Morning Brief: Hamas Agrees to Release 10 Hostages as Ceasefire Talks Finally Gain Momentum

· Guy D. McCardle

Image for representation only: Avera Mengistu with IDF soldiers after his release from Hamas captivity last February. (Wikimedia Commons)

From hostage talks in Gaza showing signs of life to high-stakes naval deployments in the Arctic, today’s headlines cut across flashpoints old and new. Maritime tensions flare in the Red Sea, Ukraine rebuilds under fire, and Taiwan flexes its defenses amid growing pressure from Beijing. Meanwhile, families demand answers from the US Army months after a tragic midair collision, and global alliances shift in response to rising threats. Here’s your SOFREP Morning Brief for Thursday, July 10, 2025. 

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Hamas Agrees to Release 10 Hostages as Ceasefire Talks Finally Gain Momentum

Hamas announced Wednesday it will release 10 hostages as part of ongoing ceasefire negotiations, signaling movement toward a potential 60-day truce in Gaza.

The development follows four days of indirect talks in Doha, brokered by Qatar and supported by the United States.

US special envoy Steve Witkoff expressed optimism that a deal would be finalized by week’s end.

Of the 251 hostages taken during Hamas’s October 7, 2023, cross-border assault on Israel, 49 remain in Gaza, with 27 believed dead. Hamas cited several unresolved issues in the talks, including the flow of humanitarian aid, Israeli troop withdrawal, and guarantees for a lasting peace.

Despite ongoing disputes, the group said it is cooperating “seriously and with a positive spirit.”

Israeli leaders, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Army Chief Eyal Zamir, signaled cautious support for the US-led initiative. Netanyahu, fresh off talks with US President Donald Trump in Washington, said a deal is “getting closer,” while other Israeli officials described the moment as a potential turning point.

However, tensions remain. A Palestinian source claimed the Israeli delegation was “mostly listening,” suggesting Netanyahu’s reluctance to fully engage.

Hamas insists on a complete Israeli withdrawal, while Israel demands the group be permanently neutralized.

On the ground, the war continues. Israeli strikes killed at least 40 Palestinians on Wednesday, including children, according to Gaza’s civil defense agency. Israel claimed the strikes targeted Hamas militants.

Over 57,000 Palestinians have been killed since the war began, according to Gaza health officials. Israel’s death toll from the initial Hamas attack stands at 1,219.Image for representation only:

As talks progress, pressure is mounting for a resolution to the nearly two-year conflict.

 

US Accuses Houthis of Kidnapping Crew After Sinking of Cargo Ship in Red Sea

Rescue operations continued Thursday for over a dozen missing crew members from the Eternity C, a Liberian-flagged, Greek-owned cargo ship sunk by Yemen’s Houthi rebels in the Red Sea.

The Houthis attacked the vessel with gunfire and explosive drones for hours, killing at least three crew members and prompting concerns of an escalation in maritime violence.

The US Embassy in Yemen accused the Houthis of kidnapping surviving crew members, stating, “After killing their shipmates, sinking their ship and hampering rescue efforts, the Houthi terrorists have kidnapped many surviving crew members.”

The Houthis claimed they had “rescued” several crew members and transported them to a “safe location,” offering no further details.

Of the 25-member crew, which included 21 Filipinos, one Russian, and a three-member security team, only six survivors have been recovered. The incident follows the sinking of the Magic Seas bulk carrier days earlier, signaling a renewed and more aggressive Houthi maritime campaign tied to the ongoing Israel-Hamas war.

Philippine officials confirmed they are working closely with affected families, while European Union naval forces and commercial rescuers continue searching the area. Neither ship had requested EU naval escort protection prior to the attacks.

The US has condemned the violence, which complicates ceasefire efforts in Gaza and broader US-Iran nuclear talks.

 

USS Newport News Becomes First Nuclear Sub to Visit Iceland in Strategic Show of Force to Russia

The US Navy’s nuclear-powered attack submarine USS Newport News (SSN-750) made a historic port call to Iceland on Wednesday, marking the first visit by a nuclear sub to the country and signaling a strong US commitment to Arctic and North Atlantic defense.

The stop at Grundartangi underscores both deterrence toward Russia and growing US-Iceland military cooperation, according to Adm. Stuart Munsch, commander of US Naval Forces Europe-Africa.

Munsch emphasized that the deployment demonstrates NATO unity and readiness in response to increased Russian and Chinese activity in the Arctic, a region increasingly strategic due to mineral resources, new shipping routes, and critical undersea infrastructure.

Cmdr. Eric McCay, skipper of the Newport News, highlighted the sub’s Arctic service record and the growing security bond between the US and Iceland.

The sub, which carries Tomahawk cruise missiles and MK-48 torpedoes but no nuclear weapons, is based in Groton, Connecticut, and crewed by 143 sailors.

Iceland allowed US nuclear-powered submarines into its waters starting two years ago, provided the vessels remain non-nuclear armed. The GIUK Gap—stretching from Greenland to the UK—is a key choke point for Atlantic defense, vital for monitoring and blocking Russian submarine access to the US east coast.

The Newport News visit follows a brief stop by the now-retired USS San Juan (SSN-751) in 2023 and reflects enhanced NATO surveillance and undersea security efforts in the High North.

 

Families Slam Army Over Lack of Transparency After Fatal Black Hawk-Civilian Jet Collision

Family members of victims killed in the January midair collision between a US Army Black Hawk helicopter and American Eagle Flight 5342 are demanding accountability and transparency from the Army, accusing it of evading oversight and withholding critical information.

In a letter to Army Secretary Dan Driscoll, 168 relatives criticized the military’s lack of meaningful engagement since the crash, which killed 67 people, including three soldiers and 64 civilians.

The families praised the response from lawmakers, the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), and the Transportation Department, but said the Army “stands alone” in resisting scrutiny. They cited minimal updates, poorly timed disclosures, and an apparent reluctance to accept responsibility.

The crash occurred near Washington, DC, when a Black Hawk on a training flight collided with the commercial jet during its approach to Reagan National Airport. The military helicopter was reportedly flying above its 200-foot ceiling and lacked an active transponder, a device used to alert aviation authorities of aircraft positions—standard for commercial aviation but often disabled on military flights. A hotline between the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Pentagon had also been offline for three years prior to the crash.

Families are calling for a dedicated Army liaison, regular updates, and an independent inspector general audit of military flight operations and coordination in shared airspace. They emphasized that while investigations are ongoing, the Army has a duty to cooperate with other federal agencies and inform the public.

Former Army pilot Tim Lilley, whose son died in the crash, blamed leadership failures and training deficiencies. Other family members, including Doug Lane, who lost his wife and son, accused the Army of prioritizing optics over reform.


Despite internal reviews and a failing grade from a family-published scorecard, Army officials maintain they are constrained by ongoing investigations and litigation.

The US Army’s internal lead investigator, Lt. Gen. Gregory Brady, told Congress the service will wait for the conclusion of its safety probe and the NTSB investigation before determining if further inquiry is necessary.

Families, however, say the Army’s delay tactics and opaque communication are unacceptable and risk future tragedies.

 

DR Congo, M23 Hold Truce Talks in Qatar

Delegations from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and the Rwanda-backed M23 rebel group are holding critical truce talks in Doha, Qatar, aimed at securing a broader ceasefire in the mineral-rich eastern region, according to a diplomat familiar with the negotiations.

The talks, facilitated by Qatar with support from the African Union, follow a June peace agreement signed in Washington between Rwanda and the DRC—an accord from which the M23 was excluded.

The rebel group has since demanded separate negotiations to address unresolved issues and establish its own ceasefire deal with Kinshasa.

The M23 launched a major offensive earlier this year, seizing key eastern cities including Goma and Bukavu. Although front lines have stabilized since February, sporadic clashes continue between M23 forces and pro-government militias.

Despite Rwanda’s denial of involvement, UN experts report that the Rwandan military has played a direct role in M23’s operations.

The ongoing conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands and remains a flashpoint in the region’s decades-long instability. Negotiators hope this round of talks will mark a turning point toward a lasting peace.

 

Colombia Seizes Perenco Assets Over Alleged Paramilitary Payments

Colombian prosecutors have seized the offices and assets of Anglo-French oil firm Perenco, accusing the company of paying the now-defunct United Self-Defense Forces of Colombia (AUC) between 1997 and 2005.

The AUC operated brutal anti-guerrilla death squads across the country during that time.

Ex-paramilitaries testified that Perenco provided money, fuel, food, and transport in exchange for security services at crude oil extraction sites.

Authorities announced Tuesday that the seized assets, valued at approximately $10 million, will go to Colombia’s victim reparations fund.

Perenco denies the allegations and said it has not been given a chance to defend itself. A spokesperson stated the company has no history of ties to illegal groups and opposes being held accountable for reparations.

Perenco employs 400 people in Colombia and produces around 14,000 barrels of oil daily.

 

UK and France to Coordinate Nuclear Deterrents in Face of European Threats

The United Kingdom and France will formally declare that their nuclear deterrents, though independently controlled, can be coordinated and jointly deployed in response to any “extreme threat to Europe,” both governments announced Wednesday.

The joint declaration will be signed Thursday during a bilateral summit concluding French President Emmanuel Macron’s three-day state visit to the UK.

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Macron will lead the London summit, aiming to “reboot” defense ties with a renewed focus on joint missile development and nuclear cooperation.

The two nations will commit to ordering more Storm Shadow/SCALP cruise missiles, which have been extensively supplied to Ukraine, and to accelerate development of a next-generation replacement system.

The agreement also launches a new “Entente Industrielle,” positioning defense as a key growth driver.

The leaders will reinforce their unified NATO stance and dial into a meeting of the “coalition of the willing,” reaffirming support for Ukraine’s fight against Russia. The summit will also address illegal cross-Channel migration and broader European security cooperation.

 

Italy Hosts Major Ukraine Recovery Conference Amid Ongoing War and US Uncertainty

Italy is hosting the fourth annual international conference on rebuilding Ukraine, bringing together over 2,000 business leaders and 100 delegations in Rome as Russia intensifies attacks on Kyiv.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Italian Premier Giorgia Meloni opened the summit, aimed at launching concrete public-private investment partnerships across defense, energy, mining, and infrastructure sectors.

The event, held at Rome’s “Cloud” conference center, focuses on practical rebuilding strategies during wartime and long-term reforms for Ukraine’s path to European Union membership. It features industry-specific workshops and panels on de-risking investments and revitalizing Ukraine’s key sectors.

Organizers view reconstruction as an immediate strategic need despite the ongoing war, with the World Bank estimating the total recovery cost at $524 billion over the next decade.

Key European leaders—including Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, and EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen—are in attendance. US envoy Lt. Gen. (Ret.) Keith Kellogg also met with Zelenskyy ahead of discussions on a new sanctions package aimed at pressuring Russian oil buyers such as China and India.

The “coalition of the willing,” a group of countries ready to commit troops for a future peacekeeping mission in Ukraine, also convened virtually. However, its success hinges on US military backing.

US President Donald Trump has not publicly committed to supporting such an effort, and recent delays in American weapons shipments have fueled doubts about Washington’s long-term resolve. With US policy in flux, the Rome summit underscores Europe’s growing role in shaping Ukraine’s reconstruction and security future.

 

Russia Hits Kyiv with Another Major Airstrike, Killing Two and Wounding 13

Russia launched another large-scale missile and drone attack on Kyiv overnight Thursday, killing two people and injuring at least 13, just a day after its heaviest aerial assault of the three-year war, according to Ukrainian officials.

Fires broke out across five districts, damaging residential buildings, cars, warehouses, and offices.

Debris from intercepted projectiles caused a fire in a Shevchenkivskyi District apartment building, according to Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko.

The attacks come amid a Russian campaign to overwhelm Ukrainian air defenses by combining missiles with a growing number of decoy drones. The previous night, Russia launched over 700 drones and missiles, setting a new record for nightly strikes.

Thousands of Kyiv residents continue to seek refuge in underground shelters and metro stations.

US President Donald Trump criticized Russian President Vladimir Putin for refusing to soften his ceasefire terms and confirmed that the US has resumed some critical weapons deliveries to Ukraine, including 155 mm artillery shells and Guided Multiple Launch Rocket System (GMLRS) precision rockets.

The resumed aid follows a brief pause in arms shipments earlier this week.

 

Rubio Heads to Southeast Asia to Reassure Allies Amid Trump Tariff Backlash

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will meet with Southeast Asian foreign ministers in Kuala Lumpur on Thursday in his first Asia visit since taking office.

The trip aims to reaffirm Washington’s commitment to the Indo-Pacific region, despite President Donald Trump’s escalating global tariff campaign that has unsettled many regional allies.

Rubio will attend the 10-member ASEAN summit and meet with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov, marking their second face-to-face meeting. China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi is also expected in attendance, though it’s unclear whether Rubio will meet with him.

The visit comes as Trump imposes steep new tariffs set to begin August 1, hitting six ASEAN nations—Malaysia, Indonesia, Cambodia, Thailand, Laos, and Myanmar—with rates as high as 40%, along with US allies Japan, South Korea, and potentially Australia. Only Vietnam has negotiated a reduced tariff from 46% to 20%.

Rubio, who also serves as national security adviser, will focus on strengthening regional security ties, particularly in the South China Sea, and addressing transnational threats such as narcotics trafficking and cybercrime.

Despite concerns over the administration’s “America First” approach, Rubio will argue that the US remains a more reliable strategic partner than China.

ASEAN ministers are expected to express concern over rising trade tensions in a draft communique, warning that unilateral tariffs risk global economic fragmentation. Rubio is prepared to discuss trade and emphasize the need to rebalance US trade relationships, according to the State Department.

Experts say the trip is delayed but still significant, as Rubio seeks to counter China’s influence and reassure allies rattled by Trump’s tariff threats.

 

Taiwan Showcases US-Made Abrams Tanks in Largest-Ever Han Kuang Drills

Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te observed live-fire exercises Thursday featuring US-supplied Abrams M1A2T tanks as part of the island’s 10-day Han Kuang military drills, the longest in the exercise’s history.

Four tanks demonstrated precision fire on moving and stationary targets, achieving 100% accuracy, according to the Taiwanese Army.

Taiwan purchased 108 Abrams tanks for $1.45 billion to replace aging armor and bolster defenses around the island’s northern industrial corridor. The upgrade is part of a broader modernization effort that includes F-16V fighters, High Mobility Artillery Rocket System (HIMARS) missile systems, and stealth drones.

Lai emphasized the importance of realistic, large-scale combat training to ensure national and regional security.

“When our military has greater strength, the nation, society, and people will be safer,” he said.

China continues near-daily military pressure around Taiwan, including incursions by ships and surveillance balloons. Beijing dismissed the drills as “a farce” and remains adamant about reunifying Taiwan by force if necessary.

In addition to battlefield simulations, Taiwan is expanding civilian defense preparedness. Authorities evacuated a food mart to a bomb shelter and deployed tanks to guard against a simulated Chinese air assault on a central Taipei airport.

Beijing escalated tensions this week by sanctioning eight Taiwanese companies allegedly tied to defense manufacturing. Taipei countered by reaffirming its commitment to eliminate Chinese-linked elements from its military supply chains.

The US, Taiwan’s top defense supplier, remains legally obligated to treat threats to the island as matters of “major concern.”

 

Sources: News Agencies