Evening Brief: Trump Threatens Russia with Tariffs, Accelerates Weapons Pipeline to Ukraine

· Guy D. McCardle

US President Donald Trump hosts NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte in the Oval Office, July 14, 2025. (@WhiteHouse/X)

Good evening. Today’s headlines span rising tensions in the Middle East, shifts in US military posture, and regional security updates. A drone was intercepted near a US base in Iraq, Israel carried out strikes in Syria amid sectarian unrest, and the Army is investigating a politically charged training video. The US and Panama kicked off joint drills near the canal, Trump outlined new pressure tactics on Russia, and Cambodia is set to enforce military conscription. Here’s your SOFREP Evening Brief to keep you up to date.

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Explosive Drone Intercepted Near US Base at Arbil Airport in Iraq

Kurdish counterterrorism forces reported that an explosive-laden drone was shot down early Monday near Arbil International Airport in Iraq’s autonomous Kurdistan region.

The airport hosts American troops from the international anti-ISIS coalition. The drone was intercepted at 2:20 a.m. local time, causing no casualties or damage.

This marks the second drone intercepted near Arbil airport this month. A similar incident on July 3 was blamed on Iraq’s Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF), a coalition of Iran-aligned militias now part of Iraq’s regular armed forces.

Baghdad rejected the accusation, calling it baseless and politically unacceptable.

Drone and rocket attacks have increased across Iraq in recent weeks, with many landing in open areas. Arbil airport, home to a US-led coalition base, has been a frequent target in the past, reflecting ongoing tensions and proxy conflict in the region.

Iraq continues to struggle with sporadic instability despite recent progress toward national recovery.

 

Israel Targets Syrian Tanks as Sectarian Clashes Erupt in Sweida Province

Israel’s military struck Syrian Army tanks in southern Syria on Monday amid escalating sectarian violence in Sweida province between Druze militias, Bedouin tribes, and government forces.

The Israeli strike follows deadly clashes that have killed at least 50, according to Syrian authorities, with the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) placing the toll at 89, including civilians and security personnel.

The conflict began with a kidnapping involving Druze and Bedouin tribes and quickly escalated into armed confrontations. Syrian security forces deployed to the region reportedly supported Bedouin fighters in the clashes.

The Interior Ministry acknowledged a deteriorating security situation due to a lack of functioning state institutions.

The violence prompted Israel to act, citing its longstanding commitment to protect the Druze minority. The Israeli government had previously warned Syria against deploying military forces south of Damascus and threatening Druze communities.

Over half of the world’s Druze population resides in Syria, with others living in Lebanon and Israel—including in the annexed Golan Heights.

Israel has intervened multiple times in recent months in defense of Druze areas, including airstrikes near Damascus in May following prior outbreaks of sectarian violence. In this instance, Israeli leaders viewed the deployment of tanks and reports of government-backed violence as a red line.

The clashes reflect broader instability under Syria’s new interim leadership following the ouster of President Bashar al-Assad. Druze factions remain distrustful of the Islamist-led interim government, with leading Druze cleric Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri calling for international protection and accusing government forces of backing extremist Sunni militias.

United Nations envoy Najat Rochdi expressed alarm over the situation, urging de-escalation and protection of civilians. Meanwhile, indirect talks between Israel and the new Syrian leadership continue, with US officials suggesting gradual normalization efforts may follow.

 

US Army Probes Viral Video of Soldiers Hazed Under MAGA Flag

The US Army has launched an investigation after a drill sergeant at Fort Benning, Georgia, posted a TikTok video showing infantry trainees performing push-ups and burpees beneath a “This Is Ultra MAGA Country” flag.

The now-deleted footage, uploaded by Staff Sgt. Thomas Mitchell of B Company, 2-19th Infantry Battalion, triggered backlash for violating military regulations banning partisan political activity in uniform and on federal property.

Mitchell followed up with a second video showing the same training session after the flag was removed, captioned “Cry about it.”

Army spokesperson Jennifer Gunn said displaying political materials in training areas breaches Army rules and that the incident would be addressed to ensure compliance and uphold the service’s apolitical standards, the Military.com reported Monday.

Department of Defense regulations prohibit political displays in government facilities and bar service members from using their authority to influence subordinates politically. While troops may vote and participate in politics as private citizens, such activity is restricted while on duty or in uniform.

The MAGA slogan, a hallmark of President Donald Trump’s political brand, has become increasingly polarizing in military circles. The incident comes shortly after Trump delivered a partisan speech at Fort Bragg, drawing both cheers and criticism for injecting politics into a traditionally nonpartisan setting.

Meanwhile, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has pledged to keep the military apolitical. However, his tenure has included efforts to eliminate diversity programs and realign the Pentagon’s priorities around cultural conservatism.

“This kind of conduct undermines unit cohesion and public trust,” said one senior defense official anonymously. “The Army will handle it swiftly.”

 

US, Panama Conduct Joint Military Drills to Secure Panama Canal

The US military and Panamanian police launched joint security exercises this week to safeguard the Panama Canal, amid growing concerns over Chinese influence along the vital trade route.

The drills began Sunday with the arrival of three US Army helicopters—two UH-60 Black Hawks and one CH-47 Chinook—at Panama-Pacific Airport, the former US Howard base.

The exercises, conducted under a longstanding bilateral agreement, aim to strengthen regional readiness and protect the canal against emerging threats.

Michael Palacios, deputy commissioner of Panama’s National Aeronaval Service (SENAN), said the training is designed to enhance the security and defense of the canal, which is critical to US and global trade.

The drills follow similar operations last month and come amid political pressure from US President Donald Trump, who has accused China of gaining undue influence over the canal. Trump has called for free transit of US commercial and military vessels and claimed the canal “would not exist” without American involvement.

Panamanian President Jose Raul Mulino pushed back, reaffirming that canal tolls are regulated by the autonomous Panama Canal Authority. The exercises have sparked domestic protests in Panama, where US military presence remains a politically sensitive issue due to the historical legacy of US bases before the canal was handed over in 1999.

SENAN stated that the exercises will conclude Friday and will fully respect Panama’s national sovereignty. This year marks the 23rd iteration of the joint maneuvers.

 

Trump Threatens Russia with Tariffs, Accelerates Weapons Pipeline to Ukraine

US President Donald Trump on Monday warned Russia he would impose steep secondary tariffs targeting its trade partners if Moscow fails to agree to a peace deal in 50 days.

Speaking from the Oval Office with NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte, Trump also announced a major increase in US arms shipments to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense systems, to counter Russia’s escalating attacks.

Trump’s stance marks a shift from his earlier reluctance to provide extensive aid to Ukraine and his repeated claims that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was partly to blame for prolonging the conflict. After months of Russian bombardment of Ukrainian cities, Trump said he had lost patience with President Vladimir Putin’s “crazy” tactics.

“It just keeps going on and on and on,” Trump said. “Every night, people are dying.”

Under the plan, European allies—among them Germany, Finland, Canada, Norway, Sweden, the UK, and Denmark—will buy large quantities of US weapons and transfer them to Ukraine.

Trump emphasized the EU would reimburse the US for the equipment, and Germany has already pledged funding for two additional Patriot systems.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius traveled to Washington to discuss further support.

Trump’s envoy, retired Lt. Gen. Keith Kellogg, met Zelenskyy in Kyiv to coordinate the effort. Zelenskyy said their talks focused on strengthening air defenses, joint arms production, and tightening sanctions on the Kremlin.

“We hope for the leadership of the United States,” Zelenskyy said, warning that Russia’s ambitions must be stopped by force.

Sen. Lindsey Graham said weapons would soon be flowing to Ukraine “at a record level,” describing the moment as an inflection point in the war. Meanwhile, Russia’s envoy Kirill Dmitriev dismissed the pressure tactics, saying dialogue would continue despite “titanic efforts to disrupt it.”

Russia’s relentless drone and missile attacks in June caused the highest civilian casualties in three years, and its forces have renewed assaults along Ukraine’s front line.

Trump’s new measures signal a hardening of US policy as efforts to bring Putin to the negotiating table have repeatedly stalled.

 

Cambodia to Enforce Military Conscription in 2026

Cambodia will begin enforcing mandatory military conscription in 2026, Prime Minister Hun Manet announced Monday, citing escalating tensions with Thailand as the driving force behind activating the dormant law.

The 2006 legislation requiring all citizens aged 18 to 30 to serve 18 months in the armed forces has never been implemented—until now.

Hun Manet said the mandatory service period would be extended to 24 months, and he pledged to increase the national defense budget. The move follows a deadly border clash in May, where a Cambodian soldier was killed by Thai troops in the disputed Emerald Triangle region, prompting a freeze in fuel imports and border closures.

“This episode of confrontation is a lesson for us,” Hun Manet said at a military ceremony, adding that Cambodia’s military buildup is for defense, not aggression.

The incident also triggered political fallout in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra is currently suspended pending an ethics investigation linked to the diplomatic dispute. A leaked call between Paetongtarn and Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen intensified the controversy.


Thailand already enforces military conscription through a lottery system, while Cambodia now joins its neighbor in mandating military service amid growing regional instability.

 

Sources: News Agencies