Morning Brief: Red Sea Undersea Cable Cuts Disrupt Internet, Russia Launches Largest Airstrike of War on Kyiv

· Guy D. McCardle

Damaged building in Kyiv following a massive Russian drone attack.(Image grab via X)

Good morning. Here’s your Sunday, September 7, 2025 brief. Protests swell in D.C. against Trump’s federal policing takeover as he doubles down with Chicago threats. An Army trainee dies in a Fort Leonard Wood accident. Internet across Asia and the Middle East slows after the Red Sea cable cuts. Russia unleashes its biggest airstrike yet on Kyiv while Ukraine hits back at a key oil pipeline. Japan’s prime minister steps down after a stinging election loss. And tensions flare in the Taiwan Strait as China shadows Canadian and Australian warships.

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Thousands Protest Trump’s Federal Takeover of Policing in Washington, D.C.

Thousands marched through Washington, D.C., on Saturday in one of the largest demonstrations yet against President Donald Trump’s federal policing takeover of the capital.

Protesters carried a banner reading “END THE D.C. OCCUPATION” as they walked from Meridian Hill Park to Freedom Plaza, denouncing the fourth week of National Guard and federal agents patrolling city streets.

Organized by Home Rule advocates and the ACLU, the “We Are All D.C.” rally highlighted opposition to Trump’s emergency declaration that put D.C. police under federal control, which expires Wednesday, September 10. Critics say the move undermines democracy and exploits the city’s lack of congressional representation.

The protest came as Trump threatened to send troops to Chicago, despite recent data showing that violent crime there has sharply declined.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned the threats, calling Trump a “wannabe dictator.”

 

Trump Escalates Threats to Send Troops to Chicago With ‘Apocalypse Now’ Parody Post

President Donald Trump intensified his threats to deploy National Guard troops and immigration agents to Chicago by posting a parody “Apocalypse Now” image with the caption, “I love the smell of deportations in the morning.”

The post, which he labeled “Chipocalypse Now,” follows his executive order seeking to rename the Defense Department as the Department of War, a move requiring congressional approval.

Illinois Governor JB Pritzker condemned Trump as a “wannabe dictator” and vowed to resist the plan, warning that city and state leaders will sue if federal forces are sent.

Trump has already deployed troops to Washington, D.C., and Los Angeles, and suggested other Democratic-led cities, including Baltimore, New Orleans, and Portland, could face similar action.

Critics argue the president is threatening war against US cities, while Trump has claimed broad authority to use the Guard, insisting he is acting to restore order.

 

18-Year-Old Soldier Dies in Training Accident at Fort Leonard Wood

An 18-year-old soldier from California assigned to the 1st Battalion, 48th Infantry Regiment, was killed Friday during training at a rifle range at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri.

He was pronounced dead at the site around 10:30 a.m. local time. No other soldiers were injured.

The soldier’s name has not yet been released. Fort Leonard Wood law enforcement and the Army’s Criminal Investigation Division are investigating.

US Representative Mark Alford, whose district includes the base, expressed condolences and called for the highest safety standards at the installation.

 

Red Sea Undersea Cable Cuts Disrupt Internet Across Asia and Middle East

Undersea cable cuts in the Red Sea disrupted internet connectivity in multiple countries across Asia and the Middle East, including India, Pakistan, and the United Arab Emirates, experts confirmed Sunday.

NetBlocks reported failures in the SMW4 and IMEWE cable systems near Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. Microsoft acknowledged increased latency in the region but said traffic outside the Middle East was unaffected.

The cause of the cuts remains unclear, though concern persists over possible Houthi rebel involvement. The group, which has targeted shipping in the Red Sea during the Israel-Hamas war, has denied responsibility for previous cable damage.

Repairs could take weeks, as specialized ships and crews must locate and fix the damaged lines.

 

Russia Launches Largest Airstrike of War on Kyiv, Killing Two and Damaging Government Building

Russia carried out its biggest aerial attack on Ukraine since the war began, striking Kyiv and other regions Sunday with 805 drones and 13 missiles.

Ukraine’s Air Force said 747 drones and four missiles were intercepted, but nine missiles and 56 drones hit 37 locations.

In Kyiv, debris and direct strikes damaged at least 10 sites, including residential buildings, and smoke was seen rising from the Cabinet of Ministers building, marking the first confirmed damage to a government facility. Officials reported two deaths (a mother and her 3-month-old baby) and at least 17 injuries.

Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko condemned the attack and urged stronger sanctions against Russian oil and gas.

The assault follows recent appeals by European leaders for peace talks and renewed calls by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy for sanctions pressure to force Russia into negotiations.

 

Ukraine Strikes Druzhba Oil Pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk Region

Ukraine targeted the Druzhba oil pipeline in Russia’s Bryansk region, causing what its drone force commander Robert Brovdi described as “comprehensive fire damage.”

Russia has not commented, and the claim could not be independently verified.

The pipeline supplies Russian oil to Hungary and Slovakia, both of which continue imports despite broader European Union energy cutoffs since the 2022 invasion.

Kyiv has repeatedly attacked the pipeline in recent weeks, saying strikes on Russian energy infrastructure are intended to weaken Moscow’s war effort in response to ongoing attacks on Ukraine.

 

Japan’s Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba to Step Down After Election Defeat

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba announced his intention to resign Sunday after mounting pressure from within his Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) to take responsibility for the coalition’s historic loss in July’s upper house election.

Ishiba, in office since October, had resisted calls for more than a month but decided to step aside to avoid further division ahead of a party decision on holding an early leadership election.

The LDP and its coalition partner failed to secure a majority in the 248-seat chamber, weakening the government’s stability.

Ishiba’s decision followed consultations with Agriculture Minister Shinjiro Koizumi and former Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga. He is expected to hold a news conference later Sunday.

 

China Tracks Canadian and Australian Warships During Taiwan Strait Transit

China’s military said it followed and warned Canadian frigate HMCS Ville de Québec (FFH-332) and Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane (DDG-41) during their joint transit through the Taiwan Strait, calling the move provocative and risky.

The People’s Liberation Army’s Eastern Theatre Command accused the ships of “trouble-making,” while Australia’s Defence Department said the transit from September 6-7 was routine and in line with international law.

Canada confirmed its ship’s participation as part of Operation Horizon, aimed at promoting Indo-Pacific stability. Taiwan’s defence ministry said it monitored the passage to ensure security.

The Taiwan Strait, considered an international waterway by the US, Taiwan, and allied nations, remains a flashpoint as Beijing asserts sovereignty claims rejected by Taipei.

 

Sources: News Agencies