Morning Brief: United Nations Extends Red Sea Monitoring as Houthi Attacks Escalate, Trump to Meet Qatari Prime Minister for Gaza Ceasefire Talks

· Guy D. McCardle

MV Magic Seas under Houthi airstrike before sinking in the Red Sea, July 7, 2025. (Image grab via X)

Good morning — it’s Wednesday, July 16, 2025. Today’s brief covers escalating tensions and shifting strategies across key fronts. The UN renews its focus on Red Sea security amid continued Houthi attacks, while Trump prepares for high-stakes Gaza ceasefire talks with Qatar’s prime minister. Back home, the US Air Force introduces a new fitness standard, National Guard troops begin leaving Los Angeles, and ICE detention policies expand sharply. Overseas, Russia pushes its Ukraine offensive, a stolen Roman mosaic returns to Pompeii, and China sentences a Japanese citizen for espionage. Here’s your SOFREP Morning Brief.

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UN Extends Red Sea Monitoring as Houthi Attacks Escalate

The UN Security Council voted Tuesday to extend monthly reporting on Houthi rebel attacks against shipping in the Red Sea until January 15, 2026, amid ongoing maritime threats and rising regional tensions.

The resolution passed with 12 votes in favor and abstentions from Russia, China, and Algeria, who cited concerns over US airstrikes on Yemen as violations of their sovereignty.

The US- and Greece-sponsored resolution follows continued Houthi missile and drone attacks on vessels, including the MV Magic Seas and MV Eternity C, both of which sank, with casualties and hostages taken.

Acting US Ambassador Dorothy Shea condemned the strikes as “unprovoked terrorist attacks” and reaffirmed Washington’s demand for the immediate cessation of Houthi aggression and the release of captured crew members.

The Houthis claim their actions are in solidarity with Palestinians amid the Gaza war, which began after Hamas’ October 7 attack on Israel. Their actions have disrupted global trade through the Red Sea, a key maritime corridor.

While Greece emphasized the importance of maritime security for global supply chains, Russia and China criticized the resolution’s lack of balance, arguing that it provided cover for US military action against Yemeni territory. They called instead for diplomatic solutions to stabilize the region and highlighted the link between the Red Sea crisis and the broader Gaza conflict.

Algeria echoed those concerns, stating that the resolution failed to address how Israel’s war in Gaza has fueled broader regional instability and triggered Houthi retaliation.

Despite calls for diplomacy, the US continues its campaign of airstrikes against Houthi targets, citing the need to defend commercial shipping and regional allies, including Israel. The Security Council resolution reflects deep divides over strategy and accountability in a rapidly destabilizing conflict zone.

 

Trump to Meet Qatari Prime Minister for Gaza Ceasefire Talks

President Donald Trump will meet with Qatar’s Prime Minister Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani on Wednesday to discuss ongoing negotiations over a U.S.-backed ceasefire deal in Gaza, according to Axios reporter Barak Ravid.

The meeting comes as Israeli and Hamas negotiators participate in talks in Doha that began on July 6. The proposed 60-day ceasefire plan includes a phased release of hostages, Israeli troop withdrawals from parts of Gaza, and the launch of broader discussions to end the conflict.

Trump’s Middle East envoy, Steve Witkoff, expressed optimism about the negotiations earlier this week.

US, Qatari, and Egyptian officials continue to mediate, though Israel and Hamas remain at odds over the depth of Israel’s withdrawal from Gaza.

The war erupted in October 2023 when Hamas launched a surprise assault on Israel, killing 1,200 people and taking around 250 hostages. In response, Israel launched a large-scale military campaign that Gaza’s health ministry says has killed over 58,000 Palestinians.

The campaign has triggered international accusations of war crimes and genocide, charges Israel denies.

The previous ceasefire collapsed on March 18 when Israeli strikes killed more than 400 Palestinians. Trump has drawn criticism for earlier suggesting a US takeover of Gaza, a proposal widely condemned by human rights groups, the UN, and Palestinian officials.

Trump and Sheikh Mohammed also plan to discuss the potential revival of nuclear talks with Iran, according to the report.

 

US Air Force Rolls Out Gender-Neutral Fitness Test for Bomb Disposal Airmen

Starting August 1, the US Air Force will implement a gender-neutral, job-specific fitness test for explosive ordnance disposal (EOD) personnel, marking the second career field in the service with such a standard. This move aligns with a directive from Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth requiring all combat arms positions to use sex-neutral standards based solely on operational demands.

The new test replaces the traditional Air Force fitness exam with tasks tailored to EOD mission requirements.

Airmen will complete a 1,000-meter row, a 20-pound medicine ball toss, a trap bar lift (150–360 lbs), and a drill known as the “Gruseter,” which involves a weighted drop, roll, lift, and run over multiple rounds.

The test simulates real-world EOD scenarios, such as bomb suit operations, casualty evacuation, and the removal of explosive hazards under stress. It will now be part of each airman’s official service record and applies to both enlisted EOD specialists and qualified officers.

The change has been years in the making, with development beginning in 2015 and unofficial pilot testing conducted over the past year.

Currently, women make up about 3% of the EOD community, according to Air Force data.

Brig. Gen. Brian Hartless emphasized the importance of maintaining a mission-ready force, stating, “Our EOD airmen are crucial to preserving our nation’s security.”

The Air Force’s special warfare units remain the only other community with a dedicated, job-specific physical standard. The Pentagon is also reviewing the possibility of a joint fitness test across all military services.

 

LA Troop Withdrawal Begins After Federal Court Fight, Public Backlash

The Pentagon announced Tuesday it is ending the deployment of 2,000 National Guard troops in Los Angeles, nearly half of the soldiers stationed there in response to protests sparked by US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.

Approximately 4,000 Guard members and 700 Marines had been operating in the city since early June.

The decision to reduce the force comes amid mounting legal and political pressure, particularly from California Gov. Gavin Newsom, who has challenged the legality of the deployment in federal court. Newsom argues the operation violates the Posse Comitatus Act, which prohibits military involvement in civilian law enforcement.

A federal judge initially sided with Newsom, but an appeals court later overturned the ruling. A final hearing is set for next month.

The mission’s scope has been controversial, with troops primarily guarding federal buildings and accompanying agents on immigration raids.

Mayor Karen Bass, who had imposed a weeklong curfew following unrest, welcomed the withdrawal, calling the deployment an “experiment with the lives of people” that should end permanently. She noted that the buildings under guard “didn’t need” military protection.

The withdrawal follows a tense few weeks, including a heavily armed National Guard and Department of Homeland Security (DHS) operation at MacArthur Park and violent clashes between protesters and police, where tear gas, flash bangs, and rubber bullets were deployed. Despite Trump’s claim that the Guard restored order, critics say the move sowed fear and escalated tensions.

Newsom condemned the deployment as political theater, accusing the Trump administration of using troops as “pawns.” He urged the Pentagon to fully withdraw the remaining soldiers, stating they are “without a mission, without direction, and without any hopes of returning to help their communities.”

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth had discretion to extend or shorten the original 60-day deployment. No official timeline has been announced for the full withdrawal, and a visible military presence outside federal buildings downtown had already disappeared by Tuesday afternoon.

 

Trump Administration Expands ICE Detentions, Eliminates Bond Hearings for Illegal Border Crossers

US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has begun detaining significantly more migrants under a directive that eliminates bond hearings for anyone who entered the country illegally, signaling a sweeping expansion of detention powers under President Donald Trump.

In a memo dated July 8, acting ICE Director Todd Lyons instructed staff to implement a strict interpretation of a 1996 immigration law, removing access to bond hearings before an immigration judge for those who crossed the border unlawfully. Individuals detained under the policy will only be eligible for release at the discretion of the Department of Homeland Security.

Homeland Security spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin confirmed the change, stating that the Biden administration allowed millions of “unvetted illegal aliens” into the US using legal loopholes, and that Trump and Secretary Kristi Noem are now enforcing immigration law as originally written.

The new policy does not apply to visa overstays, but it affects all recent illegal entrants, including long-term US residents. Immigration attorneys say ICE has already started detaining clients under the new directive, some with decades-long ties to the country and no criminal records.

Legal experts, including from the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, warn the policy could result in mass incarceration of nonviolent migrants without individualized judicial review, including those with citizen family members.

A lawsuit against the administration’s detention practices is already underway in Washington state.

ICE’s detention population stood at 56,000 in June, well above its budgeted capacity of 41,000. Trump’s recent $170 billion border enforcement law, including $45 billion earmarked for detention, will allow ICE to house up to 100,000 detainees per day.

The directive follows January’s signing of the Laken Riley Act, which mandates detention for undocumented immigrants charged with a wide range of offenses, including minor crimes like theft and shoplifting.

Lyons acknowledged legal challenges are likely and directed ICE attorneys to prepare evidence on detainees’ flight risk and public safety threat. The move marks one of the most aggressive expansions of federal immigration detention authority in recent history.

 

Trump’s 50-Day Ultimatum Buys Kremlin Time as Russia Presses Summer Offensive

US President Donald Trump’s 50-day ultimatum to Russia to accept a peace deal in Ukraine or face sweeping sanctions on its energy exports has unintentionally given Moscow a window to intensify its summer offensive.

Despite stepped-up attacks, Ukrainian forces continue to hold the line, making rapid Russian gains unlikely.

Russian President Vladimir Putin demands that Ukraine cede the four regions Russia illegally annexed in 2022, abandon NATO aspirations, and accept military constraints—terms Kyiv and its allies reject. While Russian troops have captured more territory in Donetsk than at any point since early 2022, Ukrainian analysts say significant breakthroughs remain improbable within the tight 50-day timeframe.

Russia is pressing toward the eastern strongholds of Pokrovsk and Kostyantynivka, aiming to eventually take Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. While the capture of those cities could enable a westward push toward Dnipro, Ukraine’s defenses and drone dominance have slowed Russia’s advance and inflicted heavy losses.

In Sumy and Kharkiv, Russia seeks to establish a buffer zone but lacks the manpower to seize major urban centers. Moscow’s strategy appears aimed at wearing down Ukrainian forces rather than making decisive advances.

Analysts suggest Russia may try to leverage minor territorial gains in future negotiations, including possible land swaps.

Ukrainian troops, outgunned and low on ammunition, are increasingly dependent on Western aid.

Trump has pledged US weapons sales to NATO allies for transfer to Ukraine, including Patriot air defense systems. However, delays have forced Ukrainian units to ration resources amid relentless Russian aerial and ground assaults.

Military observers say Europe can cover most of Ukraine’s short-term needs, provided key weapons are sourced from the US Analysts warn that while Russia’s progress is slow, its strategy of attrition could erode Ukraine’s defenses unless resupply efforts accelerate.

 

Erotic Roman Mosaic Stolen by Nazi Officer Returned to Pompeii

An ancient Roman mosaic panel depicting an erotic theme was officially returned to the Archaeological Park of Pompeii on Tuesday after being stolen during World War II by a Nazi German captain.

The travertine mosaic, dating from the 1st century B.C. to the 1st century A.D., was repatriated from Germany following efforts by the Italian Consulate in Stuttgart and the Carabinieri’s art protection unit. The heirs of the last German owner—who received the artifact as a wartime gift from a Wehrmacht officer—voluntarily contacted Italian authorities to initiate its return.

Authenticity and provenance were confirmed before the artwork was brought back to Italy in September 2023.

Pompeii Park director Gabriel Zuchtriegel described the piece as representing a cultural shift in Roman art, where domestic love began to replace mythological passion as a central theme. He hailed the repatriation as “healing an open wound” and emphasized the growing sense of ethical responsibility among those who possess looted cultural artifacts.

The mosaic is now catalogued and secured at the Pompeii site for research and educational use. Its return also revives local lore of the “Pompeii curse”—a popular superstition that stolen artifacts bring misfortune to their possessors, a belief fueled by numerous cases of tourists mailing back stolen relics with stories of bad luck.

This restitution adds to Italy’s broader effort to reclaim cultural treasures looted or smuggled abroad during conflict.

 

Japanese Businessman Sentenced to Prison in China on Espionage Charges

A Chinese court sentenced a Japanese businessman to three and a half years in prison Wednesday for espionage, according to Japan’s embassy in Beijing.

The individual, reportedly in his 60s and an employee of Astellas Pharma Inc., had been detained since March 2023.

Chinese authorities formally charged the man with espionage in August but withheld details of the case. His trial began in November.

Japan’s Ambassador to China, Kenji Kanasugi, attended the sentencing at Beijing’s No. 2 Intermediate People’s Court, though Japanese media were barred from the courtroom.

The Japanese government labeled the sentence “regrettable” and criticized the growing number of detentions as a major impediment to improving bilateral relations. Since China enacted its anti-espionage law in 2014, 17 Japanese citizens have been detained on similar charges—five of whom remain in custody.

The ruling highlights persistent tensions in Japan-China relations and growing concerns over the Chinese government’s opaque use of national security laws against foreign nationals.

 

Sources: News Agencies