SOFREP Daily: Rebels Join Syria’s Army as Officers, Chinese Hackers Breach US Treasury Systems, Ukrainian Naval Drone Downs Russian Helicopter

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, December 31, and as we say goodbye to 2024, we’re here with your final briefing of the year on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.

Rebels Join Syria’s Army as Officers After Leadership Shake-Up

Syria’s new military leadership announced Monday that it had promoted former rebels and foreign jihadists to officer ranks, marking a significant shift in the country’s defense forces.

The promotions were announced in a decree by Ahmad al-Sharaa, the de facto leader of Syria’s transitional government. This move is part of an effort to modernize the military and stabilize the country after years of civil war.

The 49 newly appointed officers include ex-army defectors and Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) members, the group that ousted Bashar al-Assad earlier this month.

Two key figures, including HTS military head Murhaf Abu Qasra, were promoted to general.

Notably, several foreign jihadists were identified among the new officers, representing groups with ties to Al-Qaeda and other extremist factions.

‘Foreign jihadists’ in Syria leader’s pick for army officers, say monitor, expertshttps://t.co/2pL644VEC3 pic.twitter.com/m8FCVgrhhi

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 31, 2024

While the decree claims these changes aim to ensure security and stability, critics note the heavy influence of HTS and its allies in shaping Syria’s new army.

Observers are concerned about the implications of integrating figures with jihadist backgrounds into the military structure.

China, North Korea Pledge Closer Ties with Russia in New Year Messages

China and North Korea are doubling down on their alliances with Russia, as their leaders, Xi Jinping and Kim Jong Un, sent New Year messages Tuesday pledging to deepen ties.

Xi emphasized strengthening China-Russia cooperation with a focus on “good-neighborly friendship” and mutual benefits, while Kim celebrated the growing partnership between Pyongyang and Moscow, calling it a “meaningful journey.”

Xi pledges ‘world peace’ in New Year’s message to Putin
➡️ https://t.co/gLCkZRyoYJ pic.twitter.com/2JHplQ8X2h

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) December 31, 2024

Both leaders framed their alliances with Russia as strategic and enduring.

Xi highlighted the importance of non-alliance and non-confrontation, while Kim praised the military partnership established in 2023.

Notably, Kim expressed hopes for Russia’s victory against “neo-Nazism,” a clear nod to its ongoing war with Ukraine.

🇷🇺🥂🇰🇵 KIM JONG-UN CONGRATULATES PUTIN AND WISHES RUSSIA VICTORY OVER NEO-NAZISM IN NEW YEAR’S MESSAGE

North Korean leader Kim Jong-un congratulated “his dearest friend and comrade,” Russian President Vladimir Putin, the “fraternal Russian people,” and the brave Russian army on… pic.twitter.com/mItqv7dvVr

— Sputnik (@SputnikInt) December 30, 2024

Reports suggest North Korea may have sent troops to support Russia in the conflict, though neither country has confirmed these allegations.

The close coordination between these three nations underscores shifting global alliances and rising tensions with the West.

Chinese Hackers Breach US Treasury Systems via Third-Party Flaw

Chinese hackers reportedly infiltrated several US Treasury Department workstations and accessed unclassified documents after breaching a third-party software provider, BeyondTrust.

The hack, discovered on December 8, allowed attackers to exploit a stolen key used for securing a cloud-based support service, enabling remote access to employee systems.

While Treasury officials stress there’s no evidence of continued access, the incident is being treated as a major cybersecurity breach.

The department has since taken the compromised service offline and is working with federal agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) and Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to investigate further.

🛡️ We added #BeyondTrust privileged remote access and remote support command injection vulnerability, CVE-2024-12356 to our Known Exploited Vulnerabilities Catalog. Visit https://t.co/myxOwap1Tf & apply mitigations to protect your org from cyberattacks. #Cybersecurity #InfoSec pic.twitter.com/iVn04eqldt

— CISA Cyber (@CISACyber) December 19, 2024

Beijing dismissed the allegations, calling them baseless, and reiterated its opposition to hacking.

This breach follows a larger Chinese cyber-espionage operation, known as Salt Typhoon, that targeted US telecommunications networks.

Treasury officials have bolstered defenses in recent years but continue to face evolving threats.

Israel Warns Houthis After Intercepting Missile from Yemen

Israel’s ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, delivered Monday a stern warning to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi militants, cautioning them against continued missile attacks on Israel.

Hours later, Israeli forces intercepted a missile launched from Yemen targeting key sites, including Ben Gurion Airport.

The Houthis claimed responsibility, asserting their attacks were in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Danon warned that the Houthis risk the same fate as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Bashar al-Assad if they persist.

Israel’s Ambassador to the UN, Danny Danon, issues what he calls a final warning to Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthis to halt their missile attacks on Israel, saying that they risk the same “miserable fate” as Hamas, Hezbollah, and Syria’s Bashar al-Assad if they persist. pic.twitter.com/Ylv6MRLqvt

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) December 31, 2024

Prime Minister Netanyahu echoed this sentiment, emphasizing Israel’s readiness to strike.

Meanwhile, the UN called for de-escalation, warning of severe humanitarian and regional consequences.

Russia criticized Israel’s retaliatory strikes, questioning their proportionality.

As tensions rise, the conflict underscores the widening scope of Middle Eastern hostilities, with Yemen emerging as another flashpoint in Israel’s battle against Iranian proxies.

Tunisian Detainee Released from Guantanamo After Two Decades

The United States repatriated Monday Ridah bin Saleh al-Yazidi, a Tunisian detainee held at Guantanamo Bay since the day it opened in 2002.

Al-Yazidi, now 59, was never charged with a crime but was suspected of being an al-Qaeda fighter. Cleared for transfer over a decade ago, his release was finalized after the US via the Pentagon and Tunisia reached an agreement.

This marks the fourth transfer in two weeks as the Biden administration continues efforts to shrink the Guantanamo population, which now stands at 26.

The U.S. Department of Defense on Monday announced that Guantanamo Bay detainee Ridah Bin Saleh al-Yazidi had been repatriated to Tunisia, a transfer that leaves 26 detainees at the U.S. facility in Cuba. https://t.co/WFIZK8uBqt

— ABC News (@ABC) December 31, 2024

Despite its infamous history as a symbol of post-9/11 abuses, the prison remains operational, with some detainees waiting years for transfer due to political and logistical hurdles.

Guantanamo Bay once held nearly 800 prisoners during the height of the “war on terror,” many of whom were subjected to harsh interrogation practices.

While promises to close the facility have spanned multiple administrations, it remains a controversial chapter in US history.

Ukraine-Russia Trade Prisoners in Holiday Exchange

Russia and Ukraine wrapped up a significant prisoner exchange just before New Year’s Eve, with at least 150 prisoners returning to each side.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced in a post via Telegram that 189 Ukrainians were brought home, while Russia claimed 150 on both sides were swapped. The discrepancy remains unexplained.

The Ukrainians freed included soldiers from various branches, officers, and two civilians. Some had been held since the early days of Russia’s invasion in 2022. This marks the 11th exchange this year, bringing the total number of Ukrainians returned to 1,358.

Russia and Ukraine conducted a prisoner swap, bringing home over 300 captives. The swap, mediated by the United Arab Emirates and others, is the 59th exchange since Feb. 2022, when Russia invaded Ukraine https://t.co/RUWa68YvGr pic.twitter.com/GDhB8YTcnY

— Reuters (@Reuters) December 31, 2024

However, many remain in Russian captivity, where accounts of torture, abuse, and neglect have been widely reported.

The swap was partially brokered by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and highlights Ukraine’s ongoing efforts to secure the release of its people.

It also comes as the US announced nearly $6 billion in aid to Ukraine, signaling continued support amid speculation about future US foreign policy under Donald Trump.

Ukrainian Naval Drone Downs Russian Helicopter in Crimea

Ukrainian military intelligence claimed a major first on Tuesday: a naval drone took down a Russian Mi-8 helicopter near Crimea’s Cape Tarkhankut.

The drone, a Magura V5, reportedly destroyed one helicopter and damaged another, marking the first time Ukraine has used a maritime drone to hit an air target.

Russia’s Defense Ministry hasn’t confirmed the helicopter strike but stated its Black Sea Fleet destroyed eight Ukrainian unmanned vessels.

Grainy footage released by Ukraine shows a helicopter being hit and crashing into the water, but independent verification remains pending.

A historic strike: @DI_Ukraine warriors destroyed an aerial target using a Magura V5 naval drone.

A russian Mi-8 helicopter was destroyed using R-73 “SeeDragon” missiles near Cape Tarkhankut in temporarily occupied Crimea.

Another enemy helicopter was damaged and returned to… pic.twitter.com/AMOiuVEzWe

— Defense of Ukraine (@DefenceU) December 31, 2024

This strike is part of Ukraine’s ramped-up drone efforts following Russia’s 2022 invasion.

Ukrainian naval drones have been increasingly effective, targeting Russian ships and infrastructure in Crimea, forcing Moscow to relocate much of its Black Sea Fleet.

Sources: Aljazeera, News Agencies, Reuters, The Guardian