Top stories this Monday evening, November 10, 2025.

US Strikes Two Alleged Drug Boats in Pacific, Killing Six in Latest Anti-Cartel Operation

The US military destroyed two suspected drug-trafficking boats in the eastern Pacific Ocean on Sunday, killing six people, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth announced Monday.

No US personnel were injured in the strikes, which Hegseth described as part of the Trump administration’s campaign against cartels designated as terrorist organizations. A video released by Hegseth showed one stationary boat and another moving at high speed before being hit.

Yesterday, at the direction of President Trump, two lethal kinetic strikes were conducted on two vessels operated by Designated Terrorist Organizations.

These vessels were known by our intelligence to be associated with illicit narcotics smuggling, were carrying narcotics, and… pic.twitter.com/ocUoGzwwDO

— Secretary of War Pete Hegseth (@SecWar) November 10, 2025

The strikes mark the 18th and 19th such operations under President Donald Trump’s administration since September, bringing the total number of reported deaths to at least 75. Most have occurred in the Caribbean near Venezuela, though US operations are increasingly extending into the Pacific.

The attacks come amid rising tensions over Trump’s expanded military campaign against cartels and Venezuela. The Senate recently rejected a bipartisan measure to curb the president’s authority to launch strikes in the region.

Meanwhile, the USS Gerald R. Ford Carrier Strike Group is set to deploy to US Southern Command (SOUTHCOM), concentrating nearly one-fifth of the Navy’s active warships there as speculation grows over potential US action against Venezuelan targets.

Already have an account? Sign In

Two ways to continue to read this article.

Marine Corps Marks 250th Birthday with Tradition-Filled Ceremony at Virginia Museum More than 1,000 people gathered Monday at the National Museum of the Marine Corps in Triangle, Virginia, to celebrate the Marine Corps’ 250th birthday with its traditional cake-cutting ceremony. Although the museum has been closed due to the federal government shutdown, it opened for the day under the nonprofit Marine Corps Heritage Foundation to honor the milestone without government expense. The ceremony, held in the Leatherneck Gallery, featured Marines in dress blues, veterans, and supporters from across the country. Brigadier General Matthew Tracy, commanding general of Education Command and president of Marine Corps University, served as the guest of honor. Following tradition, Tracy cut the first slice of cake for himself, the second for the oldest Marine present—104-year-old World War II veteran James Wescoat—and the third for the youngest, 19-year-old Pprivate Joseph Pacella. Happy 250th Birthday, Marines. @USMCMuseum hosted their traditional cake cutting ceremony to commemorate the Marine Corps’ birthday. Brig.Gen. Tracy, Commanding General of Education Command and Marine Corps University was honored to cut the cake for the ceremony.#SemperFi #USMC pic.twitter.com/quxm0kRss5 — Marine Corps University (@MarineCorpsU) November 10, 2025 Retired Major General James Lukeman, president of the Marine Corps Heritage Foundation, said it was essential to mark the 250th anniversary despite the shutdown. The event concluded with visitors sharing cake, purchasing commemorative coins, and viewing a special temporary exhibit. Judge Upholds West Virginia National Guard Deployment to D.C. Amid Legal Challenge A West Virginia judge ruled Monday that more than 300 state National Guard members can remain deployed in Washington, D.C., rejecting a lawsuit that sought to block the mission. Kanawha County Circuit Judge Richard D. Lindsay upheld Governor Patrick Morrisey’s decision to send the troops, which he authorized in August to support President Donald Trump’s crime-fighting initiative in the capital. The West Virginia Citizen Action Group argued Morrisey exceeded his authority, claiming state law allows out-of-state deployments only for emergencies such as natural disasters or aid requests from other states. The governor’s office countered that the move was lawful under federal authority. Deployment of West Virginia National Guard members in nation’s capital can continue: judge https://t.co/QRYQ6bP606 — O.C. Register (@ocregister) November 10, 2025 Trump declared a “crime emergency” in Washington in August, despite Justice Department data showing violent crime at a 30-year low. The order led to the deployment of about 2,300 Guard troops from multiple states and hundreds of federal agents. The West Virginia Guard’s deployment, initially set to end in November, could be extended into early next year. US Deploys B-52 Bombers to Spain for NATO Operations and Arctic Deterrence US Air Force B-52 bombers arrived at Morón Air Base in southern Spain over the weekend as part of Bomber Task Force Europe 26-1, the Air Force announced Saturday. The deployment from Barksdale Air Force Base in Louisiana positions American forces to respond quickly to threats along NATO’s eastern flank and in the Arctic region, enhancing deterrence and alliance coordination. Aircrews will conduct high-threat training missions simulating operations in contested airspace, focusing on real-time target detection, tracking, and engagement. The drills will involve countering simulated air and ground defenses to improve combat readiness and interoperability with NATO partners. The Air Force did not disclose the number of aircraft or personnel involved or the mission’s duration, though such rotations typically last several weeks. Three B-52H “Stratofortress” Long-Range Strategic Bombers assigned to the U.S. Air Force’s 2nd Bomb Wing at Barksdale Air Force Base, Louisiana, crossed the Atlantic this past Saturday, before arriving at Morón Air Base, Spain on November 8, 2025, in order to conduct multilateral… pic.twitter.com/R3lsXOnDmi — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) November 10, 2025 Morón Air Base, a long-standing US strategic hub since the 1950s, has hosted B-52 rotations since the launch of the Bomber Task Force Europe initiative in 2018. The current mission will include joint operations with Finland, Lithuania, and Sweden. Kushner Meets Netanyahu as Gaza Ceasefire Nears Turning Point and Israel Returns 15 Palestinian Remains Jared Kushner met with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Monday to discuss the next phase of the fragile Gaza ceasefire, as Israel returned the remains of 15 Palestinians under the current truce framework. The exchange brings the total number of Palestinian remains returned to 315, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which said only 91 have been identified due to limited DNA testing capacity. Four Israeli hostages remain in Gaza. The first stage of the ceasefire, in effect since October 10, focused on halting combat, exchanging hostages and remains, and delivering humanitarian aid. The next stage envisions forming a governing body for Gaza and deploying an international stabilization force, though progress remains unclear. Kushner is also involved in talks to secure safe passage for trapped Hamas militants in exchange for disarmament, but Israeli officials have not confirmed the status of those negotiations. U.S. envoy Jared Kushner met Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu in Jerusalem to discuss phase two of the Gaza ceasefire. According to Reuters, Netanyahu’s office said the talks focused on disarming Hamas, demilitarizing Gaza, and preventing the group from ever returning to… pic.twitter.com/gTg2SH2CEN — Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) November 10, 2025 Meanwhile, in the occupied West Bank, residents of Umm al-Khair prepared for Israeli demolitions of 14 structures, including homes and a community center featured in the Oscar-winning documentary No Other Land. Israel says the buildings were constructed illegally, while residents argue that permit denials leave them no alternative but to rebuild. Rights groups say Israel rejects nearly all Palestinian building applications in the area. Renewed Fighting in Central Sudan Displaces Thousands as RSF Accused of Atrocities in Darfur Heavy fighting in central Sudan has displaced about 2,000 people over the past three days, the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said Monday, as clashes between the Sudanese Army and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensify. The displaced fled towns around Bara in North Kordofan province, one of the main fronts in a war that has killed at least 40,000 people and uprooted 12 million since it began in 2023. The RSF’s recent capture of El-Fasher in Darfur left hundreds dead and forced tens of thousands to flee. The IOM estimates that nearly 92,000 people have fled the city and surrounding areas. 📍 The UN migration agency calls for urgent action to support the millions of civilians affected by the war in Sudan 🗣️ ‘Over 30 million people need help. Nearly 10 million of them are displaced within the country,’ says the IOM chief https://t.co/co3SAyoGZo pic.twitter.com/CRBSgzqLMV — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) November 10, 2025 Local groups have accused RSF fighters of committing atrocities, including mass killings and the burning or burial of civilian bodies in mass graves, allegations supported by satellite images analyzed by independent researchers. In North Kordofan, RSF attacks since late October have killed at least 47 civilians and displaced nearly 39,000 people. The paramilitary group claimed Monday to have entered Babanusa in West Kordofan as the conflict spreads. Aid groups warn that the humanitarian crisis continues to deepen as fighting pushes more families from their homes. Pakistan Kills 20 Taliban Militants in Border Raids as Peace Talks with Afghanistan Collapse Pakistani security forces killed 20 Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) militants in raids across the country’s northwest near the Afghan border, the military said Monday, amid growing tensions with Kabul following the breakdown of peace talks. Eight insurgents were killed in North Waziristan and 12 in Dara Adam Khel during operations targeting TTP hideouts. Separately, troops repelled an assault on a cadet college in South Waziristan after a suicide bomber rammed an explosive-laden vehicle into the gate, killing at least two attackers. Pakistan’s military accused the assailants of having links to India and handlers in Afghanistan, warning it “reserves the right to respond” against militants operating from Afghan soil. The TTP denied involvement in the college attack. Peace talks between Afghanistan and Pakistan broke down after Kabul called Islamabad’s security demands beyond their ‘capacity,’ though both sides said the truce still will continue https://t.co/3XPRJPn9Uy pic.twitter.com/gZSqbce3Cx — Reuters (@Reuters) November 8, 2025 The raids came a day after Pakistan and Afghanistan blamed each other for the failure of a third round of peace talks in Istanbul, mediated by Qatar and Turkey. Kabul refused to provide written guarantees that TTP and other militant groups would not use Afghan territory for cross-border attacks. Afghan Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi said Pakistan’s demands were “unacceptable,” while Islamabad insisted its main concern remains terrorism emanating from Afghanistan. The two nations remain bound by a fragile ceasefire brokered last month following deadly border clashes. North Korea Condemns US Carrier Visit to South Korea as ‘Provocation’ After Missile Launch North Korea denounced the USS George Washington’s (CVN-73) visit to South Korea as a “brazen” provocation after the US aircraft carrier departed Busan on Sunday following its first deployment to the Korean Peninsula in over a decade. The carrier, accompanied by three guided-missile warships, spent four days at Busan Naval Base hosting joint events with South Korean military leaders, according to the US 7th Fleet. Pyongyang’s Defense Minister No Kwang Chol said the carrier’s presence during joint US-South Korean Freedom Flag air drills marked a “critical excess” and warned that future threats would become “direct targets.” USS George Washington (CVN 73) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier in Busan, Republic of Korea – November 6, 2025 SRC: FB- USS George Washington (CVN 73) pic.twitter.com/0bp004wwNq — WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) November 7, 2025 The statement followed North Korea’s launch of a ballistic missile into the Sea of Japan, which traveled about 500 miles before landing outside Japan’s economic zone. Seoul condemned both the missile launch and Pyongyang’s criticism of the military exercises, urging the North to avoid further escalation. The drills were recently scaled down to accommodate the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit but continue to focus on strengthening allied readiness amid rising regional tensions. Japan, China Trade Blows Over Takaichi’s Remarks on Possible Military Response to Taiwan Attack Japan and China exchanged diplomatic protests Monday after Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi said a Chinese attack on Taiwan could pose “a survival-threatening situation” for Japan that might justify the use of force. The statement, made Friday in parliament, drew strong condemnation from Beijing, which accused Tokyo of interfering in China’s internal affairs. Chinese Consul General Xue Jian posted a message on X warning Japan to “cut off that dirty neck” in response to Takaichi’s comments, before deleting it. Tokyo called the post “extremely inappropriate,” with Chief Cabinet Secretary Minoru Kihara confirming Japan had lodged a strong protest and demanded an explanation from Beijing. China’s Foreign Ministry said Xue’s post was a personal reaction to “dangerous” Japanese rhetoric and accused Tokyo of hyping tensions. Beijing also filed its own complaint, questioning whether Japan intended to challenge China’s “core interests.” China has strongly protested to Japan over its leader’s wrongful remarks that imply any military attack on #Taiwan would justify SDF support. It constitutes a gross interference in China’s internal affairs and violates the one-China principle, the principles set forth in the four… pic.twitter.com/v0UAd200sI — CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) November 10, 2025 The dispute underscores renewed strain in Japan-China relations under Takaichi, Japan’s first female prime minister, despite her recent cordial meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping at the APEC summit. Takaichi has pledged to strengthen Japan’s defense capabilities and maintain close security coordination with the US and Taiwan, a stance that continues to anger Beijing. Philippines Unveils BrahMos Missile Unit to Bolster South China Sea Defense The Philippine Marine Corps introduced its first BrahMos cruise missile unit during its 75th anniversary celebration, marking a major step in strengthening the country’s coastal defenses amid tensions with China in the South China Sea. The Indian-made BrahMos system can strike targets up to 180 miles away at speeds of about 2,100 mph and is described by its manufacturer as nearly impossible to intercept. The Philippine Marine Corps has revealed its first BrahMos missile battery during a presentation at the force’s 75th anniversary ceremony today. Located in Zambales, Manila’s first BrahMos base can reach Scarborough Shoal. Note the battery comp and facilities shown. 📸 RTVM pic.twitter.com/LGU9lulIij — Aaron-Matthew Lariosa (@AaronMatthew_L) November 7, 2025 The Philippines purchased three BrahMos batteries for $320 million in 2022 and plans to acquire more, according to President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. Satellite imagery suggests bases under construction on Luzon, near flashpoints like Scarborough Shoal, where Philippine and Chinese vessels have repeatedly clashed. The unveiling follows the creation of a new joint US-Philippine task force to deter aggression in regional waters. The US has also deployed advanced missile systems, including the Army’s Typhon and the Marines’ NMESIS (Navy-Marine Expeditionary Ship Interdiction System), to the Philippines. Analysts say the BrahMos boosts Manila’s deterrence capability and morale, though it is unlikely to shift the broader military balance with China. Sources: News Agencies