must not become a battleground for broader geopolitical conflict. The Houthis have vowed to intensify attacks on Israel and Red Sea shipping in retaliation.

 

Israel Says It Killed Hamas Spokesperson Abu Obeida as Offensive Expands in Gaza City

Israel announced Sunday that it killed Abu Obeida, the longtime spokesperson for Hamas’ Qassam Brigades, identified as Hudahaifa Kahlout, during intensified operations in Gaza City.

Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed his death, though Hamas has not commented. Abu Obeida’s last statement warned that hostages were in combat zones and that remains of dead hostages could “disappear forever.” The Israeli security cabinet met Sunday to discuss the expanded offensive but did not address ceasefire talks.

Since Saturday, at least 43 Palestinians have been killed, including civilians seeking food and aid in the Netzarim Corridor, which witnesses described as a “death trap.” Hospitals reported dozens of casualties from strikes and gunfire.

Israel has urged civilians to evacuate Gaza City, but many say they are too exhausted or see no safe refuge. The United Nations estimates more than 90 percent of Gaza’s population has been displaced at least once since the war began, with tens of thousands fleeing north Gaza in recent weeks.

 

Hamas Confirms Death of Mohammed Sinwar, Gaza Military Leader Killed in Israeli Strike

Hamas confirmed the death of Mohammed Sinwar, its presumed leader in Gaza, more than three months after Israel reported killing him in a May 13 air strike.

Sinwar, younger brother of Hamas political chief Yahya Sinwar, reportedly led the Al-Qassam Brigades’ military council following the death of commander Mohammed Deif. Israel said it identified his body in June in a tunnel beneath Khan Yunis’s European Hospital.

Hamas released images showing him among other senior figures described as “martyrs.”

The conflict began after Hamas’s October 2023 attack on Israel, which killed 1,219 people and led to the ongoing war. According to the UN, Israel’s offensive has killed over 63,000 Palestinians, most of them civilians.

 

Largest Gaza Aid Flotilla Departs Barcelona to Challenge Israeli Blockade

A flotilla of about 20 ships carrying humanitarian aid and activists departed Barcelona Sunday in the largest attempt to break Israel’s 18-year blockade of Gaza by sea.

The Global Sumud Flotilla, with delegations from 44 countries, is transporting food, water, and medicine while calling for a humanitarian sea corridor. Organizers expect around 70 boats to join the final leg of the journey, aiming to reach Gaza by mid-September.

The mission comes as Israel intensifies its offensive on Gaza City and restricts aid deliveries to the north, where food experts warn famine is underway. According to Gaza’s Health Ministry, at least 332 Palestinians, including 124 children, have died of malnutrition during the nearly 23-month war, which has killed over 63,000 people.

High-profile participants include activist Greta Thunberg, former Barcelona mayor Ada Colau, and actor Liam Cunningham.

Previous flotilla attempts this year were intercepted by Israel, with ships seized and activists detained. Israel has warned it may further curtail humanitarian aid as its offensive expands.

 

Norway Buys a Fleet of British Frigates to Strengthen NATO Naval Force

Norway will purchase at least five British-built Type 26 anti-submarine frigates in a 10 billion pounds ($13.5 billion) deal aimed at boosting NATO’s defenses in the North Atlantic.

The agreement will create a combined force of eight British and at least five Norwegian ships to patrol Northern Europe. Built by BAE Systems and partners, the frigates are designed for anti-submarine warfare and advanced air defense.

British Defense Secretary John Healey said the ships will help counter Russian submarine activity and protect critical infrastructure.

Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre called the acquisition essential, citing the country’s most serious security threat since World War II.

Norway selected the UK over offers from the US, Germany, and France, citing historic ties. The deal is expected to support 4,000 jobs and 400 companies in Britain.

 

German Chancellor Merz Warns Ukraine War Could Be Long, Rules Out Settlement at Kyiv’s Expense

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Sunday that the war in Ukraine may last much longer and cannot be ended through Ukraine’s capitulation.

Speaking to ZDF, Merz said Germany aims for peace but will not accept a settlement that sacrifices Ukraine’s independence, warning that such an outcome would embolden Russia to threaten other countries. He emphasized that supporting Ukraine’s self-defense remains Germany’s top priority.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Berlin has pledged or delivered around 40 billion euros ($47 billion) in military aid.

 

Russian Drone Strikes Knock Out Power for 60,000 in Ukraine as Zelenskyy Vows Deep Strikes Inside Russia

Russian drone attacks on Ukraine’s energy infrastructure overnight left nearly 60,000 households without electricity in Odesa and Chernihiv regions.

The strikes damaged four facilities in Odesa, cutting power to 29,000 people, and another 30,000 lost power in Chernihiv. The port city of Chornomorsk was hardest hit, with critical infrastructure running on generators, and one person injured. A Belize-flagged bulk carrier near Odesa sustained minor damage after hitting an explosive device.

Ukraine’s military said Russia launched 142 drones, most of which were shot down, though strikes hit 10 sites.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy pledged retaliatory deep strikes inside Russia, saying operations were prepared to pressure Moscow.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it targeted port facilities used for military purposes.

The attacks came as the Kremlin accused European nations of undermining US President Donald Trump’s push for peace, while Ukraine’s military said Russia has exaggerated territorial gains.

 

Indonesia’s President Cuts Lawmakers’ Perks After Deadly Protests Over Housing Allowance

Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto announced Sunday that lawmakers’ $3,000 monthly housing allowance and overseas trips will be revoked, following nationwide protests that left six people dead.

The move, made with backing from eight political parties, marks a rare concession to public anger over excessive perks granted to parliamentarians.

Protests erupted last week after reports that all 580 lawmakers received the allowance, nearly 10 times Jakarta’s minimum wage, despite rising living costs and unemployment.

The unrest intensified after 21-year-old ride-hailing driver Affan Kurniawan was killed by a police vehicle during a rally in Jakarta, sparking outrage over security force conduct. Authorities said seven officers are under investigation.

Violent clashes spread to other cities, with another 21-year-old student killed in Yogyakarta on Friday.

Subianto pledged accountability but warned against anarchic demonstrations, calling them a threat to national stability. He urged citizens to remain calm and assured that the government would listen to public demands while maintaining order.

 

Kim Jong Un Pledges Support for Families of North Korean Troops Killed Fighting in Russia

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un vowed to provide “a beautiful life” for families of soldiers killed while fighting for Russia in the war against Ukraine, state media KCNA recently reported.

At a meeting in Pyongyang held last week, Kim expressed grief for the loss of troops deployed to Russia’s Kursk region and praised their families as patriotic and resilient. State television showed him bowing to parents, wives, and children of the fallen.

The event followed North Korea’s April acknowledgment, alongside Russia, that its forces had been deployed, after months of silence.

A state documentary aired Saturday portrayed North Korean troops taking part in “Operation Kursk Liberation,” claiming Kim authorized the deployment last August, two months after signing a mutual defense pact with Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While Pyongyang has not disclosed casualty figures, South Korea’s intelligence agency estimates about 600 North Koreans killed from a deployment of 15,000, while Western sources put losses at more than 6,000.

Kim is expected to meet Putin in China next week for a military parade marking World War II’s end in Asia.

 

Sources: News Agencies