SOFREP Daily: Trump Invokes 1798 Law, Faces Legal Block; Canada Reconsiders F-35 Buy, Eyes Alternatives

· SOFREP News Team

SOFREP Daily roundup for Sunday, March 16. (DVIDS)

Good morning! It’s March 16, 2025. Stay ahead with the latest updates on defense and global affairs as you wrap up the weekend.

Trump Invokes 1798 Law, Faces Legal Block

A federal judge blocked the Trump administration Saturday from deporting Venezuelan gang members under the Alien Enemies Act of 1798, a rarely used wartime law that President Donald Trump invoked to expedite removals.

The administration had already begun deportations, arguing that the Venezuelan gang Tren de Aragua posed a national security threat and was waging an invasion against the United States.

The ACLU and Democracy Forward challenged the move, leading Judge James E. Boasberg to halt the deportations for 14 days and order planes in transit to turn back.

The ruling marks a major legal challenge to Trump’s expansion of executive power, with critics arguing the law applies only to recognized states, not criminal organizations.

The administration is appealing, while legal experts warn this move could set a precedent for future mass deportations.

Israeli Drone Hits Car, Kills Hezbollah Member

An Israeli drone strike targeted a car in south Lebanon on Saturday, killing a Hezbollah member in the village of Bourj el-Mlouk.

The Israeli military confirmed the strike, stating that the individual was active in the border village of Kfar Kila.

This attack is part of a series of Israeli airstrikes following a US-brokered ceasefire that ended the 14-month Israel-Hezbollah war in late November.

The strike came a day after a Lebanese military court sentenced two individuals to prison for spying for Israel.

The convicted individuals had scanned cellular networks and provided Israel with about 1,500 photographs from Hezbollah’s stronghold in Beirut.

Trump Orders Airstrikes, Hits Houthi Targets in Yemen

President Donald Trump ordered Saturday US airstrikes on Yemen’s capital, Sanaa, targeting Houthi rebel bases, missile defenses, and leadership in response to their attacks on shipping routes.

The strikes, which hit sites in Sanaa and Saada, killed at least 13 civilians, according to Houthi officials.

Trump warned Iran against supporting the Houthis and vowed to ensure freedom of navigation in key waterways.

The Houthis, who recently threatened Israeli vessels, declared they would retaliate.

The operation marks the first US strikes on the Houthis under Trump’s second administration, following similar actions under Biden.

US forces, including the USS Harry S. Truman Carrier Strike Group, played a role in the mission.


Trump, speaking from his golf club in Florida, justified the strikes as necessary to protect global trade and US assets.

Starmer Urges Global Leaders, Pressures Putin on Ceasefire

UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer urged world leaders to maintain pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin to agree to a ceasefire in Ukraine, warning that waiting passively is not an option.

At a virtual meeting of the “coalition of the willing” Saturday, Starmer emphasized the need to strengthen Ukraine militarily and financially.

The gathering, involving around 25 countries but excluding the US, follows a US-proposed 30-day ceasefire, which Ukraine supports.


While Putin has expressed conditional openness to a truce, Starmer criticized him for playing “pointless games” with Trump’s peace plan.

Alongside French President Emmanuel Macron, Starmer is leading efforts to ensure European nations bolster their security and defense spending, particularly as Putin’s forces gain momentum on the battlefield.

Russia, Ukraine Exchange Drone Strikes Overnight

Russia and Ukraine exchanged heavy drone attacks overnight, with both sides on Saturday reporting over 100 enemy drones in their airspace.

The strikes occurred just after Russian President Vladimir Putin met with US envoy Steve Witkoff to discuss a proposed 30-day ceasefire.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Russia of building up forces along the border and vowed a strong response if Moscow rejected the ceasefire.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported shooting down 130 of 178 Russian drones, but energy facilities in Dnipropetrovsk and Odesa were hit, causing power outages.

In Russia, a drone attack sparked a fire near a Lukoil refinery in Volgograd.

US and Russian officials held talks to restore communication as tensions remain high amid ongoing military escalations.

Funding Shortfall Forces UN Food Program to Drop Aid in Myanmar

The United Nations World Food Program (WFP) recently announced that over 1 million people in Myanmar will lose food assistance by April due to severe funding shortages.

The crisis comes amid ongoing conflict between the military government and opposition militias, leaving 15.2 million people struggling to meet basic food needs.

The WFP urgently needs $60 million to continue aid but has been forced to scale back, with only 35,000 of the most vulnerable—children, pregnant women, and disabled individuals—set to receive assistance.

The cuts will also impact nearly 100,000 displaced Rohingya in Myanmar.

While it’s unclear if US aid cuts directly influenced the WFP shortfall, Trump’s freeze on foreign assistance has already disrupted refugee support, shutting down hospital care in Thai camps.

Humanitarian groups warn that the funding gap will have devastating consequences for Myanmar’s most at-risk populations.

Canada Reconsiders F-35 Buy, Eyes Alternatives

Canada’s new Prime Minister, Mark Carney, has ordered a review of the country’s F-35 fighter jet purchase from the US, citing a “changing environment.”

According to reports on Saturday, Defense Minister Bill Blair will be assessing whether the $19 billion Canadian ($13 billion) deal remains the best investment or if alternative options, such as the Swedish Saab Gripen, should be considered.

The review does not cancel the contract, as Canada has already committed funds for 16 jets.

The move follows escalating tensions with the US, where President Donald Trump’s trade war and threats of economic coercion have fueled anti-American sentiment in Canada.

Similar concerns have been raised in Portugal, where officials are reconsidering their own F-35 purchase due to fears of US unpredictability in restricting aircraft use and maintenance.

 

Sources: News Agencies