SOFREP Daily: Trump Awards Boeing ‘F-47’ Stealth Jet Contract, Israel Threatens Gaza Annexation Over Hostages

Good morning! It’s Saturday, March 22, 2025. Start your weekend informed with the latest on defense and global affairs.

Trump Awards Boeing Stealth Jet Contract

US President Donald Trump announced Friday that Boeing has won the contract to develop the Air Force’s next-generation stealth fighter jet, dubbed the F-47.

The aircraft will replace the aging F-22 and form the core of the Next Generation Air Dominance (NGAD) program.

The F-47 is designed to be stealthier, more powerful, and capable of operating alongside multiple drones.

The selection marks a major win for Boeing after recent setbacks, and a loss for rival Lockheed Martin.

While the cost remains undisclosed, the program has previously been paused due to budget concerns.

Defense officials emphasize the aircraft’s role in securing future US air superiority in contested environments.

US Homeland Security Ends Protections for 500,000 Migrants

The US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) announced Friday that it will revoke legal protections for approximately 532,000 Cubans, Haitians, Nicaraguans, and Venezuelans who entered the US under a humanitarian parole program since October 2022.

These individuals, who were granted two-year permits with work authorization, will lose their legal status by April 24, following a new Trump administration directive to end what it calls “broad abuse” of the parole system.

Homeland Security announced it is revoking the legally iffy “parole” status former President Biden gave to more than 500,000 unauthorized migrants over the last three years, setting a 30-day deadline for them to depart the U.S. https://t.co/Lk5b9TW8K6

— The Washington Times (@WashTimes) March 22, 2025

The decision affects people who followed legal pathways under the CHNV (Cuba, Haiti, Nicaragua, Venezuela) program introduced by the Biden administration, which had allowed up to 30,000 people from each country to enter the US monthly.

Legal challenges have already been filed, and immigration advocates warn the change will lead to widespread hardship and potential mass deportations.

Critics, including legal aid groups, say the move is “cruel” and destabilizing for families and communities.

Israel Threatens Gaza Annexation Over Hostages

Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz warned Friday that Israel may annex parts of Gaza if Hamas fails to release the remaining Israeli hostages.

This comes as Israel resumes intense bombing of the Gaza Strip, breaking a brief ceasefire and killing at least 11 people Friday, with the total death toll surpassing 500 since Tuesday.

Katz also threatened to establish permanent buffer zones and occupation areas. Meanwhile, ceasefire proposals are being mediated by Egypt and Qatar.

International backlash is growing, especially after a strike on a Turkish-built cancer hospital. Hostage negotiations remain a flashpoint, with 58 hostages still held in Gaza.

Simultaneously, missile attacks from Yemen and Gaza continue, further escalating tensions.

Katz said Israel will use all forms of pressure, including military force and civilian strategies such as a controversial US-proposed plan to redevelop Gaza following a population relocation.

Hamas Presses Arab World to Stop ‘Genocide’

Hamas on Thursday urged Arab and Muslim nations to intervene urgently to stop Israel’s renewed military offensive on Gaza, calling it a “genocide” and a moral and political failure by regional powers.

The plea comes as Israel resumed heavy airstrikes and ground operations on Tuesday following the collapse of a ceasefire agreement.

According to Gaza’s civil defense agency, over 500 people have been killed in the latest wave of strikes, including more than 190 children.

Hamas called on the Arab League and the Organization of Islamic Cooperation to act through international bodies like the UN Security Council.

The truce fell apart after Israel rejected further negotiations unless all hostages were returned immediately, while Hamas insisted on moving into a second phase of talks.

US Sanctions Chinese Refinery Over Iran Oil

The United States imposed sanctions on Thursday against a small, privately owned oil refinery in China’s Shandong province for purchasing around $500 million worth of Iranian oil transported by ships linked to the Houthis and Iran’s defense ministry.

The move is part of President Donald Trump’s revived “maximum pressure” campaign aimed at cutting off Iran’s oil revenue, which the US says funds terrorism.

#Spotlight: In a major escalation of the US “maximum pressure” campaign, the Trump administration has sanctioned a Chinese oil refinery for purchasing Iranian crude—marking the first time independent Chinese “teapots” have been directly targeted. | @Alysonle pic.twitter.com/dyQkCFhk6h

— Firstpost (@firstpost) March 21, 2025

Additional sanctions targeted 19 ships and companies tied to these transactions, as well as a Chinese oil terminal.

In response, China condemned the sanctions, accusing the US of interfering in lawful international trade and vowing to protect its businesses from what it called “illegal” extraterritorial measures.

Germany Loosens Debt Rules, Boosts Defense Spending

Germany’s upper house of parliament approved a sweeping financial reform package on Friday, clearing the way for higher defense spending and a massive infrastructure investment fund proposed by likely next chancellor Friedrich Merz.

The measure, which alters Germany’s constitutionally enshrined “debt brake,” required and secured a two-thirds majority in both houses of parliament.

The plan allows borrowing beyond strict limits to fund defense, intelligence, and Ukraine aid, and to launch a 500 billion euros ($544 billion) infrastructure fund over the next 12 years.

BREAKING: Germany’s upper house of parliament has passed a €1 trillion spending package. The measures include a €500bn infrastructure fund, and the reform of borrowing rules to fund a massive increase in defense spending. pic.twitter.com/UcYQXl3XrO

— DW Politics (@dw_politics) March 21, 2025

A portion of the fund — 100 billion euros ($109 billion) — will be earmarked for climate initiatives at the insistence of the Greens, whose support was crucial.

The vote marks an early political win for Merz as he works to form a coalition government with the Social Democrats, though further negotiations lie ahead.

East Asian Powers Reaffirm Common Goals

Foreign ministers from Japan, China, and South Korea met on Saturday to reaffirm their commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and explore cooperation on shared challenges such as aging populations, declining birth rates, disaster response, and cultural exchange.

Japanese Foreign Minister Takeshi Iwaya highlighted growing concerns about North Korea’s ties with Russia and stressed adherence to UN Security Council resolutions.

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi promoted deeper economic cooperation and a joint regional economic framework, while South Korea’s Cho Tae-yul emphasized the urgency of trilateral unity amid rising global tensions and political instability.

The foreign ministers of Japan, South Korea and China agree to boost cooperation at talks in Tokyo, with Japan’s foreign minister saying they could be at “a turning point in history”
🔗 https://t.co/PGABnrozbL pic.twitter.com/MTNCGmm5kJ

— TRT World (@trtworld) March 22, 2025

The meeting paves the way for a potential trilateral leaders’ summit later this year and signals improved dialogue despite long-standing territorial and historical disputes. Separate bilateral talks between the nations are also being held to address specific economic and security concerns.

Putin Demands Concessions for Full Ceasefire

Russian drones struck the Ukrainian port city of Odesa, injuring three people and igniting large fires that damaged civilian infrastructure, despite a recent partial ceasefire agreement.

The attack came just hours before a visit by Czech President Petr Pavel.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault, urging stronger international pressure on Russia and calling for broader protection of infrastructure under the truce.

Starting in the evening, Russia attacked regions of Ukraine with over two hundred strike drones and decoy drones. Guided aerial bombs were also used. Odesa, Zaporizhzhia, Sumy, Kyiv, Khmelnytskyi, and Chernihiv regions came under fire.

As a result of the massive strikes by the… pic.twitter.com/0SKnWgDwMk

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) March 21, 2025

Meanwhile, Russia accused Ukraine of bombing a gas facility in its Kursk region — an allegation Kyiv denied, saying the strike was part of a Russian disinformation campaign.

Both nations have differing interpretations of the recent US-brokered ceasefire, with the Kremlin insisting it applies only to energy infrastructure, while Ukraine seeks broader protections.

The US, Ukraine, and Russia are scheduled for technical ceasefire talks in Saudi Arabia, with Ukraine signaling openness to a full 30-day truce. However, Russian President Vladimir Putin demands a halt in Western arms supplies and Ukraine’s mobilization, conditions that Kyiv and its allies reject.

NEW: The Kremlin is weaponizing ongoing ceasefire negotiations and deliberately misrepresenting the status and terms of a future ceasefire agreement in order to delay and undermine negotiations for a settlement to the war. Key Takeaways ⬇️(1/2)

▪️ Kremlin officials are… pic.twitter.com/jUdgdEzSTF

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 22, 2025

In other regions, Russia launched over 200 drone attacks across Ukraine, while Ukrainian strikes targeted Russian regions and ignited an oil depot fire in Krasnodar, highlighting continued intensified conflict despite partial diplomatic overtures.

Togo Eyes Alliance, Offers Port Access

Togo is signaling strong interest in joining the Alliance of Sahel States (AES) — a bloc formed by military-led Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — in a move that could shift regional dynamics in West Africa. The landlocked AES nations, isolated from traditional trade routes and Western allies, would gain critical access to Togo’s port in Lomé.

Foreign Minister Robert Dussey recently suggested Togo’s membership is under serious consideration, framing it as a strategic step toward regional cooperation and sovereignty.

Togo’s engagement with the AES comes amid growing tensions with Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), the regional bloc criticized by AES members as being aligned with France and ineffective in combating jihadist threats.

Analysts say Togo could be trying to balance both relationships, but others view it as part of a broader trend of authoritarian regimes consolidating power and defying Western-aligned institutions.

Critics argue that aligning with the AES could erode democratic norms in Togo, while supporters frame it as pan-African solidarity in action.

Sources: News Agencies