Evening Brief: Kenya Protests Turn Deadly, Former Russian Transportation Minister Found Dead, Secretary of State Rubio Heads to Malaysia

· Guy D. McCardle

SOFREP Evening Brief roundup for Monday, July 7, 2025. (Images grab via X)

As the sun sets, global flashpoints heat up. Netanyahu and Trump meet in Washington, touting their Iran strikes but grappling with the unfinished Gaza war. The US drops Syria’s HTS from the terror list, Kenya erupts in deadly protests, and Russia rains missiles and drones on Ukraine. Meanwhile, Secretary Rubio heads to Asia to steady alliances as Pakistan and India trade fresh accusations. Here’s your frontline roundup to keep you sharp tonight.

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Netanyahu, Trump Tout Iran Strikes Amid Pressure to End Gaza War

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and US President Donald Trump are set to meet in Washington on Monday, projecting unity after joint airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites.

While both leaders hail the operation as a strategic win, the 21-month war in Gaza looms large over their talks.

Trump has made clear he wants the Gaza conflict resolved, especially in light of a proposed US-brokered ceasefire with Hamas that includes a 60-day pause in fighting, increased aid, and a potential hostage release. However, core disagreements remain.

Hamas demands a full Israeli withdrawal and an end to the war in exchange for freeing all hostages. Netanyahu refuses, insisting Hamas must first surrender, disarm, and go into exile.

Netanyahu, before departing for Washington, expressed support for advancing a ceasefire “on the terms we agreed to” and emphasized the importance of US cooperation. He is scheduled to meet with Secretary of State Marco Rubio, envoy Steve Witkoff, and House Speaker Mike Johnson.

Trump has touted past peace deals and now sees Gaza as key to unlocking broader Middle East stability, including potential normalization with Saudi Arabia. Still, he has tempered expectations, telling reporters the outcome “changes from day to day.”

The Trump-Netanyahu relationship has grown closer since the Iran strikes, though past tensions remain fresh—such as Trump’s surprise announcement in April of renewed US-Iran talks, which caught Netanyahu off guard.

Trump has vowed to be “very firm” with Netanyahu on ending the Gaza war, and analysts suggest the Israeli leader may be pressured to deliver, especially following Trump’s recent public support in calling for Netanyahu’s corruption trial to be dropped.

The two leaders are also expected to discuss expanding the Abraham Accords, with talks possibly involving Syria and Saudi Arabia. Trump’s broader regional goal hinges on resolving the Gaza conflict, which he sees as a prerequisite for wider Arab-Israeli normalization.

 

Trump Administration Revokes Terror Designation for Syria’s HTS, Moves to Ease Sanctions

President Donald Trump’s administration has officially revoked the US foreign terrorist organization (FTO) designation for al-Nusrah Front, also known as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), according to a June 23 State Department memo signed by Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

The move signals a major shift in US policy toward Syria, coming just a week after Trump signed an executive order terminating a key US sanctions program on the country.

The revocation clears a path for easing financial restrictions on Syria as Washington looks to reintegrate the country into the international financial system and support post-war reconstruction.

HTS, formerly al-Qaeda’s affiliate in Syria, severed ties with the terrorist network several years ago and now claims to support an inclusive and democratic future for Syria under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa.

HTS played a key role in ousting former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad during a December offensive led by Islamist rebel factions. Trump and Sharaa met in May in Riyadh, where Trump unexpectedly announced plans to lift US sanctions on Syria — a policy shift now materializing with concrete steps like the FTO revocation.

Syria’s foreign ministry has not yet commented on the development. The full notice is set for publication in the Federal Register on Tuesday.

 

Deported Immigrants Held in Djibouti Transferred to South Sudan After Court Clearance

Eight men deported from the US in May were transferred to South Sudan on Friday after weeks in custody at a US military base in Djibouti.

The group—originally from Cuba, Laos, Mexico, Myanmar, Vietnam, and South Sudan—was sent to the war-torn country following a Supreme Court decision that cleared the Trump administration to proceed with the relocation.

The men, all convicted of violent crimes in the US, were initially flown toward South Sudan but diverted to Djibouti after a federal judge ruled their deportation violated due process. They were held under guard in a converted shipping container while legal challenges played out.

The Supreme Court ultimately sided with the administration, allowing expedited deportations to third countries and overriding lower court rulings that had temporarily blocked the transfers. A Boston judge, whose prior rulings paused the process, later concluded he had no legal authority to prevent their removal following the high court’s decision.

Homeland Security hailed the move as a win for public safety and immigration enforcement. The State Department, meanwhile, continues to warn against travel to South Sudan due to widespread crime, kidnapping, and conflict. US officials have also arranged for other nations to accept deportees when their home countries refuse reentry.

 

Kenya Protests Turn Deadly on Saba Saba Anniversary, Police Kill 10

Kenyan police killed at least 10 people and injured many more Monday during nationwide anti-government protests, according to the state-funded human rights commission.

Clashes erupted in 17 of Kenya’s 47 counties as demonstrators, led largely by youth, took to the streets to protest police brutality, corruption, and rising living costs, demanding President William Ruto’s resignation.

Security forces shut down access to central Nairobi, deploying razor wire and heavily restricting vehicle and pedestrian movement. Businesses remained closed as protesters lit bonfires, threw stones, and faced off with police who responded with live rounds and tear gas. In Kitengela, officers fired gas to disperse crowds blocking roads to Tanzania.

The protests coincided with Saba Saba (July 7), a historically symbolic day marking pro-democracy demonstrations in 1990. Critics likened today’s protests to that earlier movement, accusing the government of undermining constitutional freedoms.

Interior Minister Kipchumba Murkomen previously ordered police to use deadly force against protesters targeting law enforcement facilities.

Last month, he instructed officers to “shoot on sight” following the torching of several police stations. Despite his warning, protests continue to escalate.

The current wave of unrest was ignited by the death of a blogger in police custody and has been fueled by repeated incidents of excessive force, including the June 17 shooting of a protester at close range. On June 25, 19 people were killed and over 400 injured in a separate anti-police protest, timed around the anniversary of last year’s anti-tax riots that left over 60 dead.

President Ruto’s government has yet to comment on the latest killings.

 

Russian Strikes Kill 11 Civilians as Ukraine Battles Intensified Drone Attacks and Internal Turmoil Hits Kremlin

Russian airstrikes killed at least 11 civilians and injured over 80 others across Ukraine on Monday, including seven children, as Moscow escalated its drone and missile campaign.

Ukrainian officials reported Russia launched over 100 drones overnight targeting civilian infrastructure. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Russia fired 1,270 drones, 39 missiles, and nearly 1,000 glide bombs over the past week, calling air defense the key to survival.

Attacks hit multiple regions: one killed a civilian in Odesa, another in Kharkiv where 71 were injured, and drone debris damaged Kyiv. Russian drones also killed two and injured two in Sumy, while strikes in Donetsk left seven dead and nine wounded. Ukraine reported new Russian strikes targeting military mobilization centers for the third time in five days, likely aiming to disrupt recruitment. Seventeen more civilians were injured in Kharkiv and Zaporizhzhia.

On the front lines, Ukraine’s overstretched forces face continued Russian pressure across the 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) battlefront. With US weapons shipments halted and no movement on peace talks, Zelenskyy announced deals with European allies and a major US defense firm to mass-produce drones, including interceptors for Russia’s Shahed models.

Meanwhile, the Kremlin confirmed the firing of now-former Russian Transport Minister Roman Starovoit just hours before he was found dead in an apparent suicide. His dismissal followed widespread flight disruptions in Moscow and St. Petersburg, blamed on Ukrainian drone threats.

Russian media suggest his removal may be linked to an embezzlement investigation tied to failed fortifications in the Kursk region, which previously suffered a Ukrainian breakthrough.

Russia’s Defense Ministry claimed it shot down 91 Ukrainian drones overnight across 13 regions, as well as over Crimea and the Black Sea.

 

Secretary of State Rubio Heads to Malaysia for First Asia Visit, Aims to Reassure ASEAN on US Commitment

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio will travel to Malaysia from July 8-12 for his first official visit to Asia, where he will attend meetings with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) in Kuala Lumpur and meet senior Malaysian officials, the State Department announced Monday.

Rubio’s visit comes amid rising concern among ASEAN members over President Donald Trump’s global tariff strategy and America’s long-term commitment to the region. The trip is part of the administration’s renewed Indo-Pacific focus, aimed at reassuring allies that the US sees the region as central to its national security and economic interests.

State Department officials said Rubio will emphasize US commitment to ASEAN and the Indo-Pacific, discuss regional trade dynamics, and reiterate the need to rebalance US trade relationships. Trade is expected to be a key topic, especially in light of Trump’s recent announcement that new tariffs could be imposed on BRICS nations aligning with “anti-American” policies, which includes ASEAN member Indonesia.

Trump said new tariffs would be announced by July 9, with a three-week grace period before implementation. He also claimed progress on trade agreements with Vietnam and India but expressed skepticism about a deal with Japan, a key US ally in the region.

Rubio’s itinerary notably excludes Japan and South Korea. Meanwhile, South Korean National Security Adviser Wi Sung-lac arrived in Washington Sunday to discuss tariffs and a potential summit between Trump and new South Korean President Lee Jae Myung.

Rubio’s trip signals a broader diplomatic push to reassert US leadership in Asia amid growing Chinese influence and uncertainty over American economic engagement.

 

Pakistan Army Chief Denies India’s Claim of Chinese Support in May Conflict

Pakistan’s Army Chief Field Marshal Asim Munir on Monday dismissed India’s claim that China provided Islamabad with real-time intelligence during the May military clash between the two nuclear-armed neighbors.

Munir called the allegations “irresponsible and factually incorrect” during an address to graduates of the national security and war course in Islamabad.

The rebuttal follows comments by Indian Army Deputy Chief Lt. Gen. Rahul Singh, who accused China of giving Pakistan “live inputs” on Indian military positions.

Pakistani officials have consistently denied receiving active Chinese support in the conflict.

The four-day exchange in May, the worst India-Pakistan fighting in decades, involved missiles, drones, and artillery, and was sparked by a deadly attack on tourists in Indian-administered Kashmir. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the attack, which Islamabad denies. A ceasefire agreement followed shortly after.

Pakistan and China maintain close strategic and economic ties, underscored by multibillion-dollar Chinese investments in Pakistan’s infrastructure. India’s relationship with China, strained since a deadly 2020 border clash, has recently shown signs of improvement following a disengagement agreement in October.

 

Sources: News Agencies