SOFREP Morning Brief: Israeli Strike Kills Two in South Lebanon, Zelenskyy Urges US Response as Russia Escalates Airstrikes

The weekend brought no pause in global friction. Russia launched a fresh wave of strikes, Israel hit Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, and the US pulled visas from South Sudanese nationals as that nation edges back toward war. Meanwhile, Japan’s emperor steps onto the black sand of Iwo Jima for the first time, bridging past and present in a region still shadowed by great power rivalry.

Here’s what’s moving on the global front this Monday morning, April 7, 2025.

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Israeli Strike Kills Two in South Lebanon Amid US Talks on Hezbollah Disarmament

An Israeli airstrike on Sunday killed two people in the southern Lebanese town of Zibqin, according to Lebanon’s health ministry.

The Israeli military stated it had targeted two Hezbollah operatives who were “attempting to rebuild Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites” near the Israeli border.

A short while ago, an IAF aircraft struck two Hezbollah terrorists who were operating an engineering vehicle in the area of Zibqin in southern Lebanon.

The terrorists were struck while attempting to rebuild Hezbollah terror infrastructure sites.

— Israel War Room (@IsraelWarRoom) April 6, 2025

The strike came during a visit by US Deputy Special Envoy for the Middle East Morgan Ortagus, who held meetings with Lebanese officials to discuss disarming the Iran-backed militant group Hezbollah and advancing economic reforms.

A senior Lebanese official confirmed Ortagus met with top leaders to push for “intensifying and speeding up” efforts by the Lebanese army to dismantle Hezbollah’s southern infrastructure. The discussions emphasized restricting weapons to state forces only, in line with long-standing United Nations (UN) mandates.

Despite a fragile ceasefire established on November 27, Israel has continued to conduct operations inside Lebanon, including recent strikes on Hezbollah strongholds in Beirut’s southern suburbs and areas in the south. The truce, backed by a UN resolution, requires Hezbollah to pull back north of the Litani River and mandates that only Lebanese forces and UN peacekeepers operate in the southern zone. Israel was to withdraw across the UN-demarcated Blue Line but has missed two deadlines and still holds five positions it considers strategic.

Hezbollah remains the only armed faction that retained its weapons after Lebanon’s civil war ended in 1990. The group has been significantly weakened by recent confrontations with Israel but continues to maintain military and political influence across Lebanon.

While Ortagus has not issued public comments, Lebanese President Joseph Aoun and Prime Minister Nawaf Salam characterized their meetings with her as constructive. Officials said Ortagus linked economic recovery to reform implementation and the extension of state authority, particularly in areas previously dominated by Hezbollah.

Received yesterday in Merab U.S. Special Envoy for Lebanon, @MorganOrtagus , Deputy Assistant Secretary of State Natasha Franceschi and U.S. Ambassador Lisa Johnson, in the presence of MP Strida Geagea and LF Executive Committee member Joseph Al-Jubaili.

We discussed the… pic.twitter.com/oCRRndfCfo

— Samir Geagea (@DrSamirGeagea) April 5, 2025

On Sunday, Ortagus also met with Lebanon’s finance and economy ministers and central bank governor. The talks focused on Lebanon’s economic reform program, which is key to unlocking stalled international aid amid a prolonged financial crisis. The officials are scheduled to meet with the International Monetary Fund in Washington later this month.

Lebanese authorities have recently tightened security at Beirut airport, including installing new technology to crack down on smuggling operations allegedly benefiting Hezbollah. Flights between Lebanon and Iran have been suspended since February following US warnings that Israel might strike the airport to disrupt suspected arms transfers to the group.

US Airstrikes Kill Civilian, Wound Others in Houthi-Controlled Yemen

Houthi-aligned media reported that a US airstrike in northern Yemen over the weekend killed one civilian and wounded four others.

The strike reportedly targeted a solar energy site in the Hafsin neighborhood of Saada, a stronghold of the Iran-backed rebel group.

According to the Saba News Agency and Al-Masirah television, civil defense teams responded to multiple airstrikes and worked to extinguish fires and rescue victims. The outlets said four strikes hit the area in total.

NEW: Yemen’s official state news agency, Saba, reports that a US bombing, recently celebrated publicly by Trump on social media for the elimination of Houthis, actually killed civilians in Hodeidah who were gathering for the Eid holiday.

Abdulrahman al-Ahnomi, head of the… https://t.co/JtjQM54BgQ pic.twitter.com/od2NL610NX

— Drop Site (@DropSiteNews) April 6, 2025

The strike is part of a broader US campaign launched on March 15 aimed at degrading the Houthis’ ability to threaten shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden. Rebel-held areas have seen near-daily airstrikes since the campaign began.

The Houthis claim their maritime attacks are retaliation for Israel’s ongoing military operations in Gaza. The group, part of the Iran-backed “Axis of Resistance,” has targeted both commercial and military vessels in the region.

The airstrike in Saada came a day after US President Donald Trump posted a video on Truth Social showing what he described as dozens of Houthi fighters being killed in an American strike. The black-and-white footage, allegedly from a military drone, captured a large explosion followed by a smoke cloud and crater imagery. Trump captioned the post, “The Houthis will never sink our ships again!”

“These Houthis gathered for instructions on an attack. Oops, there will be no attack by these Houthis!

They will never sink our ships again!” –President Donald J. Trump 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/1RU6XQPDXI

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) April 4, 2025

Houthi media denied that the individuals in the video were fighters, claiming they were civilians gathered for an Eid celebration marking the end of Ramadan.

US Revokes Visas for All South Sudanese Over Deportation Dispute

The Trump administration has revoked all US visas held by South Sudanese nationals, citing the South Sudanese government’s refusal to accept the return of one of its citizens “in a timely manner.”

The abrupt move ends years of special immigration protections and comes as the country teeters on the brink of renewed civil war.

The decision could force South Sudanese residents in the US to return to a country mired in instability. The temporary protected status (TPS) granted to South Sudanese nationals expires May 3.

South Sudan’s government has yet to issue an official response.

The Trump Administration has revoked the visas of all South Sudanese, saying the country’s government has failed to accept the return of its citizens “in a timely manner”https://t.co/Fwgk0gIzde

— TIME (@TIME) April 6, 2025

South Sudan gained independence from Sudan in 2011 with strong US backing but has since spiraled into political turmoil, civil conflict, and economic collapse. A 2013 civil war between rival factions aligned with President Salva Kiir and his then-deputy Riek Machar killed hundreds of thousands. A 2018 peace deal remains fragile and partially unfulfilled. Tensions reignited late last month after Machar’s allies seized a military garrison and government forces responded with airstrikes, killing dozens. Machar was arrested, and his party declared the peace deal defunct.

UN Secretary-General António Guterres warned the situation echoes the devastating civil wars of 2013 and 2016. Embassies in Juba have scaled down operations, with some Western countries closing altogether.

South Sudan may have fallen off the world’s radar, but we cannot let the situation fall over the abyss – @antonioguterres pic.twitter.com/5fklBoqhYf

— UN Spokesperson (@UN_Spokesperson) March 28, 2025

Internally, South Sudan remains reliant on oil revenues, though little of that reaches its population due to widespread corruption. Civil servants often go unpaid, and US aid cuts have crippled health, education, and humanitarian services. Climate shocks, mass displacement, and instability from neighboring Sudan have added further strain.

The move marks a sharp departure from Washington’s earlier support for South Sudan’s independence and its former rebel leaders.

Zelenskyy Urges US Response as Russia Escalates Airstrikes on Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy criticized the US on Sunday for its silence following Russia’s refusal to accept a proposed full, unconditional ceasefire. His comments came after a wave of Russian airstrikes killed two people and wounded at least seven others across Ukraine.

Zelenskyy said Ukraine had accepted a ceasefire initiative proposed by Washington, but Russian President Vladimir Putin rejected it.

“We are waiting for the United States to respond — so far there has been no response,” Zelensky said, calling for stronger pressure on Moscow.

Russia launched what Ukrainian officials described as a “massive” nationwide aerial assault overnight using 23 cruise and ballistic missiles and 109 drones. Ukraine’s Air Force said it intercepted 13 missiles and 40 drones. The rest either caused damage or were neutralized without incident.

In Kyiv, explosions rocked the capital, killing one person and injuring three. A second fatality was reported in the southern Kherson region, where a drone strike killed a 59-year-old man.

Additional injuries occurred in Kharkiv and Khmelnytsky from aerial bomb attacks and falling debris, according to local authorities.

A missile strike partially destroyed the headquarters of the state foreign-language broadcaster in Kyiv. Fires broke out in non-residential buildings throughout the city following the attack.

Over the past week, Russia has escalated its aerial campaign, launching more than 1,460 guided bombs, 670 drones, and over 30 missiles, Zelenskyy said. He warned the increased tempo of strikes demonstrated that “pressure on Russia is still insufficient.”

Moscow claimed its forces had seized the village of Basivka in Ukraine’s northeastern Sumy region. Ukraine’s military immediately rejected the claim, calling it “disinformation” and part of an ongoing psychological operation.

French President Emmanuel Macron echoed Zelenskyy’s call for stronger Western action, warning that Russia is using ceasefire negotiations to delay and prolong hostilities.

On this day of national mourning in Ukraine, my thoughts are with the children and all civilian victims of the deadly strikes carried out by Russia, such as in Kryvyi Rih on April 4.

Again last night, numerous Russian strikes targeted residential areas in Kyiv…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 6, 2025

Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump has called for a partial ceasefire but has yet to broker an agreement between the warring parties. Russia’s Kremlin envoy Kirill Dmitriev said additional US-Russia contacts may take place “next week.”

Dmitriev recently became the most senior Russian official to visit Washington since the war began.

On Sunday, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights condemned Russia’s use of explosive weapons with wide-area impact, calling it a “reckless disregard” for civilian lives. The statement came just days after a missile attack in Kryvyi Rih killed 18 people, including nine children.

UN: Russia’s Strike on Kryvyi Rih Becomes the Deadliest Attack on Children Since the Beginning of the War

On April 5, a commission from the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights visited the strike site and documented the damage caused by Russia, according to UN High Commissioner… pic.twitter.com/g5N3mRyal4

— NEXTA (@nexta_tv) April 6, 2025

Russia claimed responsibility for hitting Ukrainian artillery facilities and drone production sites, while accusing Ukraine of targeting energy infrastructure inside Russia’s Voronezh region.

UK Military Uncovers Russian Spy Sensors Near Nuclear Submarine Routes

The UK military has discovered Russian surveillance devices in the waters surrounding the country, raising alarm over renewed undersea espionage activity.

According to The Sunday Times, the Royal Navy located sensors on the seabed and recovered several others that washed ashore. Officials suspect the devices were intended to monitor the movements of the UK’s four nuclear-armed submarines.

Military and intelligence leaders view this as part of a broader escalation in undersea hostilities. A senior UK defense official told the newspaper, “There should be no doubt, there is a war raging in the Atlantic. This is a game of cat and mouse that has continued since the ending of the Cold War, and is now heating up again.”

The report is based on a three-month investigation, which also revealed that unmanned Russian vehicles were found near deep-sea communication cables. These cables are vital for both military coordination and civilian infrastructure.

In addition to the planted devices, UK intelligence reportedly has credible information suggesting Russian oligarch-owned superyachts may have played a role in underwater reconnaissance operations.

This development comes amid broader concerns about Russia’s increasing efforts to disrupt Western military and communication systems beneath the waves.

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito Honors War Dead During First-Ever Visit to Iwo Jima

Japan’s Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako visited Iwo Jima on Monday, paying tribute to the thousands of Japanese and American troops who died during one of World War II’s fiercest battles. This marks the first visit to the island by a Japanese emperor born after the war.

The imperial couple offered prayers and floral tributes at three memorial sites dedicated to Japanese soldiers, island residents, and all war dead from both sides. They poured water over a cenotaph in a traditional gesture honoring those who died of hunger and thirst in the island’s harsh conditions. They were also scheduled to meet with bereaved family members and descendants of former island residents.

Emperor Naruhito and Empress Masako on Monday made a visit to Ioto, widely known as Iwo Jima, to pay tribute to those who died in fierce battle on the Pacific island 80 years ago. https://t.co/SP5Eh5wwP8

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) April 7, 2025

The Battle of Iwo Jima, fought from February 19 to March 26, 1945, resulted in the deaths of nearly 21,000 Japanese and almost 7,000 American service members. Despite expectations of a quick American victory, Japanese forces mounted prolonged resistance through a network of underground tunnels, making the battle one of the bloodiest in the Pacific theater.

Only 21 of the more than 21,000 Japanese defenders survived. Most of the island’s 1,100 civilian residents were evacuated before the fighting began; 82 of the 103 men conscripted into military service were killed.

In his 65th birthday remarks earlier this year, Emperor Naruhito emphasized the importance of preserving wartime memory as Japan approaches the 80th anniversary of World War II’s end.

The visit to Iwo Jima underscores that message, occurring as part of ongoing efforts to reconcile history and educate younger generations.

The visit also follows a joint memorial held ten days earlier, attended by Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba, Defense Minister Gen Nakatani, and US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth to mark the anniversary of the battle’s end.

Humbled to stand on the hallowed grounds of Iwo Jima, where over 80,000 warriors fought, and more than 26,000 made the ultimate sacrifice. Their courage secured freedom—we honor them, we remember them, and we will never forget them. pic.twitter.com/t58w4ZVVYR

— Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth (@SecDef) March 29, 2025

Iwo Jima, now officially part of the Ogasawara island chain, was returned to Japan in 1968 after a 23-year US occupation.

Today, it is home to approximately 380 personnel from the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) and serves as a site for US military aircraft landing exercises. While descendants of former residents may attend memorial events, the island remains uninhabited by civilians.

Sources: News Agencies