Evening Brief: Child Malnutrition Surges in Gaza as Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens, Drone Strike Ignites Oil Field in Iraqi Kurdistan

· Guy D. McCardle

Black smoke rises after drone strikes on Sarsang oil field in Iraqi Kurdistan. (Image grab via X)

Good evening—welcome to SOFREP’s Evening Brief for Tuesday, July 15, 2025. From deepening crises in Gaza and Syria to major moves on the global tech and defense fronts, today’s headlines span war zones, courtrooms, and boardrooms. We’re tracking Gaza’s worsening humanitarian emergency, rare earth deals reshaping US supply chains, and political shake-ups in Ukraine. Let’s get into the top stories driving today’s defense and global affairs.

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Child Malnutrition Surges in Gaza as Israeli Strikes Kill Dozens

The United Nations (UN) reported Tuesday that child malnutrition in Gaza has doubled since Israel imposed sweeping food restrictions in March, as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 93 Palestinians in the last 24 hours, including dozens of women and children.

The UN Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) for Palestine Refugees has screened 16,000 children under age five in June and found over 10% to be acutely malnourished, up from 5.5% in March.

Multiple Israeli strikes this week killed entire families, including 19 relatives in Gaza City’s Tel al-Hawa district and a family of eight in Shati refugee camp.

Gaza’s Health Ministry reported over 58,400 deaths and 139,000 wounded since Israel resumed its campaign following Hamas’ October 7 attack. Over half of the dead are women and children, according to the ministry.

Israel maintains it targets Hamas militants and blames civilian casualties on Hamas’ operations in populated areas. Aid groups dispute this, citing repeated strikes on homes and shelters without warning. Israel has allowed limited aid into Gaza, averaging 69 trucks daily since May, but far below the several hundred per day the UN says are needed.

UNICEF also reported rising malnutrition rates, documenting nearly 6,000 cases in June alone.

Israel has opened aid channels through the Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF), but thousands have been killed or wounded trying to reach its food centers in military-controlled zones. Witnesses accuse Israeli forces of firing live rounds at crowds, while its military claims it uses warning shots only.

Meanwhile, ceasefire talks between US President Donald Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ended without a breakthrough.

Israel insists on continuing its campaign until Hamas is destroyed, with 50 hostages still held. Less than half believed alive.

Separately, US Ambassador Mike Huckabee called for an investigation into the killing of Seifeddin Musalat, a Palestinian-American reportedly beaten to death by Israeli settlers in the West Bank. Israel’s military claimed Palestinians threw stones earlier that day. The incident has drawn calls for US accountability.

In Lebanon, Israel launched strikes on Hezbollah targets in the Bekaa Valley, killing 12 people, including seven Syrians in a refugee camp. Though a US-brokered ceasefire ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November, Israeli airstrikes in Lebanon continue almost daily.

 

European Union Presses Israel for Aid Access as Gaza Crisis Deepens

The European Union (EU) is demanding updates and more progress from Israel on implementing a recently agreed humanitarian aid deal for Gaza, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said Tuesday.

The deal, forged last week by Kallas and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar, aimed to ease the humanitarian crisis in the war-torn enclave but has seen limited results so far.

While Israel has opened some border crossings and allowed more aid trucks into Gaza, EU leaders say the efforts remain insufficient.

Kallas noted minimal improvement in electricity access and aid flow, and EU officials are pushing for expanded crossings and a possible monitoring post at the Kerem Shalom crossing.

The EU continues to reject involvement with the Israeli-backed GHF over ethical and safety concerns. Member states such as Ireland, Spain, and the Netherlands have increased pressure on the bloc to reassess its ties with Israel.

A European Commission report cited potential human rights violations tied to Israel’s conduct in Gaza.

Public outrage and mounting protests across Europe are fueling demands for stronger EU action. Human rights groups criticized the bloc’s response as weak, with Amnesty International warning that inaction risks EU complicity in alleged atrocity crimes.

EU officials plan to monitor the aid deal’s implementation closely, with Kallas expected to brief member states biweekly as calls grow louder for a ceasefire and a broader reassessment of EU-Israel relations.

 

UN Rights Panel on Israel and Palestinian Territories Resigns

All three members of the UN-backed Commission of Inquiry on the Occupied Palestinian Territory and Israel announced their resignations Monday, marking the first mass resignation from any UN Human Rights Council investigative body since its creation in 2006.

The resignations come amid continued violence in Gaza and persistent Israeli government refusal to cooperate with the panel.

Commission chair Navi Pillay cited age, health issues, and other commitments as reasons for her departure, effective November 3. Pillay, a former UN rights chief, rejected accusations of antisemitism and emphasized the panel’s independence. She defended the commission’s condemnation of the October 7 Hamas attacks, calling them “abhorrent” and explicitly labeling hostage-taking and the use of human shields as war crimes.

Despite repeated requests, Israel barred the commission from entering its territory or Palestinian areas, which Pillay called an “injustice” to Israeli Jews whose perspectives were excluded from the inquiry.

Fellow commissioners Chris Sidoti and Miloon Kothari also resigned, with Sidoti stating that Pillay’s retirement presented a suitable opportunity to reconstitute the panel. Kothari did not provide a specific reason.

The commission has no enforcement powers but gathers evidence for possible use by international courts. The resignations follow last week’s US sanctions against Francesca Albanese, another UN expert focused on Israel and Palestinian issues, who has accused Israel of genocide—claims Israel strongly denies. Albanese remains in her post.

 

Syria Declares Ceasefire in Sweida After Sectarian Clashes, Israeli Strikes Complicate Crisis

Syria’s defense minister declared a ceasefire Tuesday in Sweida province following days of deadly sectarian clashes and an Israeli air campaign targeting Syrian forces.

The announcement came after government troops entered the city of Sweida to suppress violence between local Druze militias and Sunni Bedouin tribes, which had spiraled into a broader conflict involving regime forces.

The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR) reported 166 deaths since Sunday, including civilians and at least 21 field executions allegedly carried out by regime troops.

Government and rebel-linked sources accused security forces of looting and burning homes. Syria’s interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa ordered legal action against any personnel involved in abuses, though sporadic fighting continued after the ceasefire.

Simultaneously, Israeli jets struck Syrian military convoys entering Sweida, claiming the attacks were to protect the Druze minority near the Israeli border.

Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu justified the strikes as a defensive measure, while a cabinet minister publicly called for al-Sharaa’s assassination.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry condemned the strikes as aggression and foreign interference, stating several civilians and soldiers were killed.

The new Syrian leadership, which took power after ousting Bashar al-Assad in December, faces growing unrest and international scrutiny. Israel views the Sunni-led government as a destabilizing force and has stepped up military operations along the border, including seizing portions of the UN-patrolled buffer zone near the Golan Heights.

Druze religious leaders initially called for fighters to disarm but later retracted support for the government, citing continued shelling. Graphic social media footage showed Druze fighters abusing captives, stoking fears of expanding sectarian violence similar to March’s deadly Alawite-targeted reprisals.

Druze communities in Lebanon, Israel, and the Golan Heights protested, with some demonstrators reportedly crossing into Syrian territory.

The US voiced concern over the escalating violence, with envoy Tom Barrack calling for an inclusive resolution involving all parties, including the Druze, Bedouin tribes, Syrian regime, and Israeli forces.

 

Drone Strike Ignites Oil Field in Iraqi Kurdistan, Tensions Rise Over Series of Attacks

A drone strike set fire to an oil facility in Iraq’s Dohuk province on Tuesday, marking the latest in a string of attacks on energy infrastructure in the semi-autonomous Kurdish region.

The targeted site belongs to US-based HKN Energy Ltd., which confirmed the explosion and ongoing fire at its Sarang field facility.

No injuries were reported, but operations have been suspended.

The attack occurred hours after Iraq signed a new investment agreement with HKN Energy for a separate project in Salahuddin province. No group has claimed responsibility for the strike. However, it follows a similar drone attack on the Khurmala oil field in Irbil province the previous day.

The Kurdish Ministry of Natural Resources labeled the strike a terrorist act and urged the federal government in Baghdad to take immediate action to identify and prosecute those responsible.

The US Embassy in Baghdad also condemned the attacks and called on the Iraqi government to prevent further aggression against critical infrastructure tied to international investment.

While the perpetrators remain unknown, the Kurdish regional government has previously accused the Iran-aligned Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) of carrying out similar drone operations.

The Iraqi Army rejected the claims, citing lack of evidence and warning such accusations could destabilize the country.

The incident adds to growing regional friction amid broader concerns over Iran-backed militia activity in Iraq, especially following threats against US interests during last month’s Israel-Iran conflict. Emergency crews are still working to contain the fire at the Dohuk facility.

 

Senate Confirms Anthony Tata as Pentagon Personnel Chief Despite Past Controversies

In a 52-46 party-line vote Tuesday, the Senate confirmed retired Army Brig. Gen. Anthony Tata as the undersecretary of defense for personnel and readiness, placing him in charge of the health, welfare, and management of over 3 million US military and civilian Defense Department personnel.

Tata, a conservative commentator and Fox News contributor, was previously blocked from a top Pentagon post in the first Trump administration due to a history of Islamophobic and conspiratorial statements, including calling former President Obama a “terrorist leader.” His 2020 nomination for under secretary of defense for policy was withdrawn after bipartisan backlash.

During his May confirmation hearing, Tata apologized for his earlier remarks, calling them “out of character,” but stood by more recent controversial comments, such as suggesting the suspension of the Posse Comitatus Act and advocating for the firing of all four-star officers appointed by President Biden. He later clarified these were expressions of support for stronger border security and military accountability.

Democrats opposed Tata’s confirmation, citing a pattern of inflammatory rhetoric and concerns over his ability to lead an apolitical military workforce. Sen. Jack Reed (D-RI) called his statements “disqualifying” and said Tata held “a misguided and discriminatory view” of those he would oversee.

Republicans defended Tata, praising his military service and framing his past comments as mistakes he had taken responsibility for. Sen. Thom Tillis (R-NC) introduced him at the hearing, saying Tata’s growth showed “a testament of a good leader.”

Tata now assumes one of the Pentagon’s most senior leadership roles as the Trump administration continues staffing its second-term defense team.

 

US Navy Moves to Dismantle Red Hill Fuel Facility, Begins Long-Term Remediation Effort

The US Navy is entering a new phase in dismantling the Red Hill Bulk Fuel Storage Facility in Hawaii, following the removal of 104 million gallons of fuel completed in March 2024. This next stage includes dismantling 10 miles of underground fuel pipes and restarting a closed drinking water well after state health approval.

Rear Adm. Stephen Barnett, head of the Red Hill Closure Task Force, told Hawaii lawmakers Monday that the Navy remains committed to long-term environmental remediation, which will stretch into the 2030s. Officials estimate final site remediation could begin in 2035, with monitoring to continue for years.

The World War II-era Red Hill tanks sit just 100 feet above Oahu’s key aquifer. A 2021 fuel spill contaminated a Navy well, sickened residents, and triggered lawsuits. Since then, environmental groups and Native Hawaiian activists have demanded accountability and cleanup.

The Navy initially resisted but agreed in 2022 to permanently shut down the site.

As of now, two fuel tanks have been cleaned, and about 283 gallons of sludge have been removed from six tanks—far below initial estimates. Workers are manually shoveling sludge into buckets, followed by high-pressure washing. All waste is tested and disposed of at EPA-certified facilities. Pipe cleaning, using nitrogen-driven foam swabs in a process known as “pigging,” is set to begin soon, with pipe dismantling expected later this year.

The Navy plans to reactivate the smaller Halawa-Aiea water well by August, pending approval of a permanent treatment system. A larger well will remain offline until at least 2027, with a projected treatment system cost of $500 million. Since the contamination, the Navy has relied on a third well at Waiawa.

The Honolulu Board of Water Supply, which shut down its own Halawa shaft as a precaution, has sued the Navy for $1.2 billion. Navy officials declined to comment on the lawsuit but confirmed efforts to monitor and clean groundwater, including the deployment of 50 monitoring wells and collection of over 16,000 water samples.

In addition to fuel leaks, a 2022 spill of toxic fire suppressant containing PFAS has further complicated cleanup. The Navy has begun comprehensive site testing to determine how to protect Oahu’s water resources long-term.

Officials emphasized the importance of getting remediation right rather than rushing.

The Department of Defense will ultimately decide how to repurpose the facility, with public input already suggesting potential future uses such as energy storage, brewing, or recreational diving.

 

MP Materials Secures $500M Apple Deal, $400M DoD Investment to Boost US Rare Earth Magnet Supply

MP Materials, operator of the only rare earths mine in the US, announced a $500 million agreement with Apple on Tuesday to supply magnets used in iPhones and other high-tech products.

The deal will support MP’s expansion of its Texas factory, which aims to begin magnet production for Apple by 2027 using recycled materials.

The company is also set to begin producing magnets for GM electric vehicles later this year.

The announcement follows last week’s $400 million investment from the US Department of Defense (DoD), which will make the government the largest shareholder in MP Materials.

The Pentagon also agreed to a 10-year minimum price guarantee for critical rare earth elements neodymium and praseodymium, shielding MP from market manipulation by Chinese state-subsidized producers.

Rare earths—critical for military hardware, electronic vehicles, and smartphones—have become a strategic concern as China continues to dominate the global supply chain. Tensions escalated after Beijing imposed export limits in response to President Trump’s sweeping tariffs, prompting new trade negotiations and US efforts to secure independent supply chains.

The Apple and DoD deals mark major steps in the Trump administration’s push to reduce American reliance on Chinese rare earths. However, MP’s California-based Mountain Pass mine cannot meet full US demand alone, and future supply remains uncertain despite a recent easing of trade restrictions between the two nations.

Both governments continue efforts to decouple strategically, signaling long-term geopolitical and industrial shifts.

 

Trump Pledges More Weapons to Ukraine, Threatens Sanctions on Russia with 50-Day Deadline

US President Donald Trump pledged new US-made weapons for Ukraine, including Patriot air defense missiles, in a move welcomed by Kyiv amid escalating Russian offensives along the 620-mile front line. However, European allies and some Ukrainians voiced concerns over Trump’s decision to delay major sanctions on Russia by 50 days, granting Moscow a window that could be used to gain ground.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy thanked Trump for the weapons commitment and confirmed increased coordination with Washington.

Still, skepticism remains.

Trump warned that Russia must settle the conflict by early September or face “very severe” economic penalties. Critics, including Dutch and Lithuanian officials, said the delay was too long and offered Russia an opportunity to regroup.

Moscow has dismissed the threat, with Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov questioning US motivations and noting that similar deadlines had passed without consequence.

Russia continues its push in Ukraine’s Donetsk region and along the Sumy and Kharkiv borders, with analysts warning the delay in sanctions could embolden the Kremlin. Currently, Russian forces control about 20% of Ukraine.

While some European leaders expressed frustration over the delay, they also welcomed the US commitment to continued support. German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius called Trump’s tone a “significant” shift, while Denmark and others emphasized the importance of renewed US involvement.

The timeline and specifics of the arms deliveries remain unclear, but the pledge signals a cautious re-engagement by Washington even as doubts linger over its long-term commitment and the effectiveness of delayed deterrents.

 

Ukraine’s Prime Minister Resigns as Zelenskyy Plans Major Government Reshuffle

Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal announced his resignation Tuesday, signaling the start of a broad shake-up in President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s administration amid intensifying Russian attacks and uncertainty over continued Western support.

Zelenskyy has nominated 39-year-old Yuliia Svyrydenko, the current deputy prime minister and economy minister, to succeed Shmyhal. Svyrydenko has played a key role in securing international economic partnerships, including a recent US-Ukraine mineral deal, and is known for her work on defense and reconstruction talks with Western allies.

The reshuffle, which requires a parliamentary vote, could also see changes in diplomatic posts.

Observers expect current Defense Minister Rustem Umerov to be appointed as ambassador to the United States, replacing Oksana Markarova. Umerov, who took over the Defense Ministry in 2023 following corruption scandals, has pushed for reforms but continues to face criticism over ongoing issues in the department.

Zelenskyy has expressed the need to reinforce US-Ukraine relations, especially as US President Donald Trump announced Monday that Washington will send more weapons to Ukraine, funded by European partners.

Kyiv remains concerned about the reliability of long-term American support as the war enters its third year.

The reshuffle comes amid mounting battlefield pressure from Russia’s larger military and an increase in drone and missile strikes against Ukrainian cities.

 

German Court Rejects Yemeni Drone Strike Case Tied to US Base

Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court on Tuesday dismissed a lawsuit filed by Yemeni plaintiffs who accused the German government of failing to protect their relatives allegedly killed in a 2012 US drone strike.

The plaintiffs claimed the strike was facilitated via flight control data relayed through Ramstein Air Base in Germany.

The court acknowledged that the German government could have a duty to protect foreign citizens abroad in specific circumstances, but said this case lacked the required “sufficient connection” to German state authority and did not present a “serious danger of systematic violation” of international law.

Lower courts had previously ruled Germany bore partial responsibility for ensuring US drone strikes coordinated through Ramstein complied with international law, but those decisions were later overturned.

Germany’s top court concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove the US used unlawful targeting criteria in Yemen.

The European Center for Constitutional and Human Rights, which backed the case, criticized the ruling, calling it a missed opportunity to uphold international legal accountability.

 

UK Secretly Resettled Thousands of Afghans After Data Leak, Ends Program

The British government revealed Tuesday it secretly resettled nearly 7,000 Afghans, including many who worked with British forces, after a 2022 data breach exposed personal information of almost 19,000 applicants seeking asylum following the Taliban’s return to power.

Defense Secretary John Healey apologized publicly and confirmed the closure of the covert resettlement program.

The leak stemmed from a Defense Ministry email error and was only discovered 18 months later when the data appeared on Facebook. In response, the previous Conservative government obtained a rare “super injunction” barring any reporting on the breach or the program, a move heavily criticized by legal experts and rights advocates.

The gag order was lifted this week by a High Court ruling, which condemned the secrecy for creating a “scrutiny vacuum.”

The independent review found the data leak likely did not significantly raise Taliban threats to affected Afghans, as the group already had other sources of intelligence and prioritized current threats to its regime. However, critics called the breach “catastrophic,” citing fear and distress among Afghan collaborators.

To date, 4,500 individuals — including 900 applicants and 3,600 family members — have been resettled under the now-terminated program, with the final count expected to reach 6,900 at a cost of £850 million ($1.1 billion). Another 36,000 Afghans have been relocated under separate UK schemes since 2021.

Advocates, including lawyers and Afghan diaspora leaders, called for further protections, meaningful compensation, and support for thousands still at risk.

The case marks the first known instance of a UK government using a super injunction, drawing sharp criticism for undermining democratic accountability and press freedom.

 

Nvidia Wins Trump Administration Approval to Sell AI Chips to China

Nvidia CEO Jensen Huang announced Monday that the company has received approval from the Trump administration to resume sales of its H20 artificial intelligence (AI) chips to China.

The move reverses an earlier ban imposed in April and comes as part of broader US-China trade negotiations involving rare earth exports and advanced technology.

The H20 chip, designed to comply with US export restrictions, is a scaled-down version of Nvidia’s most powerful AI hardware, which remains off-limits to China. Despite its reduced performance, the H20 still plays a vital role in AI development and is expected to be in high demand.

Huang revealed the news during a state media interview in Beijing, noting the significance of access to China’s massive AI research community.

The Biden-era restrictions on advanced chip exports had cost Nvidia an estimated $5.5 billion. Since returning to office, US President Donald Trump has faced lobbying pressure from the tech sector, particularly Nvidia, to ease controls.

Trump’s administration now cites national security concerns as addressed, given that China will not receive Nvidia’s most powerful chips.

Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick confirmed the approval was tied to a reciprocal deal with China, which includes the resumption of rare earth magnet exports to the US, as well as US easing restrictions on chip design software and jet engines.

The exact timeline for resuming shipments of H20 chips remains unclear. Meanwhile, rival chipmaker AMD has not received similar clearance for its MI308 chips.

Lawmakers from both parties continue to push for tighter controls and tracking of AI hardware exports, citing the potential for military misuse by Beijing.

Nvidia’s resurgence has drawn praise from the Trump administration. The company recently pledged to manufacture AI chips domestically, with major production facilities underway in Arizona and Texas.

Trump publicly lauded Huang at a White House event, crediting him with helping rebuild US technological leadership and job growth.

 

Sources: News Agencies