Morning Brief: Trump Reverses Weapons Freeze, Greenlights New Arms for Ukraine as Russian Attacks Intensify

· Guy D. McCardle

A Ukrainian soldier atop a Stryker armored personnel carrier. (Image grab via X)

The battlefields stretch from Gaza to the Red Sea, where Israeli troops take fresh losses and Houthi rebels sink ships. Ceasefire talks grind on in Washington, but rockets keep flying. Iran revises its war toll upward, Los Angeles sees a military-style immigration raid, and Trump flips on Ukraine aid as Russian strikes intensify. Meanwhile, Canada surges in military recruitment, and France confronts Chinese disinformation ops in the Indo-Pacific. Here’s the intel you need to start your day ahead of the curve.

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Five Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza as Ceasefire Talks Intensify in Washington

Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 wounded Tuesday in an attack in northern Gaza’s Beit Hanoun area, the Israeli military confirmed.

Militants detonated explosive devices and opened fire as Israeli forces conducted operations and evacuated casualties.

The attack brings Israel’s military death toll to 888 since the war with Hamas began in October 2023.

Simultaneously, Israeli airstrikes killed at least 18 Palestinians, including civilians, in southern and central Gaza. Strikes in Khan Younis killed four displaced civilians sheltering in tents and another family of four.

A separate strike in Nuseirat killed 10 and wounded 72, according to local hospitals. The Israeli military did not comment but blamed Hamas for civilian casualties due to its use of populated areas.

The violence erupted as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu met with US officials in Washington to discuss a US-backed ceasefire proposal.

President Donald Trump has pushed for an agreement that would halt fighting for 60 days, allow humanitarian aid into Gaza, and secure the release of at least some of the remaining 50 hostages, 20 of whom are believed to be alive.

Ceasefire talks remain stalled over Hamas’s demand for a permanent end to the war and a full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

Netanyahu insists the war will only end when Hamas disarms, surrenders, and leaves the territory — conditions the group rejects.

Since Hamas’s initial October 7 attack that killed 1,200 people and led to the capture of 251 hostages, Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed over 57,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

The ministry, controlled by Hamas, does not distinguish between civilians and combatants, but the UN considers its data among the most reliable available.

 

Iran Revises Death Toll in War with Israel to Over 1,000, Warns Numbers May Rise

Iran has officially raised its death toll from the recent 12-day war with Israel to at least 1,060, with officials warning the number may exceed 1,100 due to severe injuries.

Saeed Ohadi, head of Iran’s Foundation of Martyrs and Veterans Affairs, announced the updated figure during a state TV interview Monday night.

Throughout the conflict, Iran minimized the reported impact of Israel’s strikes, which targeted and crippled air defenses, military infrastructure, and nuclear facilities. Since the ceasefire, Tehran has begun to acknowledge the scale of destruction, though it has yet to disclose the extent of its military equipment losses.

The Washington-based Human Rights Activists group reported a higher toll of 1,190 dead, including 436 civilians and 435 security personnel, with another 4,475 wounded.

Iran has not confirmed these numbers.

The war marked one of the most devastating direct confrontations between the two regional rivals to date.

 

Houthi Rebels Strike Two Ships in Red Sea, Prompt Israeli Retaliation

Houthi rebels launched two maritime attacks in the Red Sea within 24 hours, targeting the Liberian-flagged Eternity C on Monday and sinking the Magic Seas a day earlier.

The renewed strikes injured at least two crew members and left two missing, escalating fears of a broader Houthi campaign that could again draw in US and allied forces.

The Eternity C, a Greek-owned bulk carrier en route to the Suez Canal, came under attack by small boats and bomb-laden drones approximately 60 miles southwest of Hodeida, Yemen.

The European Union’s Operation Atalanta and private firm Ambrey confirmed the attack.

On Sunday, the Magic Seas, also Liberian-flagged and Greek-owned, was struck by drones, missiles, and small arms fire, forcing its 22-member crew to abandon ship. The Houthis claimed responsibility for that assault, and a Houthi military spokesman later said the vessel had sunk.

Israel responded Monday with airstrikes on Houthi-controlled ports in Hodeida, Ras Isa, Salif, and the Ras Kanatib power station. Israeli jets also targeted the Galaxy Leader, a ship the Houthis seized in November 2023 and reportedly outfitted with radar to track maritime traffic.

The Israeli military said the ports were being used to transfer Iranian-supplied weapons used in attacks on Israel and its allies.

Defense Minister Israel Katz warned of more strikes, stating, “What’s true for Iran is true for Yemen. Anyone who raises a hand against Israel will have it cut off.”

The Houthis, backed by Iran, claim their attacks are retaliation against Israel’s ongoing war in Gaza. Since late 2023, the group has targeted over 100 commercial vessels, sinking two and killing four sailors. Their actions have severely disrupted global shipping through the Red Sea, a critical corridor for $1 trillion in annual trade.

Though Houthi maritime assaults had paused after US airstrikes in March, the recent escalation marks a potential resurgence in threats to regional security and global commerce. Israeli strikes now continue without US coordination, signaling Tel Aviv’s intent to independently counter the Houthi threat.

 

Federal Officers, National Guard Conduct Brief Immigration Raid in LA’s MacArthur Park

Dozens of federal officers and 90 California National Guard troops in tactical gear staged a high-visibility immigration raid Monday morning in Los Angeles’ MacArthur Park, a dense immigrant neighborhood two miles west of downtown.

The operation, which lasted about an hour, included 17 Humvees, four tactical vehicles, two ambulances, and federal officers on horseback. It remains unclear whether any arrests were made.

Defense officials said the deployment aimed to protect Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) personnel as they executed an unspecified raid. The military emphasized that Guard troops did not conduct arrests but were authorized to temporarily detain individuals if needed. Officials admitted the operation’s scale might appear like a military action, but insisted it was not.

Mayor Karen Bass was present during the operation and planned a press briefing later in the day.

Activists, who had warned locals to vacate the area, documented the show of force. Critics labeled it an act of intimidation targeting immigrant communities. Jeannette Zanipatin of the Coalition for Humane Immigrant Rights accused the Trump administration of trying to make an example of Los Angeles.

The heavily militarized presence came as part of President Donald Trump’s intensified immigration crackdown. Last month, he ordered the deployment of thousands of National Guard troops and US Marines to the city, despite opposition from California Governor Gavin Newsom. Officials announced last week that 200 troops would be redirected to wildfire duties.

MacArthur Park, often referred to as the “Ellis Island of the West Coast,” is a vital cultural hub populated by Mexican, Central American, and other immigrant communities.

Monday’s operation sparked widespread outrage, with local resident Betsy Bolte describing it as “gut-wrenching” and “a federal show of force on the streets of a U.S. city.” The raid ended abruptly, and authorities have yet to provide a full explanation.

 

Trump Reverses Weapons Freeze, Greenlights New Arms for Ukraine as Russian Attacks Intensify

US President Donald Trump on Monday announced the US will resume sending weapons to Ukraine, just days after his administration paused critical arms shipments over concerns about dwindling US stockpiles.

The reversal follows a sharp increase in Russian drone and missile attacks, which killed at least 11 Ukrainian civilians and injured over 80 in the past 24 hours alone.

Trump, speaking alongside Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, called the renewed aid “primarily defensive weapons,” stating, “They have to be able to defend themselves. They’re getting hit very hard now.”

The Pentagon confirmed late Monday it would resume shipments of air defense systems and precision-guided munitions but said all aid remains under review as part of Trump’s “America First” defense strategy.

Ukraine has faced a massive wave of Russian bombardments over the past week, including more than 1,270 drones, 39 missiles, and nearly 1,000 glide bombs.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy continues to call for increased military support and said Ukraine has signed deals with European allies and a major US defense contractor to scale up drone production.

Meanwhile, Moscow was rocked by internal turmoil after Russia’s Transport Minister Roman Starovoit was found dead in an apparent suicide hours after President Vladimir Putin fired him.

Starovoit’s dismissal came amid widespread air travel disruptions from Ukrainian drone threats and ongoing corruption investigations tied to failed defensive fortifications in the Kursk region.

On the battlefield, Russia is pressing hard along Ukraine’s 1,000-kilometer (621-mile) front line. Russian forces targeted military recruitment centers for the third time in five days, likely aiming to disrupt Ukrainian mobilization. In separate attacks, drone strikes killed civilians in Odesa, Kharkiv, Sumy, Donetsk, and Kyiv.

Ukraine remains stretched thin, compensating for manpower shortages with drone warfare and urgently seeking further US and European aid.

As pressure mounts on both sides, Trump’s frustration with Putin appears to be growing. “I’m not happy with President Putin at all,” he said Monday, signaling possible further steps—including economic measures—to pressure Moscow into peace talks.

 

Canadian Military Hits 10-Year Recruitment High

Canada’s Armed Forces enlisted 6,706 new members over the past year, surpassing its recruitment goal and marking the highest enrollment in a decade.

The milestone comes as Prime Minister Mark Carney pledges to rebuild the military, reduce dependency on the United States, and meet NATO’s 2% GDP defense spending target ahead of schedule.

The 55% recruitment increase follows modernization efforts and widened eligibility criteria, including opening applications to permanent residents and individuals with certain medical conditions like asthma, anxiety, and ADHD (attention deficit hyperactivity disorder).

Defense officials attribute the rise to streamlined processes, economic uncertainty, and a renewed national focus on sovereignty and identity.

Despite the recruitment success, serious retention issues remain.

The Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) is still short about 14,000 personnel and faces high attrition rates during basic training.

Analysts warn that the enrollment numbers may not directly translate into long-term readiness or active-duty strength.

Carney announced a $9.3 billion defense funding boost for 2025-26 and outlined plans to raise military salaries, build more housing on bases, and improve healthcare and legal services. His remarks follow repeated threats by US President Donald Trump, including trade actions and rhetoric about annexing Canada, which have fueled calls for Canadian military self-reliance.

Officials remain optimistic that the new momentum, combined with structural reforms and shifting demographics, will help the CAF hit its goal of 71,500 regular force members and 30,000 reservists by 2029.

Still, defense analysts caution that boosting numbers is only one part of restoring full operational capability.

 

China Accused of Coordinated Disinformation Campaign to Undermine French Rafale Jets

French intelligence officials have concluded that China orchestrated a coordinated effort to damage the reputation and sales of France’s Rafale fighter jets following their combat debut in the May clashes between India and Pakistan.

According to findings shared with The Associated Press, Chinese defense attachés stationed at embassies led a quiet campaign to sway current and prospective Rafale buyers, particularly Indonesia, toward Chinese-made alternatives.

The four-day air combat in May involved dozens of aircraft and marked the first confirmed combat loss of a Rafale. Pakistan claimed its forces shot down five Indian aircraft, including three Rafales, though India only confirmed the loss of one Rafale, one Sukhoi, and a Mirage 2000.

The performance of India’s French-made Rafales has since drawn scrutiny, creating an opening for disinformation efforts.

French military officials said Chinese officials and online actors amplified narratives suggesting Rafale underperformance, while promoting the technological superiority of Chinese systems.

Researchers documented more than 1,000 newly created social media accounts spreading manipulated imagery, artificial intelligence (AI)-generated content, and even video game footage repurposed as supposed combat footage. Though the campaign’s digital roots have not been conclusively traced to the Chinese government, officials noted that Chinese embassy personnel echoed the same narratives in direct meetings with foreign defense officials.

Beijing has denied the allegations, calling them “groundless rumors and slander.” But French defense leaders argue the effort was a calculated attempt to undermine France’s defense industry and its growing strategic ties in the Indo-Pacific.

The Ministry of Armed Forces said the Rafale program was targeted not just for its performance, but for what it symbolizes: French industrial reliability, strategic autonomy, and global partnerships.

Rafale fighter jet
A French Rafale C prepares to land during Atlantic Trident 25 at Pirkkala Air Base, Finland, June 19, 2025. (DVIDS)

France has exported 323 of its 533 Rafale jets to countries including India, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates, Qatar, and Indonesia. With Indonesia considering additional orders beyond its current purchase of 42 jets, France sees its regional defense relationships as increasingly vital in countering Chinese influence.

Defense analysts believe China is leveraging the Indo-Pakistani conflict to discredit Western military platforms and erode French credibility in Asia.

“They saw an opportunity to damage French sales prospects in the region,” said Justin Bronk of the Royal United Services Institute.

France continues to push back, determined to protect one of its most prominent and strategic defense exports.

 

Sources: News Agencies