Evening Brief: Maduro Warns US Over Caribbean Troop Buildup, Egypt Rejects Israeli Claims of Voluntary Palestinian Displacement

· Guy D. McCardle

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro (Image grab via X)

Your Saturday evening brief for September 6, 2025.

 

West Point Cancels Tom Hanks Award Ceremony Amid Political Tensions

The West Point Association of Graduates has canceled a planned September 25 ceremony to honor actor and veterans advocate Tom Hanks with the prestigious Sylvanus Thayer Award.

Alumni association president Ret. Col. Mark Bieger said the decision, made in coordination with the academy, allows West Point to focus on its mission of preparing cadets for combat.

The announcement did not clarify whether Hanks will still receive the award.

Hanks, long recognized for his portrayals of service members and advocacy for veterans, had been announced as the 2025 recipient in June.

The cancellation follows political controversies at West Point under the Trump administration, including rollbacks of diversity programs, personnel changes tied to partisan pressure, and the rehanging of a portrait of Confederate Gen. Robert E. Lee.

Some alumni and analysts questioned the move, suggesting it reflects broader political influence rather than opposition to Hanks himself.

 

West Virginia’s 150th Cavalry Regiment to Be Transformed Into Tactical Combat Formation

West Virginia Governor Patrick Morrisey recently announced that the Army National Guard’s 1st Squadron, 150th Cavalry Regiment will be reorganized into a Tactical Combat Formation, preserving the unit and its 532 authorized personnel.

The decision comes after concerns that the regiment would be cut under the US Army’s Transformation in Contact (TIC) initiative.

The 150th Cavalry, headquartered at Brushfork Armory in Bluefield with soldiers stationed across the state, was at risk of disbandment until state leaders and Maj. Gen. Jim Seward successfully argued its strategic and community value.

The change, pending final approval from the Department of War, will protect hundreds of jobs, maintain the unit’s historic lineage, and align it with modern operational demands.

State officials and military leaders said the move strengthens West Virginia’s role in national defense while supporting the local economy.

 

ICE Moves to Deport Salvadoran Man to Eswatini Amid Ongoing Legal Battle

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement notified attorneys that Salvadoran national Kilmar Abrego Garcia will be deported to Eswatini after he cited fears of persecution in Uganda and other countries.

Eswatini’s government said it has not received any official communication about the transfer.

Abrego Garcia, who lived in Maryland for over a decade with his American wife and child, was mistakenly deported to El Salvador in March despite a 2019 court ruling barring his removal there. He was returned to the US in June under court order but now faces human smuggling charges stemming from a 2022 traffic stop. His attorneys argue he is eligible for asylum after his wrongful deportation and reentry, but Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) maintains his claims are not credible.

The case has become a high-profile test of Trump-era immigration policies and the limits of US deportation authority.

 

Legal Aid Group Sues to Stop Deportation of Honduran Children

The Florence Immigrant & Refugee Rights Project (FIRRP) filed an amended lawsuit to block the US government from deporting 12 Honduran children, citing credible reports that removals could begin as soon as this weekend.

The move follows a recent court order that halted the deportation of dozens of Guatemalan children after the Trump administration attempted to return 76 minors during Labor Day weekend.

Federal filings revealed that officials had identified 457 Guatemalan children for possible deportation, though none were ultimately flown out.

FIRRP argues the government is violating children’s rights to seek asylum and access legal representation.

The suit demands that Honduran and Guatemalan children be allowed to present their cases before an immigration judge and remain in the least restrictive settings while proceedings continue.

 

Maduro Warns US Over Caribbean Troop Buildup, Calls for Dialogue

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro vowed to defend the country’s sovereignty after the US deployed warships and thousands of troops to the Caribbean, citing anti-drug operations.

His remarks followed a US strike that sank a boat allegedly linked to the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua, killing 11, an account Caracas disputes.

Speaking at a military base in Caracas, Maduro urged President Donald Trump to pursue dialogue, while warning of “armed struggle” if Venezuela faced attack. He mobilized civilian militias and accused Washington of using drug-trafficking allegations as a pretext for regime change, noting the US recently raised the reward for his arrest to $50 million.

The buildup has fueled tensions across Latin America, where past US interventions remain contentious.

 

South Sudan Repatriates Mexican Man Wrongfully Deported From U.S.

South Sudan repatriated Mexican national Jesus Munoz-Gutierrez to Mexico after he was mistakenly deported to the country by US authorities in July.

Munoz-Gutierrez, convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in the US, was among eight deportees sent to South Sudan. One South Sudanese man has since been released, while six others remain in custody.

Munoz-Gutierrez said he felt “kidnapped” when the US sent him to South Sudan instead of Mexico, though he noted he was treated well while in custody.

South Sudan’s foreign ministry coordinated the repatriation with the Mexican Embassy in Ethiopia and said it followed international law and diplomatic protocols.

The US has deported other migrants with criminal records to third countries, including Uganda, Eswatini, and Rwanda, a practice rights groups argue violates international law.

 

Boko Haram Attack Kills Over 60 in Northeastern Nigerian Village

Boko Haram militants killed more than 60 people in a nighttime assault on Darul Jamal, a village in Bama local government area of Borno state, Nigeria.

The attack late Friday targeted residents recently resettled after living in displacement camps. Witnesses reported dozens of homes burned and more than 100 people forced to flee.

Governor Babagana Zulum confirmed the death toll and pledged tighter security and relief support for survivors.

Authorities linked the assault to the Jama’atu Ahlis Sunna Lidda’awati wal-Jihad faction of Boko Haram, known for targeting civilians accused of collaborating with rivals or the military.

The village had been resettled only weeks earlier, following years of forced displacement due to insurgent violence.

 

Separatists Kill Seven Soldiers in Cameroon Roadside Bomb Attack

A roadside bomb in southwestern Cameroon killed seven soldiers Friday near Malende, with the separatist group Fako Unity Warriors claiming responsibility.

The explosion struck amid ongoing patrols by government forces searching for explosives in the region.

The Cameroonian military has not commented.

Fighting between English-speaking separatists and the government has raged since 2017, leaving over 6,000 dead and displacing more than 600,000 people. While attacks have declined in recent years, peace talks remain stalled.

Analysts warn the conflict could intensify ahead of Cameroon’s October presidential election.

The attack coincided with a US indictment of two separatist leaders accused of financing violence in Cameroon from the United States.

 

Sectarian Fighting in Syria’s Sweida Displaces Over 160,000, Families Face Uncertain Future

More than 164,000 people remain displaced in southern Syria after sectarian clashes between Bedouin Sunni clans, Druze armed groups, and government forces in Sweida province last month.

Many Bedouin families now live in overcrowded schools and hotels in neighboring Daraa and Damascus, with little prospect of returning.

Survivors recount killings, looting, and homes destroyed or seized, while food and aid remain scarce.

The conflict escalated after tit-for-tat attacks and Israeli airstrikes supporting the Druze, leaving hundreds dead and Sweida under siege.

Amnesty International documented unlawful killings of Druze civilians by government and affiliated forces.

Analysts warn the displacement could become permanent, altering the region’s demographics, as Damascus and Druze authorities remain at odds and peace talks have stalled.

Intercommunal tensions, rooted in historical disputes and past kidnappings, have deepened, with both sides accusing each other of atrocities and threats of revenge growing.

 

Egypt Rejects Israeli Claims of Voluntary Palestinian Displacement in Gaza

Egyptian Foreign Minister Badr Abdelatty dismissed as “nonsense” Israel’s characterization of Palestinian displacement from Gaza as voluntary, saying famine and military pressure are forcing civilians from their homes.

Speaking alongside UN refugee chief Philippe Lazzarini, Abdelatty accused Israel of obstructing ceasefire efforts and confirmed talks with US envoy Steve Witkoff to push forward a truce plan.

The remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested Palestinians should be allowed to leave Gaza voluntarily and called on other countries to accept them.

Hamas accepted a 60-day ceasefire proposal in August involving partial hostage and prisoner exchanges, but Israel has insisted on terms more favorable to its position.

The conflict has now stretched nearly two years with no resolution in sight.

 

Zelenskyy Says 60% of Ukraine’s Weapons Now Domestically Produced

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that nearly 60 percent of the weapons used by Ukraine’s military are domestically produced, surpassing a target set just two months ago.

In his nightly address, he highlighted advances in Ukrainian-made systems, including drones and air defense tools designed to counter Russia’s missile and drone attacks.

Zelenskyy also noted a joint weapons production project with Denmark.

The increase in local output marks the highest level of domestic arms reliance since Ukraine gained independence in 1991, reflecting a strategic shift to strengthen self-sufficiency and long-term defense capability.

 

US, South Korea and Japan to Launch Largest-Ever Freedom Edge Drills

The United States, South Korea and Japan will conduct their most advanced joint air and naval drills from September 15-19 near South Korea’s Jeju Island, in response to North Korea’s nuclear and missile threats.

The exercise, named Freedom Edge, will feature US Marine Corps and Air Force assets and is described by US Indo-Pacific Command as the strongest demonstration of trilateral defense cooperation to date.

South Korea’s defense ministry said the drills comply with international law and aim to bolster deterrence against Pyongyang. Since 2023, the three allies have carried out regular exercises involving aircraft carriers, destroyers and thousands of troops.

North Korea has denounced the training as provocative, framing it as a threat to regional stability.

 

Sources: News Agencies