Morning Brief: Russia Intensifies Drone War on Ukraine, Pentagon Withdraws US Marines from Los Angeles

· Guy D. McCardle

A building engulfed in flames following a Russian drone strike in Ukraine. (@ZelenskyyUa/X)

From the cautious return of Sudanese refugees to Khartoum, to Russia’s surging drone war in Ukraine and fresh unrest over Gaza, Tuesday’s headlines reflect a world in flux. US Marines exit Los Angeles after controversial deployment, while Trump releases FBI files on MLK, stirring renewed debate. Meanwhile, Manila and Washington deepen ties ahead of a key White House visit. Here’s your SOFREP Morning Brief for July 22, 2025.

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Sudanese Refugees Begin Return Journey from Egypt as Khartoum Changes Hands

Hundreds of Sudanese refugees departed Cairo on Monday aboard a government-funded train headed toward Khartoum, marking the start of a mass return home after more than a year of civil war.

The effort follows the Sudanese Armed Forces’ May 20 recapture of the capital from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF).

Sudan has been locked in a brutal conflict since April 2023, with over 40,000 people killed and more than 8.5 million displaced. Egypt has absorbed the largest share of Sudanese refugees, hosting more than 1.5 million.

The train journey spans 12 hours to Aswan, followed by ferries and buses into Sudan. Khartoum, devastated by months of fighting, is slowly rebuilding despite limited electricity and services.

Though Khartoum remains fragile, the government’s efforts to restore control have sparked hope among displaced Sudanese seeking to return and rebuild.

 

Israel Intercepts Houthi Missile as Gaza Shelling Kills 12 Palestinians in Tent Camp

Israel intercepted a ballistic missile launched Tuesday by Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants toward Ben Gurion Airport near Tel Aviv, hours after Israeli tank shelling in Gaza killed at least 12 Palestinians and wounded dozens more.

The Houthis claimed responsibility for the launch, which followed Israeli strikes on Houthi targets in Yemen’s Hodeidah port the previous day.

Meanwhile, local health officials in Gaza said Israeli tanks fired two shells at a tent encampment housing displaced families near the Shati refugee camp in western Gaza City.

The Israeli military has not commented on the shelling. Both incidents mark an intensification of cross-front escalation amid the ongoing war.

 

Russia Intensifies Drone War on Ukraine, Eyes 1,000+ Daily Strikes

Russia has sharply escalated its drone campaign in Ukraine, launching record-breaking nightly swarms of attack drones across the country from eastern front lines to areas near the Polish border.

On July 8, Moscow deployed over 700 drones in a single night, and experts warn daily totals could soon exceed 1,000.

US President Donald Trump has given Russia until early September to agree to a ceasefire or face tougher sanctions, prompting analysts to expect an escalation before that deadline. Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed Russia’s intent to flood Ukrainian skies with up to 1,000 drones daily, calling the effort a strategy to “intimidate our society.”

Russia has domestically ramped up production of modified Iranian-designed Shahed drones, known as Gerans. These drones now carry larger warheads, use jamming-resistant technology, and in some cases, operate with autonomous artificial intelligence (AI). Russian drone factories, including the massive Alabuga facility, now produce all components in-house and train operators on-site.

An Associated Press investigation revealed the use of foreign labor, including misled African workers, at drone plants.

The Kremlin plans to designate drones as a separate military branch, called the “Unmanned Systems Troops.” Training centers like Rubicon now instruct operators in drone warfare, including the use of fiber-optic drones immune to jamming and capable of striking 15+ miles behind enemy lines.

Russia has launched over 28,000 Shahed/Geran drones since the invasion began in 2022, with nearly 10% deployed last month alone. Despite sanctions, Russia has sourced up to 65% of drone components from China, according to Ukrainian intelligence—claims Beijing denies.

Moscow’s tactic involves overwhelming Ukrainian defenses with large drone waves to draw fire and preserve its expensive cruise and ballistic missile arsenal. Ukraine counters with mobile teams using machine guns and interceptor drones but escalating Russian attacks are straining its air defense capacity.

With drones costing a fraction of traditional missiles, Russia views them as a cost-effective way to sustain its war effort.

Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS) analysts describe the tactic as a “cruel attritional logic,” targeting both military assets and civilian morale in a war increasingly defined by unmanned systems.

 

British F-35B Fighter Jet Departs India After Month-Long Grounding

A British F-35B stealth fighter jet grounded for over a month at Thiruvananthapuram International Airport in southern India finally took off Tuesday after UK engineers repaired hydraulic and auxiliary power unit issues, according to an Indian official.

The $115 million Lockheed Martin-built aircraft had diverted to the Indian airport on June 14 due to bad weather that prevented its return to the HMS Prince of Wales in the Arabian Sea.

The jet is now en route to the Royal Navy’s aircraft carrier in Darwin, Australia.

During its extended stay, the advanced warplane became a viral sensation in India, inspiring memes and AI-generated cartoons. Kerala’s tourism department even joined in, joking that the aircraft had given the state a five-star review.

While there had been speculation the jet might need to be dismantled and flown out by cargo plane, the UK Ministry of Defense (MoD) had dismissed those claims. Neither the British High Commission nor the MoD have publicly commented since the jet’s departure.

 

Trump Releases FBI Files on MLK Assassination Despite Family, Civil Rights Opposition

The Trump administration released long-sealed federal records on the 1968 assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. on Monday, following earlier disclosures of John F. Kennedy (JFK) and Robert F. Kennedy (RFK) assassination files.

The move fulfills a January executive order in which President Trump directed full transparency on historic political killings. However, the release comes despite objections from the King family and the Southern Christian Leadership Conference, which raised privacy and contextual concerns.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) collected the bulk of the newly released material during its investigation into King’s death, which followed his April 4, 1968, assassination in Memphis, Tennessee. James Earl Ray pleaded guilty to the killing but later recanted. King’s family and several civil rights advocates have long questioned whether Ray acted alone—or was involved at all.

The King family, including surviving children Martin III and Bernice King, issued a statement urging the public to approach the files with empathy and historical context. They also condemned the FBI’s COINTELPRO program, which wiretapped, surveilled, and sought to discredit King while he was alive.

The files are expected to shed further light on the depth of that campaign, but scholars caution against expecting a “smoking gun” implicating the FBI in the assassination itself.

The 1999 Memphis civil trial, supported by the King family, found that government agencies and others conspired to kill King. That verdict, while largely ignored by federal authorities, adds weight to calls for full transparency.

The Justice Department previously concluded in 1998 that there was no reason to disturb the 1969 legal determination that Ray acted alone.

Critics question the timing and motive of the document release, suggesting it may serve as a political tool for Trump, who has railed against federal agencies and elevated allies like FBI Director Kash Patel to “clean house.”

Others see the move as part of a broader effort to challenge the credibility of US institutions or deflect from controversies surrounding Trump’s presidency.

While historians have welcome access to the documents, they also warn that the files could reinforce distrust in government and ignite new debate over the unresolved legacy of King’s assassination. The material may reveal more about the FBI’s surveillance tactics, internal communications, and decision-making—especially in relation to King’s growing emphasis on economic justice and opposition to the Vietnam War in his final year.

 

Pentagon Withdraws US Marines from Los Angeles After Controversial Deployment

The Pentagon ordered the withdrawal of 700 US Marines from Los Angeles on Monday, ending a contentious deployment ordered by President Donald Trump during June’s protests over his administration’s immigration crackdown.

The Marines had been stationed at federal buildings since June 9, including an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) facility and detention center downtown. Their role included limited enforcement actions, such as detaining a man near a Veterans Affairs (VA) appointment.

The decision follows the partial withdrawal of the 4,000 National Guard troops Trump also sent to the city. Half remain, despite opposition from California leaders.

Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said the deployment delivered a clear message against “lawlessness.” However, Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass and veteran groups criticized the use of active-duty troops in civilian spaces.

Bass called the withdrawal “a win for Los Angeles” and urged the federal government to remove remaining Guard troops.

California Gov. Gavin Newsom previously sued the Trump administration, arguing the deployment violated federal law by bypassing his authority. While a lower court sided with Newsom, the 9th Circuit temporarily blocked that ruling.

Newsom again called for the Guard’s full withdrawal on Monday, labeling the deployment “political theater.”

Local officials have disputed the administration’s portrayal of Los Angeles as a “war zone.” Protests were mostly limited to federal buildings downtown, with occasional flare-ups like the June 8 demonstration that blocked a freeway and saw robotaxis set on fire. Police responded with tear gas and projectiles, and Mayor Bass imposed a one-week curfew.

With the Marines now gone, political and legal pressure continues to mount for a full drawdown of federal forces in the city.

 

Hegseth Launches Officer Promotion Review Led by Controversial Marine Critic of Afghanistan Withdrawal

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has ordered a review of the US military’s officer promotion system, tasking former Marine Lt. Col. Stuart Scheller — known for publicly condemning the Biden administration’s Afghanistan withdrawal — to lead the effort.

The move marks the latest in a series of internal Pentagon reviews under Hegseth, including assessments of combat standards, medical disqualifications, and military education.

In a memo dated June 20, 2025, Hegseth said the promotion and selection review would examine officer evaluations, promotion boards, command selections, and professional military education to “enhance the lethality of the force.”

No timeline or specific problems were detailed.

Scheller, who pleaded guilty in 2021 to six charges stemming from public criticism of military leadership during the Afghanistan exit, has served as a senior adviser to the acting undersecretary for personnel and readiness. Hegseth praised Scheller as a courageous leader unafraid to challenge status quo thinking.

The review responds to longstanding complaints within the services about inflated evaluations, limited top-performance ratings, and political maneuvering in officer advancement. Each military branch was directed to assign a point of contact to Scheller by Monday.

 

Trump to Host Philippine President Marcos as US Seeks to Bolster Indo-Pacific Alliance

US President Donald Trump will host Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. at the White House on Tuesday, underscoring Washington’s push to deepen military and economic ties with Manila amid rising tensions with China in the South China Sea.

Marcos is the first Southeast Asian leader to visit Trump during his second term. His three-day trip comes as both nations reaffirm their 1951 Mutual Defense Treaty and seek closer coordination to counter Beijing’s growing assertiveness, particularly around the contested Scarborough Shoal.

On Monday, Marcos met with Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth. Hegseth emphasized US readiness to defend Philippine assets in the Pacific, including the South China Sea, stating that the alliance “has never been stronger or more essential.”

Marcos expressed appreciation for US military support and modernization aid, calling mutual defense the “cornerstone” of the alliance.

Trade is also on the agenda. Trump has threatened to impose 20% tariffs on Filipino goods by August 1 unless a deal is reached. Marcos signaled willingness to negotiate a bilateral agreement, and Manila may offer zero tariffs on certain US products. The White House has hinted a trade agreement may emerge from the visit.

The leaders are expected to discuss regional security, defense cooperation, and a shared vision of a free and open Indo-Pacific. Meanwhile, China continues to use aggressive tactics against Filipino vessels in disputed waters, heightening the urgency of US-Philippine coordination.

Rubio and Marcos also discussed supply chain cooperation. US officials continue limited diplomatic engagement with China to manage tensions while advancing ties with regional allies like the Philippines.

 

Australian Parliament Reopens Amid Pro-Palestinian Protests and Debate Over Gaza War

Australia’s Parliament resumed Tuesday for the first time since the center-left Labor Party secured a historic majority in May, but opening day ceremonies were overshadowed by tensions over the war in Gaza.

Hundreds of pro-Palestinian protesters gathered outside Parliament House, demanding sanctions on Israel.

Inside, Greens Senator Mehreen Faruqi held up a sign reading, “Gaza is starving, words won’t feed them, sanction Israel,” during a speech by Attorney-General Sam Mostyn. Security blocked 15 protesters from entering the Senate gallery.

Australia recently joined 27 countries in a joint statement declaring “the war in Gaza must end now.” Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke called it Australia’s strongest language on the conflict to date. Opposition lawmakers criticized the move, with Sen. Jonathon Duniam calling it “alarming.”

Labor, led by Prime Minister Anthony Albanese, now controls 94 of 150 House seats—the largest majority since 1996. Despite its dominance in the lower house, Labor holds only 29 of 76 Senate seats, meaning it must negotiate with the opposition or Greens to pass legislation.

Parliament opened with Indigenous ceremonies and tributes to First Nations leadership. Albanese emphasized unity and continuity as he begins his second term following a period of political instability. Meanwhile, the opposition Liberal Party, reeling from election losses, named Sussan Ley as its first female leader.

 

Sources: News Agencies