Morning Brief: Trump Administration Revokes Security Clearances, Israel Prepares for Expanded Ground Operation in Gaza City

· Guy D. McCardle

SOFREP Morning Brief roundup for Wednesday, August 20, 2025. (Image grab via @QNAEnglish/X)

Good morning. Here’s your SOFREP Morning Brief for Wednesday, August 20, 2025. Global flashpoints dominate today’s headlines: Trump revokes security clearances for 37 intelligence officials in a sweeping purge, Yosemite faces backlash after firing a ranger who hung a trans pride flag from El Capitan, and Citizenship and Immigration Services adds “anti-Americanism” screening to immigration vetting. Abroad, Germany scrambles jets after Russian drone strikes near Romania, Afghanistan mourns 79 killed in a bus crash, and Israel readies a major Gaza offensive despite mounting criticism. Meanwhile, Australia recognizes a Palestinian state, straining ties with Israel, and the Philippines and Australia launch their largest-ever drills near the South China Sea.

—

 

Trump Administration Revokes Security Clearances of 37 Intelligence Officials

The Trump administration has revoked the security clearances of 37 current and former US intelligence officials, citing alleged “politicization” and “detrimental conduct,” according to a memo released Tuesday by Director of National Intelligence Tulsi Gabbard.

The action, directed by President Donald Trump, affects individuals from various national security roles, including several linked to the 2016 Russian election interference assessment.

The memo accuses the individuals of misusing intelligence for personal or partisan gain and failing to uphold professional standards, but provides no supporting evidence. Many of the officials targeted had already left government service and had criticized Trump’s handling of intelligence matters in the past years.

Critics, including attorney Mark Zaid, who also lost his clearance, called the move unconstitutional and politically motivated.

Security clearances are often essential for both current and former officials working in national security-related private-sector roles.

Gabbard defended the decision, stating, “Being entrusted with a security clearance is a privilege, not a right.”

The move comes as the Trump administration renews efforts to discredit the 2017 intelligence community report on Russian election interference and pushes a broader purge of figures viewed as disloyal.

The White House has also revoked clearances for former President Joe Biden, former Vice President Kamala Harris, and dozens of others, including officials who signed a letter suggesting the Hunter Biden laptop story may have been part of a Russian operation.

Some individuals are considering legal action.

 

Yosemite Ranger Fired Over Trans Pride Flag on El Capitan as Park Tightens Protest Rules

Yosemite National Park ranger Shannon “SJ” Joslin was fired after hanging a 66-foot-wide transgender pride flag from El Capitan in May, a move they say was meant to promote inclusion amid anti-trans policies from the Trump administration.

The National Park Service cited “unacceptable conduct” and violations of demonstration regulations as grounds for termination.

Joslin, a nonbinary biologist, said the flag display lasted about two hours and was carried out during personal time with a group of seven climbers, including two other park rangers who are now on administrative leave.

The Park Service is coordinating with the Justice Department to pursue administrative actions and possible criminal charges against participants, including park visitors involved in similar acts.

The incident led to the rapid implementation of new restrictions on May 21, banning flags, banners, or signs larger than 15 square feet in Yosemite’s designated wilderness zones, which make up 94 percent of the park. Officials said the move was necessary to protect natural resources and visitor experiences.

Advocacy groups, including Public Employees for Environmental Responsibility and Save Our Parks, are backing Joslin and criticize the firing as politically motivated suppression of free expression. The flag display followed earlier demonstrations on El Capitan, including an upside-down US flag hung in February to protest Trump-era personnel firings.

The National Park Service has faced staffing cuts under the Trump administration, losing about 2,500 employees.

Trump has also proposed a $900 million cut to the agency’s budget for next year, alongside sweeping policy changes that roll back protections for transgender individuals.

 

Citizenship and Immigration Services Adds ‘Anti-Americanism’ Screening to Immigration Process

US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) announced Tuesday that immigration officers will now evaluate whether applicants for benefits, including green cards, have “endorsed, promoted, supported, or otherwise espoused” anti-American, terrorist, or antisemitic views.

Officials said the policy aims to ensure immigration benefits go only to those who respect American values.

The new directive does not clearly define what constitutes “anti-Americanism” or how officers should apply it, raising concerns among critics about subjective enforcement and potential bias.

USCIS spokesperson Matthew Tragesser said living and working in the US is a privilege, not a right.

Critics, including legal experts and immigrant advocates, argue the policy opens the door to prejudice and stereotyping. Some lawyers and academics say it could infringe on First Amendment protections for immigrants in the US, while others argue non-citizens outside the country don’t have such rights.

The policy is part of a broader Trump administration effort to tighten immigration rules, including increased vetting of social media and expanded scrutiny of moral character in naturalization applications. Attorneys say the administration is legally permitted to narrow eligibility but warn the changes make the process more burdensome and unpredictable for applicants.

 

Alaska Man Receives Ural Motorcycle from Russian Delegation During Trump-Putin Summit

Mark Warren, a retired fire inspector from Anchorage, unexpectedly became a headline story during last week’s high-profile summit between US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

While the leaders met to discuss Ukraine, Warren received a brand-new Ural Gear Up motorcycle with a sidecar—courtesy of the Russian government.

The gift followed a viral Russian television interview in which Warren, already a Ural owner, spoke about the difficulty of sourcing parts.

Days before the summit, a Russian journalist informed him that Moscow had decided to give him a new bike. Initially skeptical, Warren was told the motorcycle would be handed over at an Anchorage hotel after the summit concluded.

On August 16, Warren received the $22,000 olive-green motorcycle in a parking lot from a group of six men he believed to be Russian officials.

The deal was facilitated through the Russian Embassy, and paperwork showed the bike was manufactured just four days earlier.

Warren expressed concern about being perceived as part of a political stunt but said the only thing the Russians requested in return was a photo and a brief filmed ride.

“If they want something from me, they’re gonna be sorely disappointed,” Warren said.

The motorcycle was assembled in Kazakhstan by Ural Motorcycles, with US distribution managed out of Washington State.

Warren, surprised by the attention, described himself as “just a super-duper normal guy” caught in an unusual moment during a tense international summit.

 

German Jets Scrambled After Russian Drone Strikes Near Romania

Two German Air Force Typhoon jets were scrambled Tuesday night in response to a Russian drone attack near Romania’s border with Ukraine, according to Romania’s Defense Ministry.

The intercept occurred over Tulcea County, close to the Danube River port city of Izmail, where Russian drones hit Ukrainian infrastructure and production sites, igniting fires and injuring at least one person.

Ukraine’s Air Force said Russia launched 93 drones and two ballistic missiles overnight, with 62 drones and one missile intercepted or suppressed. Impacts were reported across 20 locations, including the heavily targeted Odesa region.

The German fighters, deployed under NATO’s Enhanced Air Policing mission, monitored the situation without detecting any violations of Romanian airspace.

NATO aircraft are frequently launched from Poland and Romania in response to Russia’s cross-border strikes near NATO territory.

In past attacks, Russian drones and missile debris have landed in NATO states, including Romania, Lithuania, and Latvia.

Poland has also reported airspace breaches.

On the same night, Russia claimed to have downed 42 Ukrainian drones and briefly closed airports in several Russian cities due to the threat.

 

Deadly Bus Crash in Afghanistan Kills 79 Returning from Iran

A bus crash in Herat province, northwestern Afghanistan, killed at least 79 people, including 19 children, according to Interior Ministry spokesperson Abdul Mateen Qani.

The crash occurred Tuesday around 8:30 p.m. local time when the bus collided with a truck and a motorbike, triggering a fire that killed most passengers instantly. Two people were injured.

The victims were among the many Afghans returning from Iran. Nearly 1.8 million Afghans have been forcibly returned from Iran in recent months, with thousands more deported from Pakistan and Turkey.

The Taliban has criticized neighboring countries for the mass expulsions, while an estimated 6 million Afghan refugees remain abroad.

Traffic accidents in Afghanistan are frequent due to poor road conditions and driver negligence.

 

Israel Prepares for Expanded Ground Operation in Gaza City

Israeli military leaders have approved plans to call up some 60,000 additional reservists to launch a new phase of operations in Gaza City, focusing on areas where Hamas remains active, according to a senior Israeli military official.

The operation, expected to begin in the coming weeks, will nearly double the number of active reservists to 120,000.

Israeli forces are already operating in the Zeitoun and Jabaliya neighborhoods to set the stage for the broader push. The official said the operation targets sections of Gaza City that Israeli troops have not previously entered.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said the goal is to release the remaining hostages and eliminate Hamas’s ability to threaten Israel.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel, killing 1,200 people and abducting 251. Most hostages have since been released, but Hamas demands a lasting ceasefire and Israeli withdrawal in exchange for the remaining captives.

The planned offensive has drawn international criticism due to the high risk of civilian casualties and the potential for further displacement. Hundreds of thousands of Palestinians are currently sheltering in Gaza City, which still holds critical infrastructure.

Hamas and mediators say they have accepted a ceasefire proposal, but Israel has not publicly responded. Hardliners in Netanyahu’s coalition reject any deal that does not include Hamas’s total defeat.

 

Australia-Israel Relations Strain After Albanese Recognizes Palestinian State

Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese dismissed Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s claim that he is a “weak politician” who “betrayed Israel,” following Australia’s decision to formally recognize a Palestinian state at the upcoming UN General Assembly in September.

Netanyahu’s public criticism came amid tit-for-tat visa cancellations between the two countries.

Australian Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke revoked the visa of far-right Israeli lawmaker Simcha Rothman, citing his support for continued war and settlement expansion in Gaza. In response, Israel canceled visas for Australian representatives to the Palestinian Authority and warned of tighter scrutiny of future Australian visa applications.

Burke defended the government’s position, saying Netanyahu was “lashing out” at Australia and other Western countries that recently recognized Palestinian statehood. He said in an interview with ABC News that real strength is not measured by military aggression.

Foreign Minister Penny Wong accused the Netanyahu government of further isolating Israel.

Australia’s peak Jewish advocacy group pushed back against Netanyahu’s accusations, stating the Jewish community does not feel abandoned and called for more respectful dialogue between allies.

Tensions come amid rising domestic unrest in Australia over the Israel-Hamas war and a surge in antisemitism. Australia’s conservative opposition has vowed to reverse Palestinian recognition if it wins the 2028 election and warned that the diplomatic rift could harm ties with the United States.

 

Philippines, Australia Launch Largest Joint Drills Near South China Sea

The Philippines and Australia recently launched Exercise Alon (Tagalog for ‘Wave’) 2025 last week in Palawan, marking Canberra’s largest military deployment to Southeast Asia since the 1999 East Timor crisis.

The exercise involves around 3,600 troops from the Philippines, Australia, the US, and Canada, with operations focused on joint force entry drills, mass troop airlifts, and live-fire maritime engagements.

Centered in Palawan and Luzon, areas adjacent to disputed South China Sea waters, the drills underscore rising security cooperation amid escalating tensions with China. Recent confrontations near Scarborough Shoal, including collisions, water cannon use, and aerial intercepts, have fueled regional concerns.

The exercise also follows the first US freedom of navigation operation in the area since 2019.

Royal Australian Navy Vice Adm. Justin Jones called the drills an opportunity to strengthen coordination in response to Indo-Pacific threats.

“Exercise Alon 25 is an opportunity for us to practice how we collaborate and respond to shared security challenges, and project force over great distances in the Indo-Pacific,” Jones said at the opening ceremony.

Marine Rotational Force-Darwin’s Fox Company, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines, is participating, with MV-22B Ospreys from VMM-363 shifting from recent humanitarian missions to support aerial assault operations during the exercise.

Canada joined Alon for the first time with HMCS Ville de Québec, which is sailing alongside the Philippine Navy’s BRP Jose Rizal and Australian destroyer HMAS Brisbane in the South China Sea. The ships will conduct joint and live-fire drills as a combined maritime task force.

The Royal Australian Air Force also deployed a significant air task group, including F/A-18F Super Hornets, EA-18G Growlers, P-8A Poseidon, and C-130J aircraft to support maritime strike and ground attack exercises.

Exercise Alon 2025 is set to conclude next Friday.

 

Sources: News Agencies