Evening Brief: US Conducts 22nd Anti-Drug Boat Strike, US and Ukraine Resume Florida Peace Talks, Pakistan and Afghan Forces Exchange Fire

US Army Shuts Down FORSCOM, Activates New Western Hemisphere Command in Major Reorganization The Army inactivated US Army Forces Command (FORSCOM) on Friday and activated the new four-star US Army Western Hemisphere Command at Fort Bragg as part of a sweeping restructuring ordered earlier this year. Lieutenant General Joseph Ryan will lead the new command, which will consolidate multiple headquarters and oversee Army forces supporting US Northern Command (NORTHCOM) and Southern Command (SOUTHCOM). The move follows Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s directive to reduce general officer billets and shift the military’s focus toward homeland defense. In recent months, the Army has already merged Training and Doctrine Command with Futures Command into the new Transformation and Training Command. Western Hemisphere Command will next absorb US Army North and US Army South, with personnel relocating from Joint Base San Antonio to Fort Bragg through 2027. Activated on Dec. 5, 2025 at Fort Bragg, NC, U.S. Army Western Hemisphere Command is an operational warfighting theater command headquarters that is focused on homeland defense, defense support to civil authorities, and theater security cooperation across the Western Hemisphere. pic.twitter.com/lKQZvoqVwu — USAWHC 🇺🇸 (@USArmyWHC) December 5, 2025 The new headquarters will provide trained forces for missions ranging from combat operations to border security and disaster response. FORSCOM’s traditional readiness responsibilities will shift to corps commanders and the Pentagon. The restructuring comes amid increased US military activity in the region but, officials emphasized, was designed to align the Army with long-term strategic priorities rather than any specific crisis.   US Air Force Takes Delivery of 100th KC-46A Tanker as Fleet Expansion Accelerates The US Air Force marked a major milestone this week with the delivery of the 100th KC-46A Pegasus tanker, built by Boeing and flown to Travis Air Force Base by Air Mobility Command chief General John D. Lamontagne. The 99th aircraft arrived moments earlier, piloted by Air Force Reserve chief Lieutenant General John Healy. The KC-46A, derived from the Boeing 767 airliner, carries more than 212,000 pounds of fuel and supports cargo, troop transport and medical evacuation missions. The delivery of the 99th and 100th KC-46 this week is an important milestone marking years of hard work, determination & progress in aerial refueling for the @usairforce. Also great to see the @AirMobilityCmd & @USAFReserve commanders flying the aircraft!https://t.co/RuGa80qCrO — Office of the Secretary of the Air Force (@SecAFOfficial) December 5, 2025 The service has operated the tanker since 2022 and expects it to remain in service into the 2070s. Plans call for 263 aircraft by 2030 through continued production and a tanker extension program. The KC-46A joins a refueling fleet that also includes more than 350 KC-135 Stratotankers, which will remain in service into the 2050s. While the Pegasus offers improved refueling, defensive systems and cargo capacity, it has faced issues with a stiff refueling boom and remote vision controls, prompting design updates. The Air Force says the aircraft can refuel a wide range of US and allied aircraft, from F-16 fighters to B-52 bombers.   US Navy Hits Decade-High Training Output After Record Recruiting Year The US Navy reached its highest basic training graduation total in ten years, announcing that 42,000 sailors completed boot camp in fiscal 2024 with the graduation of Training Group 52 at Naval Station Great Lakes. The figure marks an increase of 10,000 over the previous year and follows a surge in recruiting that saw the service enlist 3,000 more sailors than last year and meet its 2025 recruiting target three months early. Navy leaders credited on-the-ground recruiting efforts and a preparatory course for boosting enlistments. A Huge Congratulations to the Navy’s Recruiters of the Year! Today, the Chief of Naval Operations, Adm. Daryl Caudle, proudly met with our top-performing recruiters to honor their phenomenal achievements and unmatched dedication. pic.twitter.com/VrTrKnGtp5 — USNavyCNO (@USNavyCNO) December 2, 2025 This is the second consecutive year the service has met its recruiting goal, aligning with broader gains across the Coast Guard, Army, Air Force and Space Force, all of which reported meeting or exceeding recruiting expectations.   US Marine Corps Identifies Victim of Camp Pendleton Vehicle Mishap The US Marine Corps has identified Private First Class Tanner F. Rubio, 21, of Dixon, California, as the Marine who died Wednesday in a tactical vehicle incident at Camp Pendleton. Rubio enlisted in January 2025 and served with 1st Battalion, 1st Marine Regiment, 1st Marine Division. The Marines said the mishap occurred during training unrelated to Exercise Steel Knight 2025. No further details about the accident have been released. Pfc. Tanner F. Rubio, 21, died Dec. 3 following a tactical training vehicle mishap. https://t.co/DxNwyBBUl0 — Marine Corps Times (@Marinetimes) December 5, 2025 Major General Thomas Savage said Rubio’s loss is felt across the division and praised his service.   Pentagon Sets 2027 Target for Europe to Take Lead on Defense The Pentagon has told European allies it expects them to assume the bulk of conventional defense responsibilities on the continent by 2027, Reuters reported on Friday, citing multiple sources. US officials conveyed frustration with Europe’s pace in expanding military capabilities and warned that failure to meet the deadline could prompt the US to reduce participation in certain NATO activities, though no specifics were provided. It is unclear whether the timeline reflects US President Donald Trump’s stance or that of Pentagon officials. The expectation aligns with longstanding US calls for Europe to shoulder more of its security burden, even as American troops currently provide major ground, air, naval and command assets to NATO. Analysts note that Europe would face significant capability gaps without US support. Reuters reports that Washington has informed European partners it expects Europe to take charge of the bulk of NATO’s conventional defense duties by 2027. U.S. officials cautioned that if Europe fails to step up, Washington could scale back its role in alliance planning. pic.twitter.com/VW0paC97Jh — Open Source Intel (@Osint613) December 5, 2025 A Brussels-based think tank estimated earlier this year that NATO would need at least 50 combat brigades, 300,000 troops, thousands of armored vehicles and a major buildup of munitions to counter a potential Russian attack without US help—capabilities exceeding those of Europe’s four largest militaries combined. The required investments could top $250 billion annually, or about 3.5 percent of Europe’s GDP.   US and Ukraine Resume Florida Peace Talks After Envoys Meet Putin in Moscow US and Ukrainian officials met for a second day of talks in Florida on US President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the Russia-Ukraine war, according to US officials. Special envoy Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner held a “productive” initial session Thursday with Ukrainian negotiator Rustem Umerov and were expected to brief leaders and continue discussions Friday at the Shell Bay Club. The talks follow a five-hour meeting in Moscow between the US envoys and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who called the exchange useful but said some US proposals were unacceptable. U.S. special envoy Steve Witkoff met with Rustem Umerov, Ukraine’s lead negotiator, again on Friday — one day after their talks, which included President Donald Trump’s son-in-law Jared Kushner, about an American plan to end the war. Witkoff and Kushner met with Vladimir Putin… pic.twitter.com/coUf8pkiRx — PBS News (@NewsHour) December 5, 2025 Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said his delegation wants details about the Kremlin discussions, accusing Putin of using negotiations to stall while continuing military pressure. Kremlin adviser Yuri Ushakov praised Kushner as potentially central to any final agreement, comments that come amid Russian efforts to widen gaps between Trump and Ukraine’s European supporters. European leaders, including French President Emmanuel Macron, are pressing for strong security guarantees for Kyiv and insist Europe must have a role in talks. Even as diplomacy unfolds, Russian drone strikes killed a 12-year-old boy in Ukraine’s Dnipropetrovsk region, while Ukraine launched long-range drone attacks on a Russian port and oil refinery. MORE: ISW continues to assess that Putin, in part, launched his full-scale invasion in order to destroy NATO and seize control of all of Ukraine, and Putin’s original war demands notably include not only demands of Ukraine but of NATO and the West as well. Putin is attempting to… https://t.co/bNOAtRO62f pic.twitter.com/inX4TSGLYu — Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) December 5, 2025 Ukrainian officials said Russia fired 137 drones overnight; Russia claimed to have intercepted 85.   ICC Says Ukraine War Crimes Probe Will Continue Despite Peace Talks The International Criminal Court’s (ICC) investigation into Russia’s invasion of Ukraine cannot be halted for peace negotiations and may only be temporarily deferred by a UN Security Council request, ICC deputy prosecutor Nazhat Shameem Khan said on Friday. Khan, cited by The Associated Press, emphasized that accountability must accompany peace efforts to ensure lasting stability. The ICC has issued arrest warrants for Russian President Vladimir Putin and five others over alleged war crimes, though Moscow rejects the court’s jurisdiction. Deputy Prosecutors at the ICC confirm that arrest warrants for Putin and five Russian officials remain active regardless of any peace deal. pic.twitter.com/ryeKHGTIye — TVP World (@TVPWorld_com) December 5, 2025 Khan spoke at the close of the court’s annual meeting in The Hague, where participants discussed challenges including US sanctions targeting nine ICC staff members for investigations involving US and Israeli officials. Despite strained resources, Khan said the court received strong support from its 125 member states and described the moment as both difficult and decisive for international justice.   France Probes Illegal Drone Flight Over Nuclear Submarine Base in Brittany French authorities are investigating an unauthorized drone overflight of the Île Longue naval base, home to France’s four nuclear ballistic missile submarines, after several drones were detected Thursday night. Defense Minister Catherine Vautrin confirmed on Friday that troops intercepted the intruding aircraft but did not specify the methods used or the number of drones involved. No group or nation has been identified as responsible. Overnight on Thursday, at around 7:30pm, the French Navy opened fire on a swarm of five drones spotted flying over the Île Longue Strategic Submarine Base in Finistère on the coast of Brittany, which houses France’s fleet of nuclear-powered ballistic missile submarines operating… pic.twitter.com/OCKIiGcvcA — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 5, 2025 The incident comes amid a series of unexplained drone incursions reported across Europe in recent months, including flights near military sites and disruptions at airports. Russia has been blamed for several recent airspace violations in European Union states such as Estonia and Poland.   Iraq Retracts Terror Label for Hezbollah and Houthis After Backlash and Political Pressure Iraq’s government withdrew a recent terror designation for Lebanon’s Hezbollah and Yemen’s Houthi rebels, calling the move an administrative mistake made before proper review. The November 17 listing placed both Iran-aligned groups on a national asset freeze order alongside 24 organizations accused of participating in terrorist acts. The reversal followed swift pressure from Iraqi political factions and militias aligned with Iran, which warned the designation targeted regional allies and risked confrontation with Tehran. JUST IN: Iraq clarified that it has not designated Hezbollah or the Houthis as terrorist organizations, saying the listing was a mistake and has now been corrected Iraqi PM has ordered an investigation to find out how the error happened and to hold those responsible accountable pic.twitter.com/GK2ib3tFeP — Current Report (@Currentreport1) December 4, 2025 The measure also drew public criticism in Iraq, where many view Hezbollah and the Houthis as resistance groups supporting the Palestinians. Prime Minister Mohammed Shia al-Sudani ordered an investigation into how the error occurred. The episode highlights Baghdad’s struggle to balance US demands to curb Iran-backed militias with longstanding regional alliances amid heightened tensions linked to the Israel-Hamas war.   Lebanon Seeks Follow-Up Force After UNIFIL Ends, Citing Need for Border Stability Lebanese Prime Minister Nawaf Salam told a visiting UN Security Council delegation that Lebanon will require a successor force in southern Lebanon once UNIFIL’s mandate expires at the end of 2026. The Security Council voted unanimously in August to end the nearly 50-year-old peacekeeping mission, which has monitored the Israel-Lebanon border and played a key role during last year’s Israel-Hezbollah war. Salam proposed a smaller follow-up force modeled on the UN observer mission along the Israel-Syria frontier to support Lebanese troops now increasing operations in the volatile area. Lebanese President Joseph Aoun also said Lebanon welcomes any country willing to maintain forces there after UNIFIL departs. UNIFIL continues to help prevent escalation by supporting the parties in implementing their obligations under resolution 1701 — the framework for long-term stability in the region. pic.twitter.com/XT90yTVafv — UNIFIL (@UNIFIL_) December 3, 2025 Hezbollah criticized the government’s recent appointment of former ambassador Simon Karam to a ceasefire-monitoring committee, calling it a concession to Israel. Meanwhile, Israeli airstrikes on Hezbollah targets continue despite the ceasefire, with the UN reporting 127 civilian deaths since November.   Pakistan and Afghan Forces Exchange Fire Along Border Despite Fragile Ceasefire Pakistani and Afghan forces traded fire late Friday along their tense border, though no casualties or damage were reported. Each side accused the other of violating a Qatar-brokered ceasefire that has largely held for two months despite the collapse of follow-up negotiations in November. Pakistan said the exchange began with shots fired from the Afghan side near the Chaman crossing, while Taliban officials said Pakistani forces initiated the incident with a grenade attack in Spin Boldak. The clash came one day after Pakistan agreed to allow UN relief shipments into Afghanistan through two major border crossings that had been mostly closed amid rising tensions. TTA position struck by the Pakistan’s artillery fire at Chaman Border 🚀 🇵🇰 pic.twitter.com/N8LBGhHTfx — Pakistan Strategic Forum (@ForumStrategic) December 5, 2025 Relations deteriorated sharply after deadly October clashes and Kabul explosions that the Taliban blamed on Pakistan. Islamabad continues to accuse the Pakistan Taliban, believed to shelter in Afghanistan, of orchestrating attacks inside Pakistan, deepening mistrust between the neighbors.   Sources: News Agencies — ** Editor’s Note: Thinking about subscribing to SOFREP? You can support Veteran Journalism & do it now for only $1 for your first year. 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