Morning Brief: Gaza Aid Crisis Deepens, Somalia Clashes Escalate, US Military Restructures

· Guy D. McCardle

A war-torn neighborhood in Gaza lies in ruins following relentless bombing. (Image grab via X)

Good morning, here’s what’s shaping today’s headlines: Gaza’s humanitarian crisis deepens as over 1,000 are reported killed while seeking aid, Somalia and Mali face new waves of violence and political tension, and the US military kicks off major shifts in personnel and weapons strategy. From artificial intelligence policy rollouts in Washington to global protests and cyber threats, here’s your SOFREP Morning Brief for Wednesday, July 23, 2025.

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Over 1,000 Palestinians Killed While Seeking Food in Gaza, UN Reports

More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed by Israeli forces since May while attempting to access food aid in Gaza, according to the United Nations human rights office.

Most deaths occurred near distribution sites run by the US-backed Gaza Humanitarian Foundation (GHF). The UN cited “multiple reliable sources” and continues to verify the figures.

The report comes as Gaza faces a severe hunger crisis. The UN World Food Program says conditions have reached “astonishing levels of desperation,” with nearly 100,000 women and children suffering from severe acute malnutrition. Gaza’s Health Ministry claims 101 people, including 80 children, have died from starvation in recent days.

Despite Israel easing a blockade in May, aid remains insufficient. Food scarcity has driven people to desperate measures, leading to violent scenes at distribution points. Witnesses report Israeli forces firing near aid seekers. However, Israel maintains it uses only warning shots. GHF denies responsibility for the death toll, calling the UN figures exaggerated.

International criticism is mounting. A joint statement from 28 Western-aligned nations condemned the “inhumane killing of civilians” and criticized Israel’s aid delivery model as destabilizing and undignified. Israel and the US rejected the accusations, blaming Hamas for the ongoing conflict.

Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 25 more Palestinians on Tuesday, including 12 in the Shati refugee camp and eight near an aid distribution crowd. Israel denies knowledge of those strikes and attributes civilian casualties to Hamas’ use of densely populated areas.

Since the war began after Hamas’ October 7 attack, over 59,000 Palestinians have died, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which reports that more than half of the casualties are women and children.

 

Somali Army, Jubaland Forces Clash in Gedo

Heavy fighting erupted Tuesday in Beled Hawo, southern Somalia, between the Somali national army and forces loyal to the semi-autonomous Jubaland region, leaving at least five people dead, according to security officials.

Jubaland security commander Yusuf Ahmed said the Somali army launched an offensive to seize full control of the town.

The operation triggered clashes near key administrative buildings. Ahmed confirmed the deaths of two Jubaland soldiers and said three federal troops were killed in the fighting.

The offensive began shortly after Jubaland intelligence chief Abdirashid Hassan Abdinur landed in the town by helicopter. Gedo governor Mohamed Hussein Al-Qadi, appointed by Jubaland, stated that government forces were pushed out of official buildings but remained active near a military base.

The federal government condemned the attack, accusing Jubaland leader Ahmed Madobe of orchestrating it and targeting immigration offices. Tensions between Mogadishu and Madobe have simmered since last year, when he defied federal objections and secured a third term through a unilateral regional election, which the central government deemed illegal.

Somalia’s fragile federal structure continues to face internal fractures as power struggles between regional leaders and Mogadishu complicate national security and governance.

 

Malian Army and Wagner Group Accused of Executing Fulani Civilians During Anti-Jihadist Operations

The Malian military and Russia’s Wagner paramilitary group killed and forcibly disappeared dozens of ethnic Fulani men during counterinsurgency operations in 2024, Human Rights Watch (HRW) reported Tuesday.

The rights group documented at least 12 executions and 81 enforced disappearances of Fulani civilians since January.

HRW cited credible evidence, corroborated by the United Nations, that 65 of the missing were executed in April in Mali’s western Kayes region. Additional killings occurred on March 30 in Belidanedji, where Malian and Wagner forces summarily executed at least six Fulani civilians, according to witnesses.

The Fulani, a nomadic ethnic group often accused of aiding Islamist militants, remain a frequent target of state suspicion across the Sahel. HRW said abuses by the Malian army and Wagner occurred in Segou, Kayes, Douentza, and Timbuktu, and included torture and home burnings.

Mali’s military continues to fight the al-Qaeda-affiliated Group for the Support of Islam and Muslims (JNIM). HRW called on the African Union to demand an investigation and prosecution of those responsible.

The group also warned that senior Malian and Russian officials could be held accountable for the atrocities.

The Wagner group, active in Mali since 2021, officially exited the country in June and was replaced by Africa Corps, a Kremlin-linked paramilitary organization.

Mali’s ruling junta, which seized power in coups in 2020 and 2021, has not responded to HRW’s findings.

 

US Marine Corps Moves to Reclassify Harrier Mechanics Amid AV-8B Phase-Out

The US Marine Corps is reclassifying 202 Marines assigned to AV-8B Harrier maintenance roles as the service phases out the aging jet in favor of the F-35 Lightning II.

A July 17 force-wide message identified five Harrier-related military occupational specialties—covering general mechanics, power plants, airframes, safety equipment, and electrical systems—for involuntary reclassification beginning August 1.

Marines in these roles who haven’t initiated transitions will be reassigned based on Corps needs, regardless of remaining contract terms.

The Corps noted retention and promotion opportunities for Harrier jobs will end by fiscal year 2027. Affected Marines will receive their new assignments by September 30.

AV-8B Harrier
AV-8B Harrier (DVIDS)

The move is part of the broader aviation modernization plan released in January, which includes a full F-35 transition, upgraded V-22 Ospreys, and continued KC-130J procurement. While Harriers remain in use for exercises and select missions, the aircraft is gradually retiring, with many airframes destined for museums or farewell flights.

The Marine Corps says Harrier personnel are being guided toward roles in F-35 maintenance, communications, intelligence, and logistics.

 

US Army Launches $3.6B Program to Replace M240B Machine Gun

The US Army has initiated a multibillion-dollar program to replace the M240B machine gun with a new system called the Future Medium Machine Gun (FMMG).

Budget documents show the service plans to invest over $3.6 billion in research, development, and procurement over the next decade.

The FMMG, intended for dismounted combat units, will be a belt-fed, crew-served, direct-fire weapon designed to surpass the M240B in lethality and operational performance.

The Army has not yet finalized key specifications, including the caliber, but aims to equip rifle platoons with a more capable platform for suppressing and destroying enemy personnel.

The M240B, introduced in 1977, has served as the Army’s primary medium machine gun for nearly five decades. It replaced the M60 and saw major use from Grenada to the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.

The FMMG effort is part of a broader small-arms modernization initiative, which includes replacing the M4 carbine and M249 SAW, with new weapons already fielded to the 101st Airborne Division.

 

Trump to Unveil AI Action Plan Backed by Tech Allies, Prioritizes Deregulation and “Anti-Woke” Agenda

US President Donald Trump will announce a sweeping “Artificial Intelligence (AI) Action Plan” on Wednesday, shaped by Silicon Valley allies who supported his 2024 campaign.

The policy rollout, co-hosted by the All-In Podcast and Hill and Valley Forum, follows Trump’s January repeal of President Biden’s AI regulations and is expected to favor tech industry priorities.

The plan will promote AI export acceleration, streamline permits for energy-intensive data centers, and counter perceived liberal bias in AI systems. Critics warn it reflects tech lobby influence and risks sidelining public safeguards.

Trump’s top AI adviser, David Sacks, has led efforts to eliminate so-called “woke AI,” citing cases like Google’s missteps with racially diverse AI-generated images of US Founding Fathers. xAI, Elon Musk’s firm and a vocal alternative to mainstream AI companies, recently won a Pentagon contract alongside Google, despite backlash over antisemitic outputs from its Grok chatbot.

The administration also aims to fast-track AI data center construction by easing energy and zoning restrictions—moves aligned with Trump’s fossil fuel agenda.

Industry giants like OpenAI, Amazon, Meta, and Microsoft are already expanding major AI infrastructure projects nationwide. However, the AI-driven energy demand has drawn global concern, with the UN warning that data centers may soon rival Japan’s total electricity use.

Trump’s policy may also roll back Biden-era AI chip export controls, which industry leaders argued hampered US competitiveness. AMD and Nvidia have reportedly received approval to resume limited exports to China.

While tech moguls champion deregulation and speed, a coalition of 95 public interest groups has condemned the plan, demanding a “People’s AI Action Plan” focused on jobs, public health, and civil rights.

Critics accuse Trump of outsourcing national AI strategy to Big Tech and using China as a justification to erode regulatory safeguards.

 

Trump Announces Japan Trade Deal with 15% Tariff

US President Trump unveiled a new trade framework with Japan on Tuesday, introducing a 15% tariff on Japanese imports.

The move comes ahead of a planned 25% rate previously threatened to begin August 1. Trump claimed the deal would create “hundreds of thousands of jobs” and includes a Japanese pledge to invest $550 billion into the US and open its market to American autos and rice.

Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba acknowledged the agreement early Wednesday, calling it mutually beneficial. Key details, including the exact impact on Japanese auto exports, remain unclear.

The announcement reflects Trump’s broader strategy of using tariffs to reduce trade deficits and relocate manufacturing to the US. The administration argues that tariff revenue will help lower the budget deficit, though critics warn of rising costs for consumers.

On Tuesday, General Motors reported a 35% drop in quarterly net income, citing tariffs as a growing threat.

In addition to Japan, Trump confirmed new trade frameworks with the Philippines and Indonesia. The US will impose a 19% tariff on Philippine goods, with no reciprocal taxes on American exports. The administration also reaffirmed existing 19% tariffs on Indonesian goods.

As the August 1 tariff deadline approaches, Trump also warned the European Union of a 30% tariff and signaled that EU representatives would arrive in Washington for talks. The US trade deficit last year totaled $69.4 billion with Japan, $17.9 billion with Indonesia, and $4.9 billion with the Philippines.

Negotiations with China are ongoing through August 12, with current tariffs on Chinese goods set at a 30% baseline.

US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent will meet with Chinese officials in Stockholm next week, aiming to rebalance trade by shifting the US toward manufacturing and encouraging Chinese domestic consumption.

 

Ukrainians Protest New Anti-Corruption Law as Zelenskyy Signs Controversial Bill

Thousands of Ukrainians rallied in Kyiv and other cities Tuesday to protest a new law critics say weakens Ukraine’s anti-corruption institutions.

The demonstrations marked the largest public outcry against the government since Russia’s 2022 invasion. Despite demands for a veto, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed the legislation, according to the parliament’s website.

The law gives the prosecutor general expanded control over the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO), threatening their independence. The agencies warned that the change effectively places them under executive influence, undermining their ability to investigate high-level corruption.

The European Union (EU) condemned the law as “a serious step back.” Enlargement Commissioner Marta Kos warned it jeopardizes Ukraine’s path to EU accession, where the rule of law is central.

Transparency International’s Ukrainian branch also criticized the move, calling it a rollback of key reforms since the 2014 Revolution of Dignity.

Protesters carried signs demanding Zelenskyy protect Ukraine’s anti-corruption system and accused his administration of favoring personal loyalty over transparency. Activists, veterans, and watchdog groups warned that corruption in wartime threatens Ukraine’s chances of victory and its international credibility.


The law’s passage follows a Cabinet reshuffle and a security sweep of NABU personnel, including the arrest of two officials over alleged ties to Russia.

Zelenskyy’s office has not commented on the law or the growing backlash.

 

Zelenskyy Renews Offer to Meet Putin as Russia Escalates Attacks on Ukrainian Cities

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has renewed his offer to hold direct talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin to end the war, but the Kremlin downplayed the possibility of a high-level meeting.

Instead, delegations are preparing for another round of lower-level negotiations in Istanbul, though expectations remain low.

Zelenskyy stressed that only a top-level summit can bring real progress, dismissing lower tier talks as insufficient. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed no timeline for such a meeting and warned against expecting “magical breakthroughs.”

Previous Istanbul talks have led only to limited prisoner and body exchanges.

Ukraine’s delegation, led by former Defense Minister Rustem Umerov, aims to negotiate further prisoner releases and the return of children allegedly abducted by Russia.

Meanwhile, Russia intensified attacks across Ukraine on Monday night. Strikes using drones and glide bombs hit the Sumy, Odesa, and Kramatorsk regions, killing a young boy and wounding at least 41 others. In Sumy, two powerful bombs injured 13 people and damaged residential buildings and a shopping mall.

Russia claimed it intercepted 35 Ukrainian drones overnight, including three near Moscow.

As Russian forces push to capture more territory, controlling roughly 20% of Ukraine, Ukrainian and Western officials accuse the Kremlin of using stalled diplomacy to buy time on the battlefield.

 

Bangladesh Air Force Jet Crash Kills 32, Sparks Student Protests in Dhaka

A Bangladesh Air Force training jet crashed into a school in Dhaka’s Uttara neighborhood on Monday, killing 32 people, including 29 students, two teachers, and the pilot on his first solo flight.

The Chinese-made F-7 BGI aircraft reportedly suffered a technical malfunction shortly after takeoff.

The crash sparked massive student protests across the capital on Tuesday. Demonstrators demanded transparency on casualties, compensation for victims’ families, and a halt to military training flights using what they called outdated and unsafe aircraft.

Protests disrupted traffic and escalated when students breached the Bangladesh Secretariat, prompting security forces to deploy tear gas and stun grenades. Roughly 80 students were injured in the clashes.

The government declared a National Day of Mourning, and the military launched an investigation. A High Court order directed the government to form a technical committee to probe the crash. Officials said 171 people were rescued from the school; 78 remain hospitalized, with about two dozen in critical condition. India announced plans to send a team of burn specialists to assist with treatment.

The pilot, Flight Lt. Mohammed Toukir Islam, reportedly attempted to divert the jet away from the crowded area. The crash is the deadliest in the capital’s recent history and has reignited concerns about Bangladesh’s use of aging military aircraft.

Protesters accused authorities of mishandling the aftermath and called for the resignation of Education Adviser C.R. Abrar. Tensions remain high as the interim government struggles to stabilize the country ahead of next year’s elections.

 

Chinese Hackers Exploit Microsoft SharePoint Flaws to Breach Western Networks

Microsoft issued a warning Tuesday that Chinese state-sponsored hacking groups are actively exploiting critical security flaws in on-premises SharePoint servers to steal sensitive data and install backdoor malware.

The tech giant identified three threat groups—Linen Typhoon, Violet Typhoon, and Storm-2603—targeting organizations using two newly disclosed vulnerabilities that allow attackers to bypass authentication and execute remote code.

The campaign began on July 7 and rapidly escalated around July 18, according to cybersecurity firm Check Point.

Microsoft said the attacks do not affect SharePoint Online, its cloud-based service, but warned that vulnerable on-premises systems remain at risk if not patched immediately. The company released security updates and urged all customers to apply the fixes without delay.

The hackers deployed malicious code to steal encryption keys and maintain persistent access to compromised networks.

Linen Typhoon and Violet Typhoon, long-standing cyber espionage units, have a history of targeting governments, defense firms, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and media outlets across the US, Europe, and East Asia. Storm-2603, believed to be China-based, has been linked to prior ransomware activity, but its current goals remain unclear.

Check Point confirmed dozens of breach attempts targeting major Western governments and organizations in North America and Europe, emphasizing the campaign’s sophistication and urgency.

 

Sources: News Agencies