SOFREP Morning Brief: Trump’s Military Parade Set for June 14, India to Deploy Military Veterans as Security Guards in Kashmir

· SOFREP News Team

(Image representation only) SOFREP Morning Brief roundup for Monday, May 19, 2025. (Image grab via X)

Good morning! Start your week with SOFREP’s morning brief, covering the top defense and global affairs updates for Monday, May 19, 2025. Here’s a quick glance at today’s headlines: Israel resumed limited aid to Gaza amid a major ground assault that killed 250+ people in a day. Talks with Hamas are stalled. Syrian forces killed 3 ISIS militants in Aleppo. Libya’s PM Dbeibah urged militias to join the state after deadly Tripoli clashes. Trump’s D.C. military parade is set for June 14. Russia hit Ukraine with a record 273 drones after failed peace talks. Over 100,000 protested Dutch support for Israel. India is deploying 4,000 military veterans in Kashmir post-ceasefire. An Indian satellite launch failed due to rocket malfunction.

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Israel Eases Gaza Blockade Amid Expanded Ground Assault and Soaring Civilian Death Toll

Israel announced Sunday it would allow limited food aid into Gaza amid mounting international pressure over a blockade that has worsened famine risks. The move follows a week of intensified military operations in northern and southern Gaza and comes as indirect talks with Hamas in Qatar fail to yield progress on a ceasefire or hostage deal.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said the food allowance was intended to prevent a hunger crisis while enabling continued “intense fighting” to defeat Hamas. The announcement came after Israeli strikes killed at least 130 Palestinians overnight, bringing the week’s death toll to 464, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel’s military launched “Gideon’s Chariots,” a new ground campaign aimed at achieving operational control across Gaza. Over 670 Hamas targets were hit, with dozens of militants reported killed. However, strikes also devastated civilian areas, including a tent encampment in Khan Younis and territory near the Indonesian Hospital, which has since ceased operations due to continued Israeli fire.

Gaza officials say more than 53,000 people, many civilians, have been killed since the war began. The ongoing blockade, in place since March, has halted fuel, food, and medical aid, crippling Gaza’s healthcare and emergency response systems. The Palestinian Civil Emergency Service warned it could lose all ambulance capability within 72 hours.

Talks in Doha have stalled. Israel insists on hostage releases without ending the war, while Hamas demands a ceasefire, Israeli troop withdrawal, aid access, and the release of Palestinian prisoners.

Prime Minister Netanyahu has floated terms including Hamas exile and Gaza’s demilitarization, but Hamas has rejected such proposals.

The humanitarian toll continues to rise, as Gaza’s infrastructure collapses and food, fuel, and medical resources run out. Hostage families in Israel are demanding a full deal, accusing the government of political delay. Meanwhile, Israel vows to continue its campaign until Hamas’s military and governing capacity is eliminated.

 

Syrian Forces Kill Three ISIS Militants in Aleppo Raid, One Security Officer Dead

Syrian security forces killed three Islamic State (IS) militants and arrested four others during a raid Saturday on a jihadist hideout in Aleppo, according to the country’s interior ministry.

The operation, conducted jointly with the general intelligence services, also left one General Security officer dead.

Authorities seized explosives, an explosive vest, and uniforms during the raid. The interior ministry said the cell had seven members in total.

The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported a higher death toll, claiming five were killed, including two security personnel. The group noted that two of the jihadists detonated themselves and suggested they may have been former security officers who defected to IS.

The operation comes as Syria’s transitional authorities—formed after the December overthrow of Bashar al-Assad—continue efforts to stabilize the country and dismantle jihadist cells. The new administration, rooted in former Al-Qaeda elements, has integrated groups like Hayat Tahrir al-Sham into the new national police force, General Security.

President Donald Trump recently offered to ease sanctions on Syria if Damascus cooperates in suppressing a resurgence of IS. Although IS lost territorial control in 2019, remnants remain active, particularly in Syria’s remote desert regions.

 

Libya’s UN-Backed Premier Calls for Armed Groups to Join State Amid Deadly Tripoli Clashes

Libya’s UN-backed Prime Minister Abdulhamid Dbeibah urged armed groups to align with state institutions following days of deadly clashes in Tripoli and growing protests demanding his resignation.

In a televised address Saturday, Dbeibah vowed to eliminate militias and corruption, warning that groups using “blackmail and corruption” would be sidelined.

The fighting began with the killing of Abdelghani al-Kikli, leader of the Support and Stability Apparatus (SSA), by the Dbeibah-aligned 444 Brigade. This triggered further clashes between the 444 Brigade and the Radaa force, a powerful militia controlling parts of eastern Tripoli and several key state institutions. Dbeibah’s recent executive orders have aimed to dismantle Radaa and other armed groups, excluding the 444 Brigade.

The UN reported at least eight deaths in the violence. Dbeibah accused militias of overreaching control over Libya’s political, economic, and social spheres, citing abuses, bank takeovers, and war crimes. He pledged to remove such actors and restore civilian governance.

Public anger is growing. Thousands protested on Friday at Martyrs’ Square and marched on the prime minister’s office. At least one police officer was killed by unknown gunmen. Six government officials reportedly resigned, with two confirmed. Municipal councils in western Tripoli have backed calls for Dbeibah’s resignation.

Dbeibah met with tribal leaders and a delegation from Misrata, who pledged support for his efforts to restore state authority. Meanwhile, Khaled al-Mishri, head of the High Council of State, said talks with the eastern parliament had begun to consider forming a new government.

As the situation remains tense, Turkey evacuated 82 nationals from Tripoli, underscoring concerns over renewed instability in the divided country.

 

Trump’s Military Parade Set for June 14, Will Mobilize Thousands of Troops in D.C.

Washington, D.C., will host a massive military parade on June 14 to mark the Army’s 250th birthday and President Donald Trump’s 79th birthday, featuring 6,600 soldiers, tanks, aircraft, and other military hardware.

The event, originally proposed by Trump during his first term, will include M1 Abrams tanks, Strykers, Humvees, and 50 aircraft, with celebrations stretching over a week and concluding with fireworks and a fitness competition.

Soldiers from all 10 active-duty Army divisions will participate and be housed in federal buildings such as the General Services Administration and Agriculture Department offices. The Army estimates the event’s cost at $25–$45 million, not including road repairs or cleanup, which have raised concerns among D.C. officials due to potential damage from 60-ton tanks. The Army plans to install metal plates along the nearly 3-mile route from the Pentagon to 15th Street NW to mitigate road damage.

Gulf-War-Victory-Parade-1991
President George H. W. Bush greets General Norman Schwarzkopf Jr. along the National Victory Celebration parade route in Washington, D.C., marking the end of the Gulf War on June 8, 1991. (Wikimedia Commons)

The Army is coordinating with local and federal law enforcement agencies for security amid expected protests. Units will cover their own travel and transport costs, with vehicles arriving by rail and aircraft flying in.

The event marks the first major military parade of its scale since the 1991 Gulf War victory celebration.

 

Russia Launches Record Drone Attack on Ukraine Following Failed Peace Talks

Russia launched a record 273 drones against Ukraine overnight, killing one woman in Kyiv and targeting multiple regions, Ukraine’s military said Sunday. The attack came just two days after the first direct peace talks between Russia and Ukraine in over three years failed to produce a ceasefire.

Ukraine’s Air Force reported that 88 drones were shot down and 128 went off course.

Deputy Prime Minister Yulia Svyrydenko called it a deliberate assault on civilians. Russia claimed it intercepted 25 Ukrainian drones in response.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, speaking for the first time since the talks, said his priority remains eliminating the root causes of the conflict and securing Russia’s long-term safety. He reaffirmed Russia’s military readiness, noting that its forces occupy around 20% of Ukraine.

The Istanbul talks led to an agreement to exchange 1,000 prisoners each, but further progress depends on finalizing the swap and presenting detailed ceasefire proposals. Ukraine’s Defense Minister Rustem Umerov said the next step should be a direct meeting between Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. The Kremlin acknowledged the request but tied future talks to tangible steps.

US President Donald Trump announced plans to speak with Putin by phone on Monday, continuing his push for a rapid resolution to the war.

Ukrainian officials condemned the drone strikes as proof Russia is not serious about peace. Zelensky’s aide Andriy Yermak said, “For Russia, the negotiations in Istanbul are just a pretense. Putin wants war.”

 

Over 100,000 Protest in The Hague Against Dutch Support for Israel’s Gaza Campaign

More than 100,000 protesters marched through The Hague on Sunday in what organizers called the Netherlands’ largest demonstration in two decades, demanding an end to Dutch political, economic, and military support for Israel amid its ongoing assault on Gaza.

Clad in red, demonstrators formed a 3-mile loop around the city center, passing landmarks such as the Peace Palace and parliament, in a symbolic act to draw a “red line” the government has failed to set. The protest was backed by major aid groups including Amnesty International, Save the Children, and Doctors Without Borders.


Protesters called on the Dutch government to suspend all support to Israel over alleged war crimes and human rights violations. Israel denies accusations of genocide or breaches of international law.

The demonstration reflects deepening divisions in Dutch politics, particularly within the coalition government. Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp recently urged the European Union to reassess its trade ties with Israel, a move condemned by hard-right Party for Freedom leader Geert Wilders, who remains a staunch ally of Israel.

 

India to Deploy Military Veterans as Security Guards in Kashmir After Ceasefire with Pakistan

India will redeploy 4,000 military veterans in security roles across Jammu and Kashmir, officials announced over the weekend, just a week after reaching a ceasefire with Pakistan following deadly cross-border violence.

The move comes in response to a recent militant attack on tourists that killed 70 and which New Delhi blamed on Islamabad—an accusation Pakistan denies.

The veterans, including 435 with licensed personal weapons, will serve as static guards to protect critical infrastructure and provide localized security support. The government said the deployment will bolster its response capacity and serve as a visible deterrent.

India already maintains around 500,000 troops in the disputed region, where insurgents have fought since 1989 for independence or merger with Pakistan. Though violence declined after India revoked Kashmir’s partial autonomy in 2019, a resurgence of deadly rebel attacks in the south has prompted increased security measures.

The initiative mirrors a 2020 deployment of 2,500 veterans during the COVID-19 pandemic and marks a strategic shift toward mobilizing experienced personnel in non-combat support roles.

 

India’s Earth Observation Satellite Launch Fails Due to Rocket Malfunction

India’s mission to place a new Earth observation satellite (EOS) into orbit failed Sunday after the PSLV-C61 launch vehicle encountered a technical fault during its third-stage flight.

The EOS-09 satellite lifted off from the Sriharikota space center but suffered a loss of chamber pressure, preventing mission success, Indian Space Research Organization (ISRO) chief V. Narayanan confirmed.

Despite the setback, ISRO remains a major player in global space exploration. The agency has launched satellites for multiple countries and achieved a historic lunar south pole landing in 2023. India also successfully placed a probe in Mars orbit in 2014.

 

Sources: News Agencies