Evening Brief: Rwanda Agrees to Accept US Deportees, NATO Begins Coordinated Weapons Shipments to Ukraine

· Guy D. McCardle

Undocumented migrants board a military airlift during a deportation operation at Biggs Army Airfield, Fort Bliss, Texas. (DVIDS)

Good evening. In tonight’s SOFREP Evening Brief: Netanyahu signals a wider Gaza push, but Israel’s top brass isn’t on board. Lebanon orders its army to rein in Hezbollah, while Sudan accuses the UAE of backing mercenaries. Rwanda agrees to accept US deportees, and the Titan submarine disaster is attributed to avoidable failures. NATO steps up Ukraine arms shipments, Russia slams Lozova with drones, and Zelenskyy and Trump talk deals and deadlines. Meanwhile, Australia taps Japan for a $6.5 billion warship upgrade. Let’s get into it.

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Netanyahu Signals Expanded Gaza Offensive as Military and Intelligence Chiefs Urge War’s End

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu hinted Tuesday at a possible expansion of military operations in Gaza, despite mounting domestic and international pressure to end the nearly 22-month war.

Former senior Israeli security officials, including ex-Mossad and Shin Bet chiefs and former Prime Minister Ehud Barak, publicly criticized the government, calling Netanyahu’s goals “a fantasy” and blaming far-right coalition members for prolonging the conflict.

The criticism comes as Gaza’s Health Ministry reports the Palestinian death toll has surpassed 61,000, with dozens killed Tuesday alone while seeking aid. Israeli forces reportedly opened fire in multiple locations, including the Morag Corridor and near aid sites run by the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), killing at least 45.

The Israeli military has not commented but maintains it fires only warning shots. GHF denied any incidents at its locations.

Netanyahu convened a Security Cabinet meeting Tuesday to discuss the next phase of the war. Reports suggest he is pushing for full territorial control of Gaza, a move opposed by Israel Defense Forces (IDF) Chief Lt. Gen. Eyal Zamir due to concerns over the hostages’ safety and international backlash.

Zamir may resign if the plan moves forward, according to anonymous officials.

Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sissi condemned the conflict as “a war of starvation and genocide” and urged Western governments, including the US, to intervene and increase aid.

Gaza’s humanitarian crisis has worsened, with looting and violence plaguing food convoys. Families of hostages’ fear starvation is also impacting their loved ones and blame Hamas for obstructing relief efforts.

Israel’s aid coordination agency COGAT announced a limited plan to allow goods through Gaza’s private sector via approved merchants, but humanitarian organizations say the measures fall far short of what’s needed. Funeral processions for civilians killed seeking food have become daily occurrences, as aid drops fail to meet demand and desperation grows.

As Netanyahu doubles down on military goals, eliminating Hamas, rescuing hostages, and neutralizing Gaza, critics warn the war is now politically driven and unsustainable.

 

Lebanon Orders Military to Draft Plan to Disarm Hezbollah by Year’s End

Lebanon’s government directed its National Army on Tuesday to draft a plan to ensure that only state institutions possess weapons by the end of 2025, an effort aimed at disarming the Iranian-backed militant group Hezbollah.

Prime Minister Nawaf Salam announced the decision following a nearly six-hour Cabinet session.

The Army has until the end of the month to submit its proposal for approval.

The move comes under mounting US pressure, following a visit in July by American envoy Tom Barrack, who urged Beirut to adopt a firm stance on disarmament.

Hezbollah, weakened by the recent 14-month war with Israel, has refused to surrender its weapons.

Group leader Naim Kassem warned Tuesday that Hezbollah would resume missile attacks if Israeli military actions escalated, rejecting any disarmament timeline.

Hezbollah claims Israel must first withdraw from five contested hills inside Lebanon and halt its near-daily airstrikes.

The ceasefire that ended the war in November did not clarify the status of Hezbollah’s weapons north of the Litani River, a key point of contention. Hezbollah insists the deal applies only to areas south of the river, while Israel and the US argue it mandates nationwide disarmament.

Despite pulling most fighters from the southern border region, Hezbollah remains defiant. Kassem declared any vote to disarm the group must be unanimous and warned of retaliation if hostilities resumed. Two Hezbollah-aligned ministers walked out of the Cabinet meeting in protest of the decision.

The 14-month Israel-Hezbollah conflict, triggered by the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack, killed over 4,000 people and caused $11 billion in damages.

The Lebanese government now faces a major internal and regional test as it attempts to assert control over armed factions and redefine the country’s national defense posture.

 

Sudan Accuses UAE of Sending Colombian Mercenaries to Back Paramilitary in Civil War

Sudan’s government accused the United Arab Emirates (UAE) on Monday of deploying Colombian and African mercenaries to fight alongside the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) against the Sudanese Army.

The foreign ministry claimed it has “irrefutable evidence” that Emirati authorities financed and organized the recruitment of fighters from Colombia and neighboring African countries, though it did not release specific details or proof.

Sudanese officials warned that the influx of foreign fighters poses a major threat to regional stability and alleged that hundreds of thousands of mercenaries have been involved.

The UAE’s foreign ministry denied the accusations, calling them false and an attempt to derail peace efforts. There has been no official response from Colombia.

The Sudanese civil war erupted in April 2023 between the RSF and the military, killing more than 40,000 people, displacing 12 million, and pushing millions toward famine. Sudan has long accused the UAE of supplying weapons to the RSF, claims the UAE has consistently rejected.

In 2023, an Amnesty International report revealed that UAE-manufactured armored vehicles with French components were captured by Sudanese forces. The UAE called it part of a broader disinformation campaign.

Both the RSF and the Sudanese military face international accusations of war crimes, including ethnic cleansing, extrajudicial killings, and sexual violence against civilians.

 

Rwanda Agrees to Accept US Deportees Under Trump Administration Migration Plan

Rwanda has agreed to accept up to 250 deportees from the United States under a new migration deal, becoming the third African nation to support the Trump administration’s push to relocate migrants to third countries with no prior ties.

The agreement, announced Tuesday, gives Rwanda the authority to approve each individual deportee and follows similar deals with South Sudan and Eswatini.

Rwandan government spokesperson Yolande Makolo said deportees will receive job training, healthcare, and housing support. She framed the move as part of Rwanda’s values of “reintegration and rehabilitation,” though details on any compensation from the US remain undisclosed.

The State Department declined to comment on specifics but confirmed ongoing diplomatic discussions.

Rwanda’s decision follows a failed 2022 migrant deal with the United Kingdom, which was struck down by Britain’s Supreme Court for deeming Rwanda unsafe for asylum seekers. That agreement cost the UK government an estimated $900 million, with Rwanda refusing to return the funds after the plan collapsed.

The US has deported migrants to Central America and Africa under Trump’s hardline immigration policy.

In March, over 200 Venezuelans were sent to El Salvador under an 18th-century wartime law, with many ending up in a notorious mega-prison. Other deportees have been held in solitary confinement in Eswatini or in undisclosed locations in South Sudan, sparking outcry from human rights groups.

Critics say the Trump administration has used opaque agreements with repressive governments to sidestep legal barriers to deportation. Rwanda’s long-standing leader Paul Kagame has faced similar criticism for authoritarian crackdowns, despite the country’s image of stability and economic growth.

Analysts suggest the deal may be aimed at securing stronger ties with Trump’s administration ahead of possible political changes in Washington.

 

Titan Sub Disaster Was Preventable, OceanGate Ignored Safety Warnings: US Coast Guard Report

The US Coast Guard concluded Tuesday that the 2023 Titan submersible disaster, which killed five people during a dive to the Titanic wreck, was entirely preventable and stemmed from serious safety failures and negligence by OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush.

The Coast Guard’s 300-page report cited ignored safety warnings, flawed procedures, and a toxic workplace culture as key contributors to the implosion.

The Titan, owned by Washington-based OceanGate, imploded on June 18, 2023, during a dive in the North Atlantic. The vessel lacked independent certification, was improperly maintained, and had been stored outdoors over winter, which compromised its hull integrity.

Investigators said Rush knowingly bypassed established safety standards and regulatory frameworks. Had he survived, he may have faced criminal charges.

The report highlighted OceanGate’s strategy of exploiting regulatory gray zones to operate outside deep-sea protocols, with former employees confirming internal pressure to ignore safety concerns. Multiple staff were fired or silenced for raising alarms.

The implosion killed Rush, French explorer Paul-Henri Nargeolet, British billionaire Hamish Harding, and Pakistani businessman Shahzada Dawood and his son Suleman.

The Titan was found 330 yards from the Titanic’s bow after a high-profile search. Lawsuits and renewed calls for tighter regulation of the deep-sea tourism industry have followed.

OceanGate ceased operations in July 2023.

The Marine Board of Investigation said its findings aim to prevent future tragedies in the unregulated deep-submergence sector.

 

NATO Begins Coordinated Weapons Shipments to Ukraine as European Allies Ramp Up Aid

NATO has begun coordinating regular deliveries of large-scale weapons packages to Ukraine, responding to urgent battlefield needs as Russia intensifies its assault.

The initiative follows the Netherlands’ pledge of 500 million euros ($578 million) in air defense equipment, ammunition, and military support, marking the first NATO ally to fund a new US-sourced weapons delivery program for Kyiv.

Sweden also committed $275 million Tuesday, joining Denmark and Norway in a $500 million Nordic aid package focused on air defenses, anti-tank weapons, and ammunition.

The Nordic shipments are expected in September, while other deliveries will begin this month.

The packages, largely sourced from US stockpiles, are being assembled and shipped based on Ukraine’s priority requests, with air defense systems cited as the most critical need.

Russia’s continued bombardment of civilian areas has killed over 12,000 noncombatants, according to the United Nations.

Germany, responding to increased pressure, announced it will send two more Patriot air defense systems to Ukraine, after securing a US backfill agreement for its own inventory.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the growing support, saying it strengthens Ukraine and Europe’s defense against “Russian terror.”

Dutch Defense Minister Ruben Brekelmans emphasized that American-made air defenses are key to stopping Moscow’s escalated attacks.

As of June, European nations have committed 72 billion euros ($83 billion) in military aid, surpassing the $65 billion provided by the US. The Trump administration has ceased direct military aid to Ukraine, instead directing European allies to fund weapons purchases through NATO.

President Donald Trump stated on July 28 that the US would supply equipment to NATO, which allies can then use as they see fit, primarily in support of Ukraine.

Though NATO continues to limit its official role to non-lethal aid, the alliance’s coordination of weapons shipments marks a growing strategic involvement, even as it avoids direct conflict with nuclear-armed Russia.

 

Russia Launches Largest Drone Strike on Ukrainian Rail Hub Lozova, Killing Two and Wounding 13

Russia conducted its largest attack on the eastern Ukrainian town of Lozova on Tuesday, launching 34 drones that struck key infrastructure, killing two people and injuring 13 others, including two children.

Ukrainian officials said the overnight assault severely damaged the train station, nearby rail depot, homes, and critical infrastructure.

Kharkiv regional Governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed that the strike knocked out power to 80 percent of the town, which serves as a vital railway link to Ukraine’s eastern front. One of the dead was an employee of the state rail operator, Ukrzaliznytsia.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported downing 29 of the 46 drones launched across the country, but 17 drones and one ballistic missile reached targets.

Local officials described the attack as the most intense Lozova has faced since the war began in February 2022. Residents began evacuating early Tuesday, fearing more strikes.

Both Russia and Ukraine deny intentionally targeting civilians, despite mounting civilian casualties on both sides.

 

Zelenskyy, Trump Discuss Peace Deadline, Sanctions, and Major Drone Deal

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday that he held a “productive” call with US President Donald Trump, discussing a potential end to the war, increased sanctions on Russia, and finalizing a major US-Ukraine drone deal.

Trump has given Russian President Vladimir Putin until August 8 to make peace or face harsher penalties, including new sanctions and 100 percent tariffs on nations that purchase Russian oil. However, Putin is reportedly to be unlikely to comply with the ultimatum.

Zelenskyy said the US is fully aware of recent Russian missile and drone strikes on Kyiv and other cities. He also confirmed that Ukraine is ready to finalize a $30 billion agreement to supply domestically produced drones to the US, calling it “one of the strongest agreements.”

The deal highlights Ukraine’s push to expand its domestic arms industry with foreign investment.

Zelenskyy added that European partners have committed over $1 billion toward purchasing US weapons for Ukraine under a new procurement initiative.

 

Australia Awards $6.5 Billion Warship Contract to Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries

Australia awarded a $10 billion Australian dollars ($6.5 billion) contract to Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries on Tuesday to build 11 Mogami-class frigates, marking a major step in bilateral defense cooperation and Japan’s largest-ever defense export.

The selection ends a fierce competition, with Mitsubishi beating out Germany’s Thyssenkrupp Marine Systems and its MEKO A-200 design.

Three of the frigates will be built in Japan, with the first expected operational in 2030. The remaining eight will be constructed in Australia.

The new ships will replace the aging ANZAC-class fleet and feature advanced capabilities including a 10,000-nautical-mile range, 32 vertical launch cells for long-range missiles, and a smaller 90-member crew compared to 170 on existing vessels.

Australia’s Defense Minister Richard Marles called it the largest defense deal ever between the two nations.

Defense Industry Minister Pat Conroy said the Japanese design was the “clear winner” based on cost, capability, and delivery timeline, despite Germany’s pitch emphasizing lower price and broader shipbuilding experience.

Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani welcomed the decision, calling it a strategic step toward greater interoperability and military alignment with Australia amid growing tensions in the Indo-Pacific.

A binding contract will be finalized by 2026.

The project is part of Australia’s $55 billion-Australian-dollar ($36 billion) naval modernization plan over the next decade.

 

Sources: News Agencies