SOFREP Daily: Cybertruck Blast in Vegas Tied to Decorated Green Beret, China Slams US Plans to Restrict Chinese Drones, Ukraine Probes Desertion Scandal

Good morning! It’s Friday, January 3, 2025, and we’re here with your end-of-week briefing on the latest in defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s happening today.

Cybertruck Blast in Vegas Tied to Decorated Green Beret

A highly decorated Green Beret, Matthew Livelsberger, ended his life before his Tesla Cybertruck, packed with fireworks, exploded outside the Trump International Hotel in Las Vegas.

According to Thursday reports, the New Year’s Day explosion injured seven people but caused minor damage to the hotel thanks to the vehicle’s steel frame absorbing most of the blast.

Livelsberger, 37, had an impressive military career with multiple Bronze Stars from numerous deployments.

Authorities believe his actions stemmed from personal struggles, including a fight with his wife, though the motive remains unclear.

Items recovered from the truck included firearms, fireworks, and personal belongings, all legally obtained.

The incident raises more questions than answers, especially given its proximity to another violent act in New Orleans. Authorities have ruled out connections between the two events, and Elon Musk confirmed the explosion was unrelated to Tesla’s vehicle design.

US Army Vet Ramps Truck Into New Year’s Crowd in ISIS-Inspired Attack

A New Year’s celebration turned tragic in New Orleans when Shamsud-Din Jabbar, a former US Army veteran, drove a truck into a crowd on Bourbon Street, killing 14 people and injuring dozens more.

The FBI confirmed Thursday the attack was inspired by ISIS after Jabbar declared allegiance to the group in chilling Facebook videos posted hours before the rampage.

Jabbar, a Texas native who served in Afghanistan, was killed in a shootout with police following the attack. His half-brother described him as a loving, compassionate person, making his radicalization and violent actions all the more baffling for his family.

Financial struggles, a divorce, and a renewed commitment to radical beliefs may have contributed to his descent.

The attack has raised alarms about domestic radicalization, especially among veterans, and has prompted increased security measures across the US for upcoming events like Mardi Gras and the Super Bowl.

While authorities continue to investigate Jabbar’s motives, the tragedy serves as a stark reminder of the ongoing threats posed by lone-wolf terrorism.

China Slams US Plans to Restrict Chinese Drones

China isn’t happy about the United States mulling over restrictions on Chinese-made drones, and they’re making that clear.

On Friday, Beijing fired back, promising to take “all necessary measures” to protect its interests after the US Commerce Department announced it’s considering new rules aimed at foreign-made drones, citing national security concerns.

The potential restrictions could impact Chinese drone giant DJI, which dominates the global market.

The Biden administration is considering a rule that could limit or ban Chinese drones in the US https://t.co/dg7DfBy9BT

— Bloomberg Asia (@BloombergAsia) January 2, 2025

Washington has previously raised alarms about Chinese technology being used for surveillance or manipulation, but DJI insists it’s a private company, not tied to the Chinese military.

The US Commerce Department has opened public feedback on the proposed rules, but any decision will land in the hands of the incoming Trump administration.

For now, this battle over drones is just the latest flashpoint in the ongoing tech and trade tensions between the two superpowers.

Ukraine Probes Desertion Scandal in French-Trained Army Unit

Ukraine is investigating a major desertion scandal after hundreds of soldiers reportedly abandoned the “Anne of Kyiv” Brigade, a unit partly trained and equipped by France.

The 155th Mechanized Brigade was supposed to bolster Ukraine’s defenses against Russian offensives, with 4,500 soldiers, half trained in France.

Instead, the brigade faced serious issues, including poor management and soldiers fleeing in droves—1,700 reportedly deserted without seeing combat, and 50 left during training in France.

Ukraine’s State Bureau of Investigation has launched a probe into “abuse of power” and desertion, but details remain scarce.

Lawmaker Mariana Bezugla revealed last month that the brigade had already been dismantled and its soldiers reassigned, blaming poor decisions by military leadership for the collapse.

The scandal comes at a challenging time for Ukraine, with Russia ramping up its nearly three-year invasion and uncertainty looming over future US aid as President-elect Trump prepares to take office.

The collapse of this high-profile unit underscores the struggles Kyiv faces as it battles manpower shortages, exhaustion, and leadership missteps.

Syrian Democratic Forces Fight Off Turkish-Backed Forces in Fierce Manbij Clashes

Tensions boiled over in northern Syria as clashes between Turkish-backed fighters and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) left 24 dead near Manbij.

According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights on Thursday, twenty-three of those killed were Ankara-aligned fighters, while one belonged to the SDF-affiliated Manbij Military Council.

The violence erupted when Turkish-backed forces launched attacks on villages south of Manbij, supported by drones, tanks, and artillery fire.

Despite the heavy assault, the SDF claimed to have repelled the attacks, destroying several armored vehicles and inflicting heavy losses.

Manbij, an Arab-majority city controlled by the SDF’s local forces, has long been a flashpoint in the region.

#Syria 🇸🇾: “Syrian Democratic Forces” (#SDF) carried out Drone Strike against “Syrian National Army” (#SNA) position on #Manbij Front, #Aleppo.

Group possibly used a DJI UAV with air-dropped 30mm VOG-17 HE-Frag grenade. After the attack, an SNA fighter ran over his friend. pic.twitter.com/4k8q0JnPkd

— War Noir (@war_noir) January 2, 2025

Turkey views the SDF’s main component, the YPG, as a threat due to its ties with the PKK, a group Ankara and Washington designate as terrorists.

The clashes highlight ongoing volatility in northern Syria, where Turkey-backed groups and Kurdish forces have been locked in conflict for years.

Israel Bombs Syrian Defense Sites in Powerful Aleppo Strikes

Israel carried out airstrikes on Syrian army positions south of Aleppo on Thursday, shaking the ground with some of the strongest blasts residents say they’ve ever heard.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, the strikes targeted defense factories and research facilities in the al-Safira area.

Local residents reported at least seven massive explosions, describing how the strikes rattled buildings, flung open doors and windows, and lit up the night sky like daytime.

Israeli airstrikes hit targets near Aleppo in Syria tonight pic.twitter.com/yXFIncpBqO

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) January 3, 2025

Israel has been stepping up strikes in Syria since the recent overthrow of Bashar al-Assad, aiming to prevent advanced weapons from falling into hostile hands.

There’s no word yet on casualties, but the strikes underline Israel’s continued focus on countering threats in the region.

Israel Warns Hamas as New Year’s Strikes Rock Gaza

Israel is ramping up its warnings and strikes in Gaza as the conflict drags into 2025.

Defense Minister Israel Katz has made it clear that if Hamas doesn’t release Israeli hostages or stop firing rockets, the intensity of Israel’s retaliation will escalate.

This follows another round of rocket attacks from Gaza and Israeli airstrikes, including a deadly hit on a house in Jabalia that killed 15 people, many of them civilians seeking shelter.

The Israeli military says it’s targeting Hamas militants and infrastructure, but residents and aid workers paint a grim picture of destruction, displacement, and cold winter nights without safety.

Nearly all of Gaza’s 2.4 million residents have been displaced at least once since the war began, and frustration is mounting as families mourn their dead and struggle to survive amid the bombardment.

The conflict, sparked by Hamas’s attack on Israel last October, shows no sign of ending, with talks of ceasefires and hostage negotiations repeatedly failing.

Meanwhile, the United Nations and human rights groups are raising alarms about the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accusing both sides of fueling the suffering.

Sources: News Agencies, SOHR