The United States has confirmed that agents from its immigration enforcement apparatus will provide limited security support during the Winter Olympics in Italy, a move that has sparked political debate but also prompted reassurances from both Washington and Rome about the scope of the deployment.

US officials said a branch of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) will assist American security operations during the Games, which begin on 6 February in Milan and Cortina d’Ampezzo. The confirmation followed reports that triggered concern and anger among some Italian politicians and local leaders, particularly in Milan.

Milan Mayor Beppe Sala criticised the plan, describing ICE as “a militia that kills” and saying the agency’s presence would not be welcome in the city. His comments reflected broader unease in Italy, where ICE has come under international scrutiny following a recent fatal shooting involving federal agents in Minneapolis.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani moved quickly to calm the controversy, stressing that the deployment should not be exaggerated or misunderstood. Speaking to reporters on the sidelines of a Holocaust Remembrance Day ceremony, he said: “It’s not like the SS are coming,” underlining that comparisons with historical atrocities were inappropriate. The ceremony was attended by Holocaust survivors, adding symbolic weight to his call for restraint and perspective.

US and Italian authorities have both emphasised that Olympic security will remain firmly under Italian control. The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) said all security operations at the Games would be “directed and managed exclusively by Italian authorities”, with American personnel playing only a supporting role.

Tajani clarified that no ICE agents would patrol Italian streets during the Olympics. Instead, security on the ground will be handled by Italian police forces, including the Carabinieri military police and the Guardia di Finanza financial authority. Italy’s interior ministry later confirmed that the United States will operate an internal coordination and operations room at its consulate in Milan, where relevant US agencies will work behind the scenes throughout the Games.

US officials explained that the involvement of Homeland Security Investigations (HSI), the investigative arm of ICE, would be “strictly supportive”. Their task will be to work alongside the US Diplomatic Security Service and Italian counterparts to help vet potential threats and mitigate risks linked to transnational criminal organisations.

American embassy sources in Rome noted that US federal agencies have assisted with security at previous Olympic Games, describing the arrangement as a well-established form of international cooperation. While it remains unclear whether ICE itself played a role at past Games, officials said the current plan follows the same principles of coordination, information-sharing and respect for host-nation authority.

A powerful winter storm sweeping across large parts of the United States has brought life-threatening conditions, resulting in at least seven reported deaths and leaving more than 800,000 households without electricity, while also prompting widespread school closures, travel disruptions and emergency responses across the country.

The storm system, which stretches from Texas through the Midwest and up to New England, has delivered heavy snow, sleet and freezing rain, according to the National Weather Service (NWS). Forecasters warned that hazardous conditions could persist for several days, affecting an estimated 180 million Americans — more than half of the US population — as authorities continue to urge caution and preparedness.

Tragically, officials confirmed that at least two people died from hypothermia in Louisiana. Additional storm-related fatalities have been reported in Texas, Tennessee and Kansas. In Kansas, authorities said a woman whose body was discovered covered in snow on Sunday afternoon may have succumbed to hypothermia, while Tennessee officials confirmed three weather-related deaths. In Texas, the mayor of Austin reported an “exposure-related” fatality linked to the extreme cold.

In New York City, Mayor Zohran Mamdani said at least five people died on Saturday, though he noted that the exact causes of death were still under investigation. He added that the situation serves as a sobering reminder of the dangers posed by extreme cold, particularly to vulnerable populations.

Beyond the human toll, the storm has caused extensive disruption to daily life and infrastructure. As of Sunday afternoon, poweroutage.us reported that more than 800,000 homes and businesses were without electricity, while FlightAware recorded over 11,000 cancelled flights as airports struggled with icy runways and severe weather conditions. Roads across multiple states were closed, and school districts opted to suspend classes to ensure student safety.

Despite the severity of the storm, officials across affected states emphasized the importance of coordinated response efforts, community support and adherence to safety guidance. Emergency services, utility crews and local governments continue working around the clock to restore power, clear roads and protect those most at risk.

Israel has announced plans to allow a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing, signalling a potential easing of restrictions amid ongoing security operations linked to the recovery of a missing Israeli serviceman.

On Sunday night, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office said Israel had “agreed to a limited reopening of the Rafah crossing for pedestrian passage only, subject to a full Israeli inspection mechanism.” The move is contingent on the completion of a military operation aimed at locating and returning the remains of Ran Gvili.

In a statement, Israeli authorities said the military was “currently conducting a focused operation to exhaust all of the intelligence that has been gathered in the effort to locate and return” Gvili. The operation, they stressed, is being carried out in close coordination with the United States.

“Upon completion of this operation, and in accordance with what has been agreed upon with the US, Israel will open the Rafah crossing,” the statement added, underlining that the reopening is part of a broader, carefully managed framework designed to balance humanitarian considerations with security requirements.

Earlier on Sunday, the Israeli military confirmed that troops had “begun a targeted operation in the area of the Yellow Line in the northern Gaza Strip” as part of efforts to retrieve Gvili’s body. The Yellow Line marks the boundary of territory that remains under Israeli control in line with the current ceasefire arrangement.