Morning Brief: Israel Recovers Bodies of Three Hostages Killed on October 7, B-2 Bombers Return to US Base After Striking Iranian Nuclear Sites

· SOFREP News Team

A B-2 Spirit bomber lands at Whiteman AFB, Mo., after a successful 36-hour mission. (@US_STRATCOM/X)

Good morning and welcome to your SOFREP Morning Brief for Monday, June 23, 2025. A wave of global developments kicks off the week: Israel has recovered the bodies of three hostages taken on October 7, while the US joined Israel’s campaign with airstrikes on Iranian nuclear sites, prompting mixed international reactions. B-2 bombers are back stateside after executing the mission. In Europe, Ukraine says it now controls territory inside Russia’s Kursk region as fighting ramps up, and Russian strikes killed five in Kyiv. Meanwhile, Trump’s push for 5% NATO defense spending is stirring discord ahead of the alliance’s summit. In Asia, Japan and South Korea mark 60 years of diplomatic ties amid lingering historical and trade tensions.

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Israel Recovers Bodies of Three Hostages Killed on October 7

Israeli forces have recovered the bodies of three hostages—Ofra Keidar, Yonatan Samerano, and Shay Levinson—who were killed during Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attack on southern Israel.

The military confirmed Sunday all three were murdered on the day of the assault, which left 1,200 dead and 251 taken hostage.

With these recoveries, 50 hostages remain in Gaza, though only 20 are believed to be alive. Samerano’s abduction was captured on CCTV and allegedly carried out by a United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) employee, according to Israeli officials.

Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza has killed over 55,000 Palestinians, according to local health authorities, and triggered a humanitarian crisis, displacing nearly the entire 2.3 million population and devastating much of the territory.

 

US Strikes Iranian Nuclear Sites, Drawing Global Reactions

The United States launched airstrikes on three nuclear facilities in Iran on Sunday, formally joining Israel’s ongoing bombing campaign. President Donald Trump confirmed the strikes in a televised address, declaring that Iran’s nuclear enrichment infrastructure was “completely and totally obliterated,” and calling on Iran to seek peace.

International Responses:

  • Israel: Prime Minister Netanyahu praised the strikes, calling them a historic shift and a fulfillment of his pledge to destroy Iran’s nuclear capabilities.
  • United Kingdom: Prime Minister Keir Starmer emphasized the need for diplomatic resolution and regional stability, supporting the US move as a counter to Iran’s nuclear ambitions.
  • European Union: Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas urged all parties to de-escalate and return to negotiations, with an EU foreign ministers meeting scheduled for Monday.
  • United Nations: Secretary-General Antonio Guterres condemned the strikes as a “dangerous escalation” and reiterated that diplomacy remains the only viable path.
  • Russia: The Kremlin condemned the recent US strikes on Iranian nuclear sites, calling them a dangerous escalation that risks expanding the conflict and destabilizing the region. Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov expressed concern over potential radiation hazards and uncertainty about the condition of Iran’s nuclear facilities. He noted that President Trump did not inform President Putin of the specific strike plans in advance, despite prior discussions of possible US involvement. While Russia signed a strategic partnership with Iran in January, it does not include a mutual defense clause. Moscow has offered to mediate and says its next steps depend on Iran’s needs. Putin is set to meet Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi later Monday.
  • Iraq: The Iraqi government warned that the attacks threatened peace and stability in the Middle East.
  • Saudi Arabia: Riyadh expressed concern and called for restraint and de-escalation.
  • Hamas: The group labeled the strikes “brutal aggression” and a violation of international law.
  • US Democrats: House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries criticized Trump for acting without congressional approval and warned of deeper entanglement in Middle Eastern conflict.

The UN’s nuclear watchdog reported no radiation leakage from the attacked sites and scheduled an emergency meeting to assess the situation further.

 

B-2 Bombers Return to US Base After Striking Iranian Nuclear Sites

Seven B-2 Spirit stealth bombers returned Sunday to Whiteman Air Force Base in Missouri after executing a high-stakes bombing mission on Iranian nuclear facilities.

The bombers, operated by the 509th Bomb Wing, dropped 14 bunker-buster bombs totaling over 400,000 pounds on two underground uranium enrichment plants in Iran as part of Operation Midnight Hammer.

The mission, launched early Sunday local time, involved decoy flight paths, in-air refueling, and support from fighter jets and a US Navy submarine that launched dozens of cruise missiles at a third site.

According to US officials, the operation struck with complete surprise as Iran failed to detect or intercept the incoming aircraft.

Pentagon sources described the strike as a “precision operation” that “devastated the Iranian nuclear program,” though damage assessments continue.

Iran has denied the extent of the damage and vowed retaliation.

 

Ukraine Claims Control of Territory Inside Russia as Fighting Intensifies

Ukrainian forces are holding approximately 90 square kilometers (35 square miles) in Russia’s Kursk region, where around 10,000 Russian troops are currently engaged, Ukraine’s top military commander Oleksandr Syrskyi announced Sunday. He described the move as a preemptive operation to counter potential Russian attacks.

The Ukrainian military stated that controlling this area helps divert Russian troops from eastern Ukraine’s Donetsk region, where intense combat continues.

Despite recent Russian gains in May and June, Ukrainian forces claim to be inflicting heavy casualties on small Russian assault units across a 1,200 kilometers (746 miles) frontline.

Ukraine also reported thwarting Russian advances toward the Dnipropetrovsk region but noted sustained pressure in the eastern and northern sectors. Meanwhile, Russia continues missile and drone attacks on Ukrainian cities, prompting Kyiv to enhance air defenses, including light aircraft and drone interceptors.

Ukraine reports an 82% interception rate for incoming Shahed drones but says it urgently needs more air defense systems.

Between January and May, Ukraine inflicted over $1.3 billion in direct damage and at least $9.5 billion in indirect losses to Russia’s energy, logistics, and defense infrastructure. It is unclear if these figures include damages from Operation Spider’s Web, which targeted Russian aircraft.

 

Russian Overnight Strikes Kill 5, Injure Dozens in Kyiv

Russian drone and missile attacks hit Kyiv and its surrounding region overnight, killing at least five people and injuring dozens, Ukrainian officials reported Monday.

The strikes damaged residential buildings across six city districts and destroyed the entrance of a high-rise in Shevchenkivskyi, where victims remain trapped under rubble, according to Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko.

A 68-year-old woman was also killed in the broader Kyiv region, with at least eight others wounded. An exit to a metro station, which doubles as a bomb shelter, and an adjacent bus stop in Sviatoshynskyi district sustained damage. Emergency services rescued multiple civilians, including a pregnant woman, from burning structures.

Kyiv military head Timur Tkachenko condemned the strikes as deliberately aimed at populated areas. Russia has not commented.

The attack follows last week’s deadly multi-wave assault that killed 28 and injured over 150 in the capital.

 

NATO Summit Faces Tensions Over Defense Spending, Ukraine, and US Leadership

President Donald Trump and leaders from NATO’s 32 member states will meet Tuesday in The Hague for a two-day summit overshadowed by disputes over defense spending and the alliance’s direction amid rising global threats.

Trump is pressing allies to adopt a new target of 5% of GDP for defense spending—far above the current 2% minimum—while criticizing countries like Spain and Canada for falling short. Spain has rejected the proposed 5% goal as “unreasonable,” and Trump responded by questioning whether the US should continue to meet its own commitment.

NATO decisions require consensus, and Spain’s objection could derail any formal pledge.

The summit comes just days after Trump ordered airstrikes on Iran’s nuclear facilities, a move reminiscent of the 2003 Iraq War, which once deeply divided NATO. Concerns persist that Trump may again destabilize alliance unity.

Ukraine’s role at the summit remains unclear. While President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has been invited, his participation may be limited. NATO, as an organization, does not supply weapons but helps coordinate member support to Ukraine. European allies provided 60% of Ukraine’s military aid in 2024.

The summit’s agenda includes bolstering deterrence against Russia. NATO’s updated defense plans aim to deploy 300,000 troops within 30 days in case of conflict, but experts question whether such numbers are realistic. While NATO is led by new Secretary-General Mark Rutte, real military power remains with the US, which dominates in defense spending, logistics, and nuclear capability.

Although defense budgets among allies have increased since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Trump’s push for higher targets—and his America-first rhetoric—has reignited uncertainty about long-term US commitment to NATO.

A proposed 3.5% GDP military target and an additional 1.5% for civil defense infrastructure may be in play, but divisions among members cast doubt on the summit’s ability to produce unified outcomes.

 

Japan and South Korea Mark 60 Years of Diplomatic Ties Amid Lingering Tensions

Japan and South Korea recently marked the 60th anniversary of normalized diplomatic relations, highlighting both improved cooperation and unresolved historical tensions.

The milestone comes as both nations, key US allies, navigate domestic political shifts and external pressure from rising American protectionism.

In Seoul, President Lee Jae Myung, who replaced disgraced predecessor Yoon Suk Yeol, has pledged a pragmatic foreign policy. Despite criticizing Japan’s alleged denial of its imperialist past, Lee appears willing to build on Yoon’s efforts to improve relations, including trilateral defense ties with the US and Tokyo.

However, public resentment remains strong over Japan’s perceived lack of sincere apologies and compensation for wartime atrocities, particularly forced labor.

In Tokyo, Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba has expressed empathy for Asian wartime victims and signaled openness to working with Lee. The two leaders met at the G7 and agreed on the need for forward-looking ties and close cooperation on regional security, especially against the North Korean threat.

Both countries now face potential friction over upcoming national commemorations and the legacy of colonial rule. Additionally, proposed US tariffs under a potential second Trump administration have raised alarms in both capitals.

Editorials in Seoul and Tokyo called for immediate bilateral coordination to counter threats to their export-driven economies.

At an anniversary event in Tokyo, Ishiba voiced optimism for the future and proposed deeper collaboration on shared demographic and security challenges.

 

Sources: News Agencies