Morning Brief: US Marines to Deploy New Missile Systems to Japan; Poland, NATO Shoot Down Russian Drones

· Guy D. McCardle

Two Dutch F-35s over the North Sea. (DVIDS)

It’s Wednesday, September 10, 2025 — a morning shaped by crackdowns, clashes, and shifting power plays. In Washington, a 13-year-old boy is arrested after threats and a cache of 23 guns spark fears of a planned mass shooting. Chicago braces as Illinois leaders defy Trump’s threat to send in the National Guard. Across the Pacific, US Marines roll out new missile systems in Japan’s biggest Resolute Dragon drills yet. Abroad, Princeton student Elizabeth Tsurkov walks free after 900 days in Iraqi captivity, while the UN warns record $2.7T military spending is starving global development. Israel’s strike on Hamas leaders in Qatar risks derailing ceasefire talks, Moldova warns of Russian meddling, and Poland scrambles jets after Russian drones breach its airspace. Meanwhile, Nepal’s army moves to crush deadly protests, South Korea scrambles to retrieve workers detained in a U.S. raid, and Australia bets $1.1B on Ghost Shark underwater drones.

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Washington Teen Arrested After Threats and Stockpile of 23 Guns Found at Home

A 13-year-old boy in Pierce County, Washington, was arrested after police said they discovered social media posts about mass shootings and seized 23 firearms and ammunition from his home.

Investigators found tactical rifles mounted on walls, unsecured handguns, and AR-style magazines with references to Columbine in his room. Authorities said his posts included threats to kill people and images mimicking past school shooters.

The boy pleaded not guilty to five charges, including four felonies, and remains in detention. His parents are under investigation for potential firearms storage violations.

Police said the evidence suggested he was preparing for a mass shooting. Court hearings are scheduled for later this month.

 

Illinois Leaders Push Back as Trump Threatens National Guard Deployment to Chicago

Illinois officials are preparing for possible National Guard deployments to Chicago following President Donald Trump’s threats of federal takeovers in US cities.

Governor JB Pritzker and Mayor Brandon Johnson condemned the move, with Johnson signing an executive order rejecting what he called an “unconstitutional and illegal military occupation.”

Trump fueled tensions with a social media post likening the situation to war, though he later said the goal was to “clean up” cities, not fight them.

The Department of Homeland Security announced “Operation Midway Blitz” targeting undocumented immigrants in Chicago, while White House officials confirmed that Guard deployments remain an option.

Critics, including advocacy groups and defense analysts, warned that using troops for domestic enforcement undermines morale, readiness, and democratic norms.

The Chicago standoff follows earlier troop deployments to Washington, D.C., Los Angeles, and the southern border under Trump’s immigration enforcement agenda.

 

US Marines to Deploy New Missile Systems to Japan’s Ishigaki Island in Largest-Ever Resolute Dragon Drills

The US Marine Corps will deploy two new missile systems — the Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System (NMESIS) and the Marine Air Defense Integrated System (MADIS) — to Japan’s Ishigaki Island for the first time during the Resolute Dragon exercise running September 12-25, 2025.

The training will involve joint anti-ship and anti-air operations without live fire, rehearsing bilateral crisis response and contingency missions. About 5,200 US and 14,000 Japanese troops will take part, making it the largest Resolute Dragon to date.

The deployment comes as China increases military activity around Taiwan and Japanese-held islands.

NMESIS can target ships with Naval Strike Missiles, while MADIS counters drones and low-flying aircraft with Stinger missiles, cannons, and machine guns.

The drills will also include US High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) and Japan’s Multiple Launch Rocket System (MLRS) firing on Hokkaido.

The move reflects the Marine Corps’ Force Design plan to position littoral regiments close to contested areas to deny adversaries control of nearby waters.

 

Princeton Graduate Student Freed After 900 Days in Iraqi Captivity

Elizabeth Tsurkov, a Princeton University doctoral student kidnapped in Baghdad in March 2023, has been released after more than 900 days in captivity.

Tsurkov, who holds Israeli and Russian citizenship, was abducted by the Iran-backed Kata’ib Hezbollah militant group while conducting research on sectarianism. She was turned over to the US Embassy in Baghdad, with President Donald Trump confirming she had endured months of torture.

Her family expressed relief at her release, crediting US hostage envoy Adam Boehler and others for their efforts.

Iraqi officials said negotiations, not a military operation, secured her freedom, with conditions tied to the US withdrawal agreement from Iraq and limits on future US and Israeli strikes.

Prime Minister Mohammad Shia al-Sudani said the release reflected months of Iraqi security efforts and reiterated his government’s commitment to enforcing state authority.

Tsurkov, a noted regional affairs expert, last posted publicly days before her abduction.

 

UN Chief Warns Record $2.7 Trillion Military Spending Threatens Global Development Goals

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned Tuesday that soaring global military expenditures, which reached a record $2.7 trillion last year, are undermining peace and diverting resources from critical needs such as health, education, and job creation.

Presenting a new report, The Security We Need: Rebalancing Military Spending for a Sustainable and Peaceful Future, Guterres said current trends could push military spending to $6.6 trillion by 2035. He argued that even a fraction of those funds could close vital gaps, including ending global hunger, funding education, and strengthening healthcare and clean energy infrastructure.

The report highlights that $1 billion spent on the military creates far fewer jobs than the same investment in education, healthcare, or renewable energy.

UN officials stressed that rebalancing budgets is essential to achieving the 2030 development goals, with only 35 percent currently on track, and called for a global debate on shifting priorities toward sustainable development and long-term peace.

 

Israeli Strike in Qatar Kills Six, Escalates Tensions and Threatens Gaza Ceasefire Talks

Qatar faced global fallout Wednesday after an Israeli strike in Doha killed at least six people, including the son of senior Hamas leader Khalil al-Hayya and several aides.

The attack targeted a gathering of Hamas political leaders discussing a US-backed ceasefire proposal but left top officials reportedly unharmed.

The strike, carried out near embassies and schools, drew condemnation from regional and international governments and raised fears of derailing negotiations to end the Gaza war and free hostages.

Qatar’s emir, Sheikh Tamim bin Hamad Al Thani, blamed Israel for destabilizing the region in calls with world leaders, including US President Donald Trump.

Qatari officials said the missiles used evaded radar, suggesting long-range stand-off weapons.

Qatar disputes US claims that it was warned in advance, saying notification came only after the attack. The strike highlighted the risks of escalation in a US ally that hosts the Al-Udeid Air Base, the forward headquarters of US Central Command.

 

Israel Targets Hamas Leaders in Qatar as Campaign of High-Profile Killings Expands

Israel struck Doha on Tuesday, targeting a meeting of Hamas political leaders involved in ceasefire talks.

Hamas said six people were killed but confirmed that its top officials survived.

The strike marked the latest in Israel’s campaign of assassinations since the October 7 Hamas-led attack that triggered the Gaza war.

Israeli operations have killed senior figures across Hamas, Hezbollah, Iran’s Revolutionary Guard, and Yemen’s Houthi movement, including Hamas military chief Mohammed Deif, Gaza leader Yahya Sinwar, Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah, and Iranian General Hossein Salami.

The list also includes Hamas political chief Ismail Haniyeh in Tehran, top Hezbollah commanders Fouad Shukur, Nabil Kaouk, and Hashem Safieddine, Houthi prime minister Ahmed al-Rahawi, and Hamas spokesperson Abu Obeida.

Israel says these killings target the masterminds of the October 7 attack and their allies, while continuing military operations across Gaza, Lebanon, Iran, and Yemen.

 

Moldova’s Sandu Warns of Russian Interference Ahead of Crucial Parliamentary Elections

Moldovan President Maia Sandu told the European Parliament that Russia is attempting to sway her country’s September 28 parliamentary elections through disinformation, illicit financing, and other hybrid tactics. She called the vote the most consequential in Moldova’s history, framing it as a choice between a stable democratic path toward the European Union or destabilization by Moscow.

Sandu warned that the Kremlin seeks to use Moldova against Ukraine and as a platform for attacks on the European Union.

European leaders expressed strong support, with the European Parliament set to vote on a resolution to bolster Moldova’s resilience against Russian interference.

The election will test Sandu’s pro-European Party of Action and Solidarity, which risks losing its parliamentary majority. Her warning came a day after Romanian prosecutors arrested a former Moldovan intelligence official on treason charges tied to Belarusian espionage, highlighting broader regional security threats.

 

Royal Navy to Build Hybrid Crewed-Uncrewed Fleet and Jet-Powered Drone Air Wing for Indo-Pacific

UK First Sea Lord General Gwyn Jenkins said Tuesday the Royal Navy will field a hybrid fleet of manned, unmanned, and autonomous vessels, along with a revamped carrier air wing, as it prepares for future Indo-Pacific deployments.

Speaking at the DSEI defense conference in London, Jenkins said the service will launch a jet-powered drone from a Queen Elizabeth-class carrier next year as a demonstration and integrate uncrewed escorts using artificial intelligence with its upcoming Type-26 frigates. He emphasized rapid modernization to create a more lethal and resilient force amid global competition, particularly in the Arctic and Indo-Pacific.

Jenkins acknowledged shipbuilding delays but called for closer cooperation with industry.

US defense executives at the conference urged governments to adopt faster, more flexible procurement, citing China’s rapid shipbuilding as a challenge to Western navies.

 

Poland, NATO Shoot Down Russian Drones in Airspace Violation

Poland said its airspace was violated overnight by more than 10 Russian drones during large-scale Russian strikes on Ukraine.

Polish and NATO forces, including Dutch F-35s, intercepted and destroyed drones that posed a threat, while Warsaw’s Chopin Airport suspended flights during the operation. One house in eastern Poland was hit, but no injuries were reported.

The European Union said early signs suggest the violation was intentional, calling it the most serious breach of European airspace since the war began.

NATO confirmed multiple drones entered Poland and said its envoys will address the incident. Similar Russian objects have previously crossed into Polish airspace.

Meanwhile, Russia launched over 400 drones and missiles at Ukraine overnight, damaging infrastructure and killing at least two people.

The escalation comes days before joint Russian-Belarusian military drills, raising concerns in Kyiv and neighboring NATO states.

 

Civilians Flee Donetsk Strongholds as Russian Advance Reduces Cities to Rubble

Russia’s push deeper into Ukraine’s Donetsk region is forcing civilians from shrinking strongholds like Kostiantynivka, where shelling, drones, and power shortages have made life unbearable.

Once home to 67,000 people, the city is now nearly abandoned, its residents leaving after constant bombardment destroyed homes and infrastructure. Nearby Kramatorsk, though scarred by strikes, still functions with open cafes and intact streets, offering temporary refuge for displaced families.

Many evacuees describe despair, loss, and uncertainty, fearing their cities will follow Bakhmut and Avdiivka into ruin.

Residents who remain live under curfews, air raids, and a growing sense of hopelessness as Russia’s advance shows no sign of slowing. Some try to hold onto normalcy, finding comfort in community or small personal acts, but many say they see little chance of returning to their homes.

 

Russia, China Sign Pipeline Deal but Key Questions Remain Over Power of Siberia 2

Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller announced a “legally binding” memorandum with China National Petroleum Co. to build the Power of Siberia 2 pipeline, which would carry 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually from western Siberia through Mongolia to China.

The project aims to offset Russia’s loss of European gas sales after the Ukraine invasion but would only replace a fraction of the up to 180 billion cubic meters once sold to Europe.

The announcement, made during a meeting between Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping, lacked key details such as pricing and financing, and analysts say it highlights deepening Moscow-Beijing ties more than a finalized deal.

China is seen as holding the stronger hand in negotiations, pushing for discounted rates and retaining multiple alternative gas sources.

Experts also question whether China needs the pipeline given uncertain long-term demand and its accelerating shift toward renewables, nuclear power, and storage.

 

South Korea Sends Charter Plane to Retrieve Workers Detained in U.S. Immigration Raid

A South Korean charter plane departed Wednesday to bring home nationals detained in a US immigration raid at a Hyundai-LG battery plant construction site in Georgia.

US authorities arrested 475 workers, including over 300 South Koreans, on September 4, sparking outrage in Seoul after footage showed some shackled during detention.

South Korea’s Foreign Ministry said it is negotiating “voluntary” departures instead of deportations, which could block reentry for up to 10 years.

The workers are being held at a detention center in Georgia and are expected to fly from Atlanta once released.

The raid, the largest yet under the Trump administration’s immigration crackdown, has fueled tensions between the allies.

Seoul has pressed Washington to create a visa system for skilled Korean professionals supporting industrial projects, citing the need for expertise unavailable in the US.

South Korean officials are in talks with US lawmakers on a potential dedicated visa quota as the incident raises concerns over future business operations.

 

Nepal Deploys Army as Deadly Protests Over Social Media Ban Escalate Into Widespread Violence

Nepal’s Army took control of Kathmandu on Wednesday, enforcing a curfew after days of violent protests left at least 19 people dead and government buildings in flames.

The unrest began Monday when authorities blocked several social media platforms, sparking mass demonstrations led by young people.

Despite the ban being lifted Tuesday, protests intensified, fueled by anger over political corruption, youth unemployment, and accusations of privilege among leaders’ families.

Prime Minister Khadga Prasad Oli resigned but was asked to lead a caretaker government.

Protesters torched parliament, ministries, the prime minister’s residence, and media outlets, while hundreds of prisoners escaped amid the chaos. Soldiers arrested suspected looters and evacuated officials by helicopter.

The government is pushing a bill to regulate social media, which critics say threatens free expression and aims to silence dissent.

 

Australia to Spend $1.1 Billion on Ghost Shark Underwater Attack Drones

Australia will invest 1.7 billion Australian dollars ($1.1 billion) to build dozens of locally developed Ghost Shark underwater attack drones, Defense Minister Richard Marles announced Wednesday.

The long-range, autonomous vehicles, produced by Anduril Australia, will enhance the navy’s surveillance and strike capabilities and complement future nuclear-powered submarines under the AUKUS partnership, which are not expected until 2032.

The first Ghost Sharks will be delivered in January 2026, with “dozens” planned over five years. Officials declined to reveal the drones’ exact range but described it as very long.

The move comes amid growing concerns over regional security, highlighted by a recent Chinese naval exercise that circumnavigated Australia. The drones will be capable of launching from shore and surface ships, providing a strategic boost in increasingly contested undersea environments.

 

Sources: News Agencies