Morning Brief: Iran Strikes Israeli Hospital as Israel Hits Arak Nuclear Reactor, Zelenskyy Urges More Pressure on Moscow After Deadly Russian Strike

· SOFREP News Team

Israel's Soroka Hospital sustains damage following Iranian missile strike. (Image grab via @Isaac_Herzog/X)

Start your Thursday strong with SOFREP’s Morning Brief, your go-to rundown of global flashpoints and defense updates for June 19, 2025. Tensions flare as Iran strikes an Israeli hospital, injuring 40, and Israel hits back at Iran’s Arak reactor. The DR Congo and Rwanda move toward peace with a new deal to end eastern Congo conflict. Russia’s deadly missile strike on Kyiv leaves 28 dead, prompting Zelenskyy to call for more pressure. In Thailand, a leaked call with Hun Sen sparks political chaos and a key coalition walkout. Meanwhile, Taiwan launches a sweeping campaign to root out suspected Chinese sympathizers.

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Iran Strikes Israeli Hospital as Israel Hits Arak Nuclear Reactor

An Iranian missile struck Soroka Medical Center in Beersheba early Thursday, causing significant damage but no serious injuries.

The attack, part of a larger barrage that also hit residential buildings near Tel Aviv, wounded at least 40 people. Israeli emergency services evacuated patients as black smoke rose from the damaged hospital. Soroka has been closed to all but life-threatening cases.

In response, Israel launched airstrikes on Iran’s Arak heavy water reactor, targeting the core seal to prevent plutonium production. Israel confirmed the strike was aimed at halting any restoration of the facility for nuclear weapons development. Iran reported no radiation release and said nearby civilian areas were unharmed.

The strikes mark day seven of an escalating conflict between Israel and Iran. So far, Iran has fired around 400 missiles and hundreds of drones, killing at least 24 in Israel. Israel’s campaign has killed hundreds in Iran, including senior military figures and nuclear scientists, and has targeted nuclear sites in Natanz, Tehran, and Isfahan.

Iran maintains its nuclear program is peaceful, though it continues to enrich uranium to 60 percent—near weapons-grade levels. Israel, which possesses undeclared nuclear weapons, has vowed to prevent Tehran from acquiring a nuclear bomb.

Despite international warnings, including from the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), Israel has intensified its operations.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the hospital strike and promised retaliation: “We will exact the full price from the tyrants in Tehran.”

Iranian leaders, meanwhile, have rejected calls for surrender and warned of dire consequences if the US joins the conflict.

 

DRC and Rwanda Initial Peace Agreement to End Eastern Congo Conflict

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and Rwanda have initialed a peace agreement aimed at ending the ongoing conflict in eastern DRC, with a formal signing set for June 27 in Washington.

The US and Qatar brokered the deal, and US Secretary of State Marco Rubio is expected to witness the ceremony.

The agreement includes commitments to respect territorial integrity, halt hostilities, and address the disarmament, disengagement, and conditional integration of non-state armed groups. It builds on a declaration of principles signed in April and follows three days of talks between DRC and Rwandan officials in Washington.

The conflict in eastern DRC escalated sharply after the M23 rebel group—reportedly backed by Rwanda, according to US and UN sources—captured Goma and Bukavu earlier this year, establishing control over significant territory.

The violence has claimed thousands of lives in the region, which has suffered from instability for three decades.

Rwanda denies supporting M23 and cites threats from other armed groups like the FDLR, formed by Hutus involved in the 1994 genocide, as justification for its involvement in regional security matters.

The peace agreement seeks to end years of hostilities and establish a framework for long-term stability.

 

Zelenskyy Urges More Pressure on Moscow After Deadly Russian Strike on Kyiv Apartment Building

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased international pressure on Russia Thursday after a Russian missile strike on a Kyiv apartment building killed 28 people and injured 142 in the war’s deadliest assault on the capital this year.

The missile collapsed a nine-story structure in the Solomianskyi district, where Zelenskyy and senior officials paid tribute to the victims.

The attack, part of a larger barrage involving over 440 drones and 32 missiles, underscored Moscow’s intensified summer offensive along Ukraine’s 1,000-kilometer front line. Zelenskyy condemned the strike as further evidence of Russia’s refusal to consider a ceasefire, despite US-led efforts to broker peace.

Russian President Vladimir Putin has dismissed a proposed 30-day ceasefire by President Donald Trump, demanding Ukraine halt mobilization and freeze Western weapons supplies. While Putin claimed Russia targets only military infrastructure, Ukraine and its allies reject his denials of civilian casualties.

Ukraine said it had accepted the US peace proposal 100 days ago and accused Moscow of escalating attacks instead of pursuing peace. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha called Russian offers of dialogue “manipulations,” reiterating Kyiv’s commitment to a genuine peace process.

Overnight Wednesday, Russia launched 104 Shahed and decoy drones across Ukraine; 88 were intercepted or jammed. No casualties were reported from that strike. The war, now in its fourth year, continues to claim civilian lives amid stalled diplomacy and shifting global attention.

 

Thai PM Under Fire After Leaked Call With Cambodia’s Hun Sen Sparks Political Crisis

Thai Prime Minister Paetongtarn Shinawatra apologized Thursday amid mounting political turmoil triggered by a leaked phone call with Cambodia’s former leader Hun Sen.

The fallout has led to a major coalition partner, the Bhumjaithai Party, quitting the government and growing calls for Paetongtarn’s resignation.

The leaked 17-minute call, posted by Hun Sen himself, captured Paetongtarn referring to a Thai army commander as “an opponent” during talks over lifting border restrictions after a fatal May 28 clash in a disputed zone.

Critics accused her of appeasing Hun Sen and undermining Thailand’s military, fueling nationalist backlash and fears of a possible coup.

Paetongtarn defended her remarks as a negotiation tactic aimed at peace but said she would no longer engage privately with Hun Sen, calling him untrustworthy. Thailand’s Foreign Ministry formally protested the recording, labeling it a breach of diplomatic norms.

The crisis deepened as Bhumjaithai, the largest coalition partner, cited threats to sovereignty and national security in its exit. The government now holds a narrow majority in Parliament with 255 of 500 seats. Opposition leaders and nationalist protesters are demanding new elections, while several senators plan to file impeachment motions.

Amid coup speculation, the Royal Thai Army issued a statement reaffirming its commitment to the constitutional monarchy and national sovereignty through legal mechanisms.

Paetongtarn’s family has a history of military ousters, with her father Thaksin deposed in 2006 and aunt Yingluck in 2014.

 

Taiwan Launches Mass Vetting Campaign to Root Out Chinese Sympathizers Amid Espionage Threat

Taiwan is screening hundreds of thousands of military personnel, civil servants, and public school teachers to identify potential Chinese sympathizers as concerns grow over Beijing’s espionage efforts.

The move comes after a recent spike in prosecutions, including four former members of the ruling Democratic Progressive Party accused of leaking state secrets to China.

Authorities are particularly focused on individuals holding Chinese ID documents, which are illegal under Taiwanese law. In the first round of vetting, over 371,000 individuals signed statements denying ties to Chinese residency, with two admitting to holding ID cards and 75 holding residence permits, all of which were annulled.

A second round is underway, targeting only public employees, not the general population.

President Lai Ching-te, a staunch advocate of Taiwanese sovereignty, labeled China a “foreign hostile force” and warned of growing infiltration, particularly through financial coercion or ideological recruitment of current and former military members.

Taiwan has also demanded around 10,000 Chinese spouses and their children provide proof of renouncing Chinese household registration. Critics, including the opposition Kuomintang (KMT), accuse the government of enforcing “loyalty tests” and attempting to “cleanse the population.”

The vetting effort reflects Taiwan’s broader struggle against Chinese influence, which includes disinformation, cyberattacks, and persistent military threats.

Analysts say Taiwan’s democracy remains strong, but constant vigilance is required to defend it against Beijing’s growing pressure.

 

Sources: News Agencies