SOFREP Daily: South Korea Declares Martial Law, Israel Strikes Hamas Cell, NATO Delays Ukraine Membership Talk

Good morning! Here’s your Wednesday briefing on defense and global affairs. It’s December 4, and we’ve got the latest updates to keep you informed. Let’s jump right in!

South Korea Declares Martial Law, Reverses It in Hours

South Korea just went through one of its most chaotic nights in years.

President Yoon Suk Yeol shocked the nation by declaring martial law late Tuesday, only to backtrack hours later after lawmakers pushed back hard.

Yoon claimed the move was to protect the country from “pro-North Korean forces,” but no real threats were mentioned.

Chaos broke out as troops stormed the National Assembly, but lawmakers fought back—literally spraying troops with fire extinguishers—and unanimously voted to end martial law.

Opposition parties are now calling for Yoon’s resignation, and they’ve filed an impeachment motion set for a vote later this week, according to reports. Even some of Yoon’s allies criticized the martial law declaration, calling it a betrayal of democratic principles.

Defense Minister Kim Yong Hyun, who reportedly recommended the move, is facing demands to step down along with the rest of Yoon’s Cabinet.

The situation has obviously drawn international attention, with the White House expressing “serious concern” and noting that the United States was not informed in advance of Yoon’s decision.

Pentagon spokesman Major General Pat Ryder confirmed that the more than 27,000 US service members stationed in South Korea were unaffected by the events.

While Seoul streets returned to business as usual on Wednesday, the fallout is far from over. Markets are shaky, protests are planned, and South Korea’s largest unions are promising strikes.

With Yoon’s popularity already at rock bottom, this incident might just mark a turning point for his presidency—or its end. Stay tuned for more updates!

Iran Blames US-Israel Plot, Eyes Military Aid to Syria

Iran is open to sending troops to Syria if their close ally requests it, according to Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi.

According to Tuesday reports, Araghchi shared this during an interview, hinting that Iran is ready to bolster Syria’s fight against a major rebel offensive in the north.

Iran has a history of supporting Syria with military advisors and plans to keep them there as long as the Syrian government desires.

Arakchi in Damascus: Iran ready to send its troops to help Syria

IRAN’S Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi said his country is ready to consider sending military forces to Syria if the government in Damascus sends an official request to Tehran.

Arakchi met with Bashar Assad in… pic.twitter.com/0UZxQnTfNH

— S p r i n t e r (@SprinterFamily) December 4, 2024

Iranian officials have labeled the rebel push as a plot by the US and Israel to shake up the Middle East.

General Mohammad Bagheri, Iran’s military chief, called the situation a regional threat and met with officials from Syria, Iraq, and Russia to discuss backing Syria’s forces.

Israel Strikes Hamas Cell, Claims Attack Prevented Near Tubas

The Israeli military announced Tuesday that it killed three Hamas members in an airstrike near Tubas in the occupied West Bank, stating they were planning an imminent attack.

The strike targeted vehicles in the Aqaba area, and soldiers later conducted raids nearby, seizing weapons.

🚨🇵🇸 The occupation forces conducted an airstrike near the town of Aqaba in Tubas in the northern Palestinian Jordan Valley. pic.twitter.com/3BSYgZMdpK

— ESQ. (@issawiESQ) December 3, 2024

The Palestinian health ministry initially reported two deaths and one injury from the airstrike. It also accused Israeli forces of raiding a hospital in Tubas, shooting inside, assaulting staff, and detaining some.

The Israeli military denied entering the hospital but acknowledged operating in the area to recover the bodies.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Gaza conflict began in October last year, with hundreds killed on both sides.

Georgia’s EU Crisis Spurs Protests, Allegations of Abuse

Georgia’s public ombudsman, Levan Ioseliani, accused police on Tuesday of torturing protesters during six days of demonstrations against the government’s decision to suspend talks on joining the European Union.

He has claimed that the injuries sustained by those arrested, including serious blows to the face and head, suggest intentional punishment rather than proportional force.

The protests have erupted since the ruling Georgian Dream party announced it was halting EU negotiations and turning down funding from the bloc until 2028.

While the US has condemned the police’s use of excessive force, Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze has defended their actions, describing them as more professional than their Western counterparts.

Demonstrators continue to rally, demanding a re-run of the October parliamentary election, which the opposition alleges was fraudulent.

Georgia’s government has faced accusations of moving away from its pro-Western stance and leaning toward Russia, sparking concern in Brussels and Washington.

Meanwhile, President Salome Zourabichvili, a pro-EU critic of the ruling party, has voiced support for the protests, rejecting claims of an attempted revolution.

As of writing, the political standoff shows no signs of resolution.

Germany Backs Ukraine but Holds Back on Taurus Missiles

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz recently made his first visit to Ukraine in over two years, pledging continued support for Kyiv in its fight against Russia.

His trip comes amid tensions with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who criticized Scholz for a recent call with Russian President Vladimir Putin, fearing it might weaken international isolation of the Kremlin.

Scholz defended the call, emphasizing his message that Ukraine’s sovereignty is non-negotiable and its allies remain committed.

Germany, Ukraine’s second-largest military backer after the US, has supplied advanced air defense systems but has held back on providing long-range Taurus missiles and fast-tracking Ukraine’s NATO membership.

Scholz, facing an election in February, has taken a cautious approach to avoid escalating the war into a NATO-Russia conflict.

My message from Kyiv to Putin:

We‘re in this for the long haul.

Our support for Ukraine will not waiver.

We will stand by the Ukrainian people – for as long as it takes. pic.twitter.com/uy8SFIAw4x

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) December 2, 2024

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy hinted that NATO membership for Kyiv’s controlled territories could help end the “hot stage” of the war.

With the conflict nearing its fourth year, Russia has launched hundreds of missiles at Ukrainian civilian areas and critical infrastructure.

Zelenskyy called for more Western air defense support, warning that key sites remain unprotected.

Scholz reaffirmed Germany’s ongoing military aid, including new shipments of air defense systems set for delivery this month.

NATO Sends Weapons, Delays Ukraine Membership Talk

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte stressed Tuesday that the focus should be on arming Ukraine to strengthen its position in future peace talks with Russia, sidestepping questions about fast-tracking NATO membership.

Rutte’s comments follow Ukrainian President Zelenskyy’s push for NATO to extend membership to areas under Kyiv’s control as a way to end the conflict.

While NATO has declared Ukraine’s path to membership “irreversible,” some members, led by the US, remain cautious, citing the ongoing war and unresolved borders.

⚡️ NATO chief Mark Rutte: “Ukraine doesn’t need more ideas on what a peace process could look like.”

The alliance’s role is to “make sure Ukraine has what it needs to get to a position of strength when those peace talks start”, Rutte says.pic.twitter.com/FxTSjhLjHf

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) December 3, 2024

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry dismissed any half-measures or alternatives to full NATO membership, pointing to the failures of past security guarantees like the Budapest Memorandum.

Rutte emphasized the need for a strong peace deal, warning that a weak resolution could embolden leaders like Kim Jong Un and Xi Jinping.

British Prime Minister Keir Starmer echoed the sentiment, urging allies to provide sustained support to Ukraine so it can negotiate peace from a position of strength.

India Focuses on De-escalation in Border Talks With China

India’s External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar briefed Wednesday the Rajya Sabha (Council of States) on steps toward restoring peace and stability with China following tensions along the Line of Actual Control (LAC).

He highlighted recent agreements aimed at resuming traditional patrolling, resolving local access issues, and de-escalating troop presence in border areas.

Jaishankar emphasized India’s core principles: respect for the LAC, avoiding unilateral changes, and adherence to prior agreements.

He traced the current strain in Sino-Indian relations back to the 2020 Galwan Valley clashes, which disrupted decades of peace-building efforts.

He made it clear that normalization with China depends on lasting peace at the border.

Recent diplomatic engagements, including meetings with Chinese counterparts, led to an October 21 agreement addressing disengagement issues.

Jaishankar assured that progress in de-escalation and resumed patrolling would strengthen trust and ensure stability.

However, opposition MPs walked out of the session after being denied the opportunity to question his statement.

Sources: News Agencies