SOFREP Evening Brief: Israel Vows “Strong Response” After Rocket Fire from Gaza, Kryvyi Rih Mourns Children Killed in Russian Missile Strike

Global flashpoints intensified today, from deadly Russian missiles hitting Ukraine to tense Indo-Pacific military drills and New Zealand ramping up its defense posture. Ceasefire efforts remain shaky, and Trump’s latest tariff offensive is straining key alliances. Here’s your Monday SOFREP evening brief for April 7, 2025.

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Israel Vows “Strong Response” After Rocket Fire from Gaza

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has ordered an intensified military response following a rocket barrage launched from the Gaza Strip on Sunday.

According to a statement from his office, Netanyahu authorized continued Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) operations targeting Hamas positions.

A short while ago, a launcher used to fire a projectile from Gaza earlier tonight was struck by the IAF.

The IDF will continue to operate to remove any threat to Israeli civilians.

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 6, 2025

The escalation came after approximately 10 rockets were fired from Gaza, prompting immediate discussions between Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz while the prime minister was en route to Washington.

Shortly after the announcement, the IDF issued evacuation warnings to residents of central Gaza’s Deir el-Balah region.

Military Arabic-language spokesperson Avichay Adraee released a statement on X (formerly Twitter), declaring an imminent airstrike on the launch zone.

“This is a final advance warning before the attack,” Adraee stated. “We will attack with extreme force every area used for launching rockets… For your safety, you must move immediately south to the known shelters in Al Mawasi.”

The Israeli military has not yet confirmed whether there were casualties from the rocket attacks or whether Hamas officially claimed responsibility.

The situation remains fluid as the IDF prepares further strikes in response.

Iran Rules Out Direct Nuclear Talks with US, Proposes Indirect Negotiations via Oman

Iran has ruled out direct negotiations with the United States over its nuclear program, instead offering to engage through indirect channels.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Esmaeil Baqaei confirmed Monday that Tehran submitted a proposal to Washington for mediated talks and is awaiting a response.

Iran says the United States has not yet replied to its proposal for indirect talks regarding Tehran’s nuclear program and the removal of anti-Iran sanctions.

Follow: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/ejqOokj1bH

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) April 7, 2025

Speaking at a press briefing carried by state media outlet IRNA, Baqaei called the proposal a “generous and responsible” effort. He identified Oman as a primary venue under consideration for hosting any potential indirect discussions. “There has been no response from the US so far,” Baqaei said.

The spokesman also addressed recent American threats, asserting that Iran is prepared to respond militarily if necessary.

“Iran has built its defensive capabilities over the past five decades,”Baqaei stated. “If threats materialize, they will be met with a firm response.”

Tensions escalated last month after President Donald Trump warned Iran of devastating airstrikes should it refuse to negotiate. “If they don’t make a deal, there will be bombing like they’ve never seen before,” Trump told NBC News.

In response, Iran warned that it would consider developing nuclear weapons if attacked by the US or its allies—a move that would mark a major shift in policy.

The standoff follows Trump’s 2018 decision to exit the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), the multilateral nuclear agreement signed in 2015. Though Iran remained compliant with the deal for over a year after the US withdrawal, it gradually rolled back its commitments in response to renewed sanctions and lack of support from other signatories.

UAE Urges Gaza Ceasefire in High-Level Talks with Israeli Foreign Minister

The United Arab Emirates (UAE) called for an immediate ceasefire in Gaza during a rare meeting with Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Saar on Sunday.

The talks, held in Abu Dhabi, come amid deepening humanitarian concerns and ongoing Israeli military operations in the Gaza Strip.

According to a statement from the UAE Foreign Ministry, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed Al Nahyan, the country’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister, emphasized the urgent need for a ceasefire and the release of hostages. He also advocated for the resumption of political negotiations based on a two-state solution.

The meeting marked a significant diplomatic interaction between the two nations, which established formal relations in 2020 under the US-brokered Abraham Accords.

Direct contact between the UAE and Israel has remained minimal since the war in Gaza erupted following Hamas’s October 2023 attacks on Israel.

While Israel has not officially disclosed details of the meeting, Saar confirmed the discussions in a post on X, stating it was his second meeting with Sheikh Abdullah. He said the two addressed a range of regional issues and discussed enhancing bilateral cooperation.

Honored to meet in Abu Dhabi, for the second time, with UAE FM Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed @ABZayed. We discussed the full range of regional issues, as well as furthering bilateral relations between our countries. There are major challenges ahead of us in the Middle East, but there… pic.twitter.com/cXqoBgXxJR

— Gideon Sa’ar | גדעון סער (@gidonsaar) April 6, 2025

The meeting underscores growing international calls for de-escalation as the humanitarian crisis in Gaza continues to worsen.

Kryvyi Rih Mourns Children Killed in Russian Missile Strike as Ukraine Presses for US Support

Funerals began Monday in Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s hometown of Kryvyi Rih for victims of a Russian missile strike that killed 20 people, including nine children, and wounded more than 70.

The Friday evening attack hit a residential area, destroying apartment blocks and a playground where children had been playing.

Ukrainian officials described the strike as one of the deadliest attacks of the year and the single worst verified assault on children since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022, according to the United Nations (UN) Human Rights Office.

🔴 Kryvyi Rih mourns victims of the April 4 Russian strike: 7-year-old Radyslav, 15-year-old couple Alina and Danylo, and 50-year-old Viktoriia, killed at a playground. pic.twitter.com/3GIDGXA52D

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) April 7, 2025

Local officials demanded a global outcry. “We are not asking for pity. We demand the world’s outrage,” Oleksandr Vilkul, head of the city administration, wrote on Telegram.

The assault comes as Ukraine continues to honor a US-proposed ceasefire. Russia has yet to agree to the terms, though Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said President Vladimir Putin supports the concept of a truce but insists on meeting unspecified conditions. President Donald Trump, who pledged during his campaign to end the war quickly, voiced frustration Sunday, saying, “I don’t like the bombing.”

Ukrainian Air Force officials noted advancements in Russian drone and missile technology, warning of evolving tactics. Moreover saying that only the US-made Patriot missile defense system could prevent future attacks of this scale.

Zelenskyy directed Ukrainian officials to press the US for additional air defense support. Economy Minister Yuliia Svyrydenko confirmed Ukraine will send a delegation to Washington this week to negotiate a draft agreement granting American access to Ukrainian mineral resources in exchange for increased military assistance.

Failure to secure this deal has hindered Ukraine’s ability to lock in continued US defense support, officials said.

While front-line fighting has slowed since November, Russia launched its largest aerial assault in weeks on Saturday, suggesting preparations are underway on both sides for a renewed spring-summer offensive.

NEW: The rate of Russian advances in Ukraine has been steadily declining since November 2024, in part due to successful Ukrainian counterattacks in eastern Ukraine.

MORE ⬇️

Russian forces conducted the largest series of missile and drone strikes against Ukraine in nearly a… pic.twitter.com/KoFiHqZB1T

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) April 6, 2025

As the war drags on, Ukrainians continue to bury their dead—and brace for what comes next.

US Tariff Offensive Triggers Global Blowback, Diplomatic Scramble

President Donald Trump’s latest wave of steep tariff hikes has triggered sharp reactions and countermeasures from America’s key trading partners, with countries in Europe and Asia moving to defend their economic interests and avoid further escalation.

The European Union (EU) responded with a dual-track strategy—offering negotiations while warning of retaliation.

EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen proposed a zero-tariff deal on industrial goods but stressed that countermeasures remain on the table. The bloc is preparing to impose duties on politically sensitive US goods such as jeans, whiskey, and motorcycles in response to Trump’s tariffs on steel, aluminum, and autos.

Europe is ready to negotiate with the US.

We have offered zero-for-zero tariffs for industrial goods.

Because we’re always ready for a good deal.

But we’re also prepared to respond with countermeasures.

And protect ourselves against indirect effects through trade diversion. pic.twitter.com/hpZ77TXH4B

— Ursula von der Leyen (@vonderleyen) April 7, 2025

France is also pushing for taxes on US services like internet commerce and finance, sectors where the US has trade surpluses. Germany’s economy minister dismissed the tariff rationale as “nonsense,” calling for EU unity and a firm stance, asserting the US is acting from a “position of weakness.”

White House trade adviser Peter Navarro dismissed Vietnam’s offer to drop tariffs on US goods, citing “non-tariff cheating.” Meanwhile, the Trump administration announced a new 46% levy on Vietnamese imports and a 25% tariff on all imported automobiles.

China, which imposed its own 34% retaliatory tariffs on US goods, accused Washington of “economic bullying” and warned of further action.

Beijing’s state media took a defiant tone despite market turmoil, with The People’s Daily stating, “The sky won’t fall.” China’s Commerce Ministry also met with major US companies, including Tesla and GE Healthcare, urging them to push back against the new tariffs.

Several nations are sending delegations to Washington. South Korea will dispatch its top trade negotiator to address the 25% auto tariffs, while Pakistan plans to negotiate over a 29% levy on its exports, a potentially destabilizing hit to its already fragile economy.

Malaysia, as chair of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), is leading efforts to coordinate a regional response. Trade Minister Zafrul Abdul Aziz announced a summit in Kuala Lumpur to address the broader impacts of Trump’s tariffs on Southeast Asia’s export-driven economies.

Indonesia, opting for diplomacy over retaliation, announced plans to increase imports of US wheat, oil, cotton, and gas to narrow its trade surplus, which stood at $18 billion in 2024. Officials said the move aims to secure exemptions and protect Indonesia’s key export sectors from the newly imposed 32% tariffs.

The rapid escalation of trade tensions has left global markets shaken and allies frustrated, raising questions about the future of US economic leadership and the strategic cost of Trump’s protectionist drive.

US, Philippine Air Forces Launch Cope Thunder Drills

The Philippine and United States Air Forces began joint exercises Monday, focusing on combat readiness, operational coordination, and strategic deterrence.

The Cope Thunder drills come amid heightened tensions in the South China Sea and growing concerns over Chinese military activity near Taiwan.

Philippine Air Force commander Lt. Gen. Arthur Cordura stated the exercise aims to enhance “combat readiness and elevate joint mission effectiveness.”

The joint exercises, which run through April 18, are being conducted primarily on northern Luzon island, the Philippine region closest to Taiwan.

US Major General Christopher Sheppard emphasized the growing pace of military cooperation between the two allies, calling it an acceleration of their long-standing alliance.

PAF, PACAF KICK-OFF COPE THUNDER PH 25-1 IN PAMPANGA

See full story 👇🏻https://t.co/854NmwRHZs#FocusPAF #GuardiansofourPreciousSkies #PAFyoucanTrust #OneAFPOnePHILIPPINES #StrongAirForceStrongPHILIPPINES #AFPyoucanTRUST #CTPH25 pic.twitter.com/GpqtQjI6Ko

— Philippine Air Force (@PhilAirForce) April 7, 2025

Cope Thunder is a precursor to the much larger annual Balikatan exercise scheduled for late April. Both exercises underline the US-Philippine focus on bolstering asymmetric warfare capabilities and joint interoperability.

Cordura noted that Balikatan will “push the boundaries of our interoperability” further.

The deepening military partnership follows the 2022 election of President Ferdinand Marcos Jr., whose administration has taken a more assertive stance on defending Philippine maritime claims. The government continues to challenge Beijing’s expansive claims in the South China Sea, which an international tribunal previously ruled as baseless.

New Zealand Commits to $5 Billion Defense Overhaul

New Zealand announced a sweeping military overhaul on Monday, pledging to double its defense spending over the next decade.

The NZ$9 billion ($5 billion) plan focuses on boosting missile capabilities, cybersecurity, long-range drones, and border surveillance.

Prime Minister Christopher Luxon outlined the initiative, calling it a necessary step for New Zealand to “pull its weight” amid rapidly rising global tensions. The plan aims to increase defense spending from 1% to over 2% of gross domestic product (GDP) within ten years.

“New Zealand has stepped up on the world stage, but our current defense spending is simply too low,” Luxon said, emphasizing the country’s growing need to adapt to an increasingly volatile security landscape.

Couldn’t have said it better myself. @NZDefenceForce pic.twitter.com/sA0PYNOz8j

— Judith Collins (@JudithCollinsMP) April 7, 2025

The overhaul includes deepening defense cooperation with Australia, a key regional partner. Both nations are members of the “Five Eyes” intelligence-sharing alliance, which also includes the US, the UK, and Canada.

Despite this alliance, New Zealand has faced criticism in recent years for maintaining a relatively soft stance on China, prioritizing economic ties over broader security concerns shared by its allies.

The newly announced defense strategy signals a shift toward aligning more closely with partners in the Indo-Pacific and preparing for future threats in both physical and digital domains.

Sources: News Agencies