Evening Brief: Saudi Arabia Pledges $6.4 Billion in Syrian Investments; Russian Glide Bombs Kill 2, Wound 33 in Eastern Ukraine Strike

· Guy D. McCardle

Cars engulfed in flames after Russian glide bomb strikes in Kharkiv. (@ZelenskyyUa/X)

Good evening! The day closes with major moves across the geopolitical chessboard. Saudi Arabia is going all-in on Syria with a $6.4 billion investment push backing the new regime. In Gaza, the US walks away from ceasefire talks, citing Hamas’ bad faith. Meanwhile, President Trump takes aim at AI with a new executive order targeting “woke tech.” On the battlefield, Ukraine reels from Russian airstrikes as drone warfare heats up on both sides. France shakes up the diplomatic front with plans to recognize Palestine, while Thailand and Cambodia descend into open conflict along their contested border. Let’s break it all down.

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Saudi Arabia Pledges $6.4 Billion in Syrian Investments, Deepening Ties with Sharaa Government

Saudi Arabia announced $6.4 billion in investments in Syria on Thursday, marking a major step in Riyadh’s support for interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa as the war-torn country seeks to rebuild after 14 years of civil conflict.

The announcement came during a Damascus investment forum led by Saudi Investment Minister Khalid Al-Falih.

Al-Falih, visiting Syria at the orders of Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, said the deals include $2.93 billion for real estate and infrastructure, as well as $1.07 billion for telecommunications and IT.

Participating firms include Saudi Telecom Company (STC), GO Telecom, Elm, Cipher, and Classera. A total of 47 agreements have been signed, with over 100 companies attending.

The forum also launched a Saudi-Syrian Business Council, signaling long-term economic cooperation. The event was originally scheduled for June but was delayed due to regional tensions between Iran and Israel.

Riyadh has played a key role in bolstering Sharaa’s government, which took power after Bashar al-Assad’s ousting in December. Saudi Arabia helped persuade US President Donald Trump to lift sanctions on Syria, clearing the way for international investment.

The Saudi announcement follows a $7 billion power deal with Qatar and an $800 million port agreement with United Arab Emirates (UAE)’s DP World. US energy firms are also preparing a master plan for Syria’s energy sector.

In April, Saudi Arabia and Qatar agreed to pay off Syria’s World Bank arrears, paving the way for renewed international lending.

 

US Withdraws from Gaza Ceasefire Talks, Blames Hamas for Stalemate

The United States has withdrawn its negotiating team from Gaza ceasefire talks in Qatar after concluding that Hamas “does not appear to be coordinated or acting in good faith” to reach a truce, according to President Donald Trump’s special envoy Steve Witkoff.

In a Thursday statement, Witkoff accused Hamas of acting in bad faith and announced Washington would now explore “alternative options” to recover hostages and stabilize Gaza.

The US State Department declined to specify what those options might include.

The stalled talks dealt another blow to Trump’s push to broker peace in Gaza, where 21 months of war have left tens of thousands dead and the region on the brink of famine. Humanitarian agencies warn of worsening starvation, particularly among children and women, as Israeli restrictions and violence obstruct aid deliveries.

The deal under negotiation reportedly included a 60-day ceasefire and phased release of hostages by Hamas in exchange for Palestinian prisoners and increased humanitarian aid. Hamas has demanded a full Israeli withdrawal and end to the war, while Israel refuses to halt operations until Hamas is disarmed and removed from power.

Israel also recalled its negotiating team Thursday, with Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s office blaming Hamas for the breakdown. Despite a recent White House meeting between Trump and Netanyahu, no breakthrough followed.

Israel and the US maintain that Hamas is to blame for obstructing a ceasefire and prolonging the war.

 

Trump Signs Order to Ban “Woke AI” in Federal Government Contracts, Pressures Tech Firms on Ideological Neutrality

US President Donald Trump signed a new executive order Wednesday mandating that tech companies prove their artificial intelligence (AI) systems are free from so-called “woke” bias before selling them to the federal government.

The order, part of a broader AI policy rollout aimed at countering China’s dominance in the field, specifically targets diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) initiatives embedded in AI tools.

The “Preventing Woke AI” directive requires companies to disclose internal policies that guide AI behavior and affirm ideological neutrality. It cites concerns over “destructive” ideologies like critical race theory, systemic racism, and transgenderism, echoing language used by Trump allies such as Elon Musk and venture capitalist David Sacks, who helped shape the order alongside conservative strategist Chris Rufo.

Critics, including civil rights advocates and former Biden officials, say the policy mimics China’s state-led control over AI and threatens to politicize government technology procurement. They argue the move pressures firms to self-censor in order to retain lucrative federal contracts. Former Commerce Department official Jim Secreto warned the order encourages soft censorship similar to China’s regulatory approach.

Tech companies have so far remained largely silent as of writing. OpenAI said its design for ChatGPT already aligns with the order’s principles. Microsoft declined to comment to reporters, while other major players like Google, Meta, and Palantir did not respond.

The order does not ban specific content but demands transparency on how developers train and guide AI behavior. Supporters, like Republican AI policy advisor Neil Chilson, claim the directive is a “light touch” approach that ensures neutrality without dictating output. Still, it forces companies to navigate the culture war or risk losing federal business.

The order also marks a shift in how ideology is treated in federal tech policy, pushing the AI industry into a broader political battle over DEI. Meanwhile, AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini are already in widespread government use, according to inventories created at the end of Biden’s term.

 

Senate Confirms Former Space Force Officer Matthew Lohmeier as Air Force Undersecretary

The Senate voted 52-46 along party lines Thursday to confirm former Space Force officer Matthew Lohmeier as undersecretary of the Air Force, making him the service’s No. 2 civilian leader.

Lohmeier, previously removed from command for publicly accusing the military of embracing Marxist ideology, now steps into a key management role despite his controversial past.

Lohmeier gained national attention in 2021 after publishing Irresistible Revolution, a self-released book alleging Marxist influence in military diversity and inclusion initiatives. He was subsequently relieved from command of the 11th Space Warning Squadron.

At his confirmation hearing, Democrats pressed him over his comments on January 6th, including a social media post calling the Capitol attack a “false flag” and threatening “consequences” for unnamed military leaders. Lohmeier claimed his remarks were misunderstood but refused to directly state whether he believed the attack was real.

Despite Democratic opposition, Republicans unanimously backed Lohmeier’s nomination. Senate Armed Services Chairman Roger Wicker (R-MS) praised him for opposing “divisive” diversity programs and framed his confirmation as a strategic leadership shift.

Lohmeier’s confirmation came as the Senate began advancing President Trump’s defense nominees ahead of the summer recess.

On the same day, the Armed Services Committee held a hearing for Adm. Daryl Caudle, Trump’s pick to replace Adm. Lisa Franchetti as chief of naval operations—a nomination expected to face far less resistance.

 

Triple-Murder Convict Included in US-Venezuela Prisoner Swap, Sparking Outrage

One of the 10 Americans freed in a recent high-profile prisoner exchange with Venezuela was Dahud Hanid Ortiz, a former US Marine convicted of a 2016 triple murder in Madrid, according to Venezuelan and Spanish media reports.

Ortiz, 54, holds US and German citizenship and was sentenced in January 2024 by a Venezuelan court to 30 years in prison for homicide and arson.

Ortiz was among those returned to the US on July 18 as part of a swap that saw 252 Venezuelans released from a maximum-security prison in El Salvador, many of them accused by US authorities of criminal activity or ties to the Tren de Aragua gang.

Ortiz is believed to be in Texas.

The US State Department has not clarified his current legal status.

Dahud Hanid Ortiz
Ortiz (center right, holding a small flag) is reportedly among the ten Americans released from detention in Venezuela. A State Department photo shows their return to the stateside this month. (@StateSPEHA/X)

Ortiz served in Iraq and South Korea before being dishonorably discharged for falsifying records. He later tracked down his ex-partner’s new boyfriend in Madrid, mistakenly killed an Ecuadorian client, and murdered two women at a law office before setting the building on fire in an attempt to disguise the crime as cartel-related. Ortiz fled Spain and was arrested in Venezuela in 2018.

Spain could not request extradition due to Venezuela’s constitutional ban on extraditing its nationals, but Venezuelan law allowed Ortiz to be prosecuted domestically for crimes committed abroad.

The inclusion of Ortiz in the prisoner swap has triggered backlash.

Víctor Yoel Salas Cobeñas, one of the intended targets of the attack and a surviving relative of the victims, called the decision a betrayal. He emphasized that Ortiz was not a political prisoner but a convicted killer and criticized former Spanish Prime Minister José Luis Rodríguez Zapatero’s reported involvement in the negotiations.

Ortiz’s release has raised serious questions about the vetting and motives behind the prisoner exchange.

 

France to Recognize Palestinian State at UN in September, Macron Confirms

French President Emmanuel Macron announced Thursday that France will officially recognize a Palestinian state during the United Nations General Assembly in September.

In a letter to Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, Macron said the move reflects France’s long-standing commitment to a “just and lasting peace in the Middle East.”

France will become the first major Western nation to extend such recognition, joining a bloc of smaller countries that have historically been more critical of Israel.

Macron’s announcement, made public on X, is expected to increase international pressure for a diplomatic resolution to the Gaza conflict.

The decision is likely to provoke sharp backlash from both Israel and the United States.

Washington, in a diplomatic cable issued in June, warned against any unilateral recognition of Palestinian statehood, signaling strong opposition to France’s move.

 

Russian Glide Bombs Kill 2, Wound 33 in Eastern Ukraine Strike

Russian forces launched glide bomb attacks on eastern Ukraine Thursday, killing two civilians and wounding at least 33 others, according to Ukrainian officials.

The strikes hit residential areas in the northeastern city of Kharkiv and the eastern city of Kostiantynivka in Donetsk region.

In Kharkiv, regional governor Oleh Syniehubov confirmed that two air-launched glide bombs struck a residential district, injuring dozens, including a 10-year-old child and a 1-month-old infant.

The blast damaged an apartment building and a nearby business, sparking fires and forcing stunned residents to flee.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the attack on social media, calling the strikes “utterly senseless” and without military purpose.

In Donetsk, prosecutors reported two deaths and 12 injuries from another Russian strike on Kostiantynivka. The glide bombs used in the Kharkiv strike were launched from nearly 100 kilometers (62 miles) away, underscoring the extended reach and precision of these weapons.

Russia, which denies targeting civilians, has intensified airstrikes on Ukrainian urban centers as ceasefire negotiations remain stalled.

Glide bombs have become a frequent and destructive tool in Russia’s arsenal, especially in regions near the front lines.

 

Ukraine, Russia Trade Drone Strikes After Failed Peace Talks

Ukraine and Russia launched reciprocal air attacks along their Black Sea coasts early Thursday, hours after direct talks in Istanbul failed to yield progress toward ending the nearly 3.5-year war.

Russian forces targeted Ukraine’s Black Sea port city of Odesa with a large-scale drone assault, wounding at least four civilians and causing fires and structural damage, including in the historic city center—designated a UNESCO World Heritage site. The renowned Pryvoz market was among the sites hit, according to Odesa’s regional governor.

In retaliation, Ukrainian drones struck Russia’s Black Sea coast, killing one woman and injuring another in the Adler district near Sochi. A drone also hit an oil facility in the Sirius federal district, prompting a four-hour suspension of flights at Sochi Airport.

Russia also launched attacks on central Ukraine’s Cherkasy region overnight, injuring seven people, including a nine-year-old, and damaging over a dozen residential buildings.

President Zelenskyy confirmed that Russia launched 103 drones and four missiles overnight, striking ports, transport hubs, and civilian neighborhoods. Deputy Prime Minister Oleskiy Kuleba said the attacks were aimed at civilian infrastructure.

The escalation followed brief negotiations in Turkey, where Ukraine offered a full ceasefire proposal. Talks only produced discussions on potential prisoner swaps.

Moscow rejected the ceasefire terms, and hostilities resumed immediately afterward. Both sides have increased long-range attacks as battlefield momentum remains largely stalled along the 1,000 kilometers (620 miles) front.

 

Zelenskyy Reverses Course on Anti-Corruption Law Amid Public Outcry and EU Pressure

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy submitted a new bill on Thursday to restore the independence of Ukraine’s anti-corruption agencies, following backlash over a recently passed law that weakened their autonomy.

The previous law, approved by Zelenskyy earlier this week, sparked nationwide protests — the first since the war began — and drew condemnation from the European Union and watchdog groups.

The National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine (NABU) and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) endorsed the new bill, saying it reinstates their procedural powers and independence. They confirmed their involvement in drafting the legislation and called for its swift passage to avoid disrupting ongoing investigations.

Zelenskyy initially defended the earlier law as necessary for speeding up cases and preventing Russian interference. However, the revised bill reaffirms that the prosecutor general cannot interfere in anti-graft agency operations and introduces new counterintelligence measures, including mandatory polygraph testing for law enforcement officers.

Protests have eased slightly since the announcement but are expected to continue until the law is officially repealed.

The controversy has tested public trust and comes as Ukraine faces growing battlefield pressure and uncertainty over future Western military aid.

Restoring the integrity of anti-corruption institutions remains critical for Ukraine’s European Union membership ambitions and continued Western support, especially as talks with Russia in Istanbul failed once again to achieve a breakthrough.

 

Indian Company Sent Explosives to Russian Defense Firms Despite US Sanctions Threats

An Indian company exported $1.4 million worth of HMX — a powerful military-grade explosive — to Russia in December 2024, according to Indian customs data reviewed by Reuters Thursday.

One recipient, Russian defense firm Promsintez, is tied to Moscow’s military and was recently targeted in a Ukrainian drone strike, Ukrainian security officials said.

HMX, also known as octogen, is used in missile warheads, torpedoes, and advanced explosives.

The US government has designated it as critical to Russia’s war effort in Ukraine and warned global financial institutions against supporting such transactions. The Pentagon’s technical reports list HMX as essential to several high-performance weapons systems.

The shipments were made by Ideal Detonators Private Limited, based in Telangana, India. According to customs records, one batch worth over $1 million went to Promsintez, while another $405,000 shipment was delivered to a separate Russian firm, High Technology Initiation Systems. Both companies are based in Samara Oblast, near the Kazakh border.

While India has not violated domestic policy or non-proliferation obligations, the deal raises concerns in Washington. The US State Department reiterated its warnings that foreign firms doing military-related business with Russia risk sanctions, though no specific action has yet been taken.

India maintains strong military and energy ties with Moscow, despite growing defense cooperation with the United States. Indian officials argue that HMX has limited civilian applications and that all exports are subject to national controls.

India has also recently benefited from relaxed sanctions enforcement under the Trump administration, which has slowed new Russia-related penalties.

Ukrainian and US officials confirmed the appearance of Promsintez in previous sanction investigations and voiced concern over India’s role. Though not a primary hub for sanctions evasion, isolated cases like this, they warned, could complicate India’s strategic positioning between Russia and the West.

 

Thai-Cambodian Border Clashes Kill 14, Trigger Diplomatic Crisis and Airstrikes

At least 14 people, mostly civilians, were killed Thursday as Thai and Cambodian forces exchanged heavy fire along their shared border, marking the worst military confrontation between the two Southeast Asian nations in over a decade.

Thai officials confirmed their military responded to Cambodian rocket attacks with artillery, small arms fire, and F-16 airstrikes across at least six areas along the frontier.

The clashes erupted a day after a land mine blast wounded five Thai soldiers, prompting Bangkok to expel Cambodia’s ambassador and recall its own. Cambodia followed by pulling its diplomatic staff and requesting an emergency UN Security Council session, accusing Thailand of “aggression.”

Thailand reported one soldier and 13 civilians dead, with 46 more injured. The Cambodian government has not released casualty figures but acknowledged civilian evacuations near Oddar Meanchey province.

Both sides blame each other for instigating the violence.

Thai officials claimed Cambodia targeted a hospital and civilian areas, calling it a violation of international law. Cambodia denied the accusation, saying it struck only military targets and accused Thailand of bombing areas near the UNESCO-listed Preah Vihear temple. Cambodia’s Culture Ministry pledged legal action to protect the site’s integrity.

The renewed conflict centers on longstanding territorial disputes dating back decades, with tensions escalating sharply since May, when a Cambodian soldier was killed. Thursday’s flare-up occurred near the contested Ta Muen Thom temple area.

The violence has sparked political fallout in Thailand, where Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra was suspended earlier this month amid backlash over her handling of the dispute.

Thailand has sealed all land borders with Cambodia and urged its citizens to return home. Meanwhile, both countries maintain that their actions were defensive, but the scale and intensity of the fighting suggest a major diplomatic rift with potential regional implications.

 

Sources: News Agencies