SOFREP Evening Brief: Israeli Airstrike Hits Kuwaiti Hospital Gate in Gaza, Philippine Military Finds Underwater Drones Linked to China

Good Evening! Here’s your brief for defense and global affairs this evening, April 15, 2025. An Israeli airstrike hit a Gaza hospital gate, killing a medic and wounding nine, as regional tensions escalate and Prime Minister Netanyahu rejects calls for a Palestinian state. The US deployed a second aircraft carrier to support strikes against Iran-backed Houthis amid renewed nuclear talks. UN reports confirm Israeli strikes have killed dozens of civilians in Lebanon despite a ceasefire. Russia sentenced five individuals for sabotage linked to Ukrainian intelligence. Ukraine and its allies held talks in Turkey on post-ceasefire Black Sea security. The Philippines recovered Chinese-linked underwater drones, raising concerns over undersea warfare. Meanwhile, China accused the US National Security Agency of cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games, further straining cyber and diplomatic ties.

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Israeli Airstrike Hits Kuwaiti Hospital Gate in Gaza, Kills Medic Amid Renewed Regional Escalations

An Israeli airstrike struck the northern gate of the Kuwaiti Field Hospital in Gaza’s Muwasi area on Tuesday, killing one medic and injuring nine others, all of whom were medical personnel or patients.

The strike targeted a site within a region where hundreds of thousands of displaced Palestinians have taken refuge in tent camps.

The Israeli military has repeatedly targeted hospitals during the 18-month conflict, citing the presence of Hamas militants using medical facilities for military purposes.

Hospital staff have consistently denied these allegations and accuse Israel of dismantling Gaza’s healthcare system.

An Israeli air strike on the northern gate of the Kuwait Specialized Hospital killed one of the hospital’s staff, and injured nine of the medical team and patients pic.twitter.com/0TtlNDudL1

— TRT World (@trtworld) April 15, 2025

The Gaza Health Ministry reported the death toll from Israel’s military campaign has surpassed 51,000. Since ending a temporary ceasefire last month, Israel has blocked the entry of food, medicine, and humanitarian aid into Gaza and taken control of more than half of the territory.

The war began on October 7, 2023, when Hamas-led militants launched a deadly assault into southern Israel, killing approximately 1,200 people—mostly civilians—and abducting 251 others. Fifty-nine hostages remain in Gaza, with 24 believed to be alive.

Netanyahu Visits Gaza Amid Pressure Over Hostage Deal

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu made an unannounced visit to troops in northern Gaza on Tuesday. His visit comes amid conflicting domestic pressures—calls from hostage families for a negotiated release deal with Hamas, and demands from far-right coalition partners to pursue the total destruction of the militant group.

US Deploys Second Carrier to Region Ahead of Iran Talks

Satellite imagery confirmed that the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) and its strike group are operating in the Arabian Sea to support the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75). The deployment coincides with ongoing US airstrikes on Houthi-controlled areas in Yemen.

#USSCarlVinson @CVN70 conducts #FLTOPS in @US5thFleet, demonstrating Navy presence and readiness in the Middle East.

U.S. naval forces in @CENTCOM cover approximately 2.5 million square miles of water space.#ForwardPresence #Warfighting #Lethality #Readiness pic.twitter.com/dXzXpBc6x3

— U.S. Navy (@USNavy) April 14, 2025

American officials see the bombing campaign as a way to increase pressure on Iran ahead of renewed nuclear negotiations.

The Houthi rebels have targeted maritime shipping in response to Israel’s campaign in Gaza.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) later posted footage of “24/7 strikes” by both carriers on Houthi positions.

24/7 strikes from USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) across multiple Iran-backed Houthi locations… #HouthisAreTerrorists⁩ pic.twitter.com/CINFfQZ5tP

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 15, 2025

Netanyahu Rejects Palestinian State in Call With Macron

In a phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron, Netanyahu reiterated his opposition to a Palestinian state, calling it “a huge reward for terrorism.”

Macron renewed his call for a ceasefire, the release of hostages, and resumption of humanitarian aid deliveries.

Je viens de m’entretenir avec le Premier ministre Benjamin @Netanyahu.

Je lui ai redit le soutien de la France à la sécurité d’Israël et de son peuple. La libération de tous les otages a toujours été une priorité absolue, tout comme la démilitarisation du Hamas.

J’ai exprimé…

— Emmanuel Macron (@EmmanuelMacron) April 15, 2025

France has signaled intentions to recognize a Palestinian state by June during an upcoming international summit on the two-state solution.

UN Reports Civilian Deaths in Lebanon Despite Ceasefire

The UN Human Rights Office reported Tuesday that Israeli strikes in Lebanon have killed at least 71 civilians—including 14 women and 9 children—since the November 27 ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah.

Strikes have also hit civilian infrastructure including homes, medical facilities, roads, and a café.

The UN also noted limited retaliatory fire from Lebanese territory, including rockets, mortars, and a drone, none of which resulted in casualties.

Israeli operations in #Lebanon continue to kill civilians since the ceasefire came into effect.

We urge prompt, independent & impartial investigations & accountability for human rights violations.

The violence must stop immediately.

— UN Human Rights (@UNHumanRights) April 15, 2025

Russian Court Sentences Five for Sabotage Attacks Tied to Ukraine Intelligence

A Russian military court sentenced five individuals on Tuesday to prison terms of up to 18 years for carrying out sabotage attacks on railway infrastructure and a military helicopter near Moscow in 2024.

According to state news agency TASS, the group was accused of acting on orders from operatives connected to Ukraine’s military intelligence agency, the GUR.

The court, which held closed-door proceedings, found the defendants—four men and one woman—guilty of setting fire to a railway relay box and later torching a search and rescue helicopter at Ostafyevo airfield in April 2024.

Ukrainian intelligence had posted video footage at the time showing the aircraft, reportedly belonging to the Russian Ministry of Defense, engulfed in flames. While GUR did not claim responsibility, Russian prosecutors cited connections to the agency.

2 Russian teenagers set a Russian military Mi-8 helicopter on fire in Omsk and now risk a lengthy prison sentence pic.twitter.com/qoRBdjl4ia

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) September 24, 2024

The five individuals, aged 19 to 22 and originally from Norilsk in northern Russia, were arrested shortly after the incidents. They were charged with terrorism and sabotage.

Investigators claimed one of the men had been recruited by Ukrainian intelligence and was the organizer of the attacks.

Russian authorities have accused Ukrainian-directed sabotage groups of conducting multiple operations against railways and aircraft since the full-scale invasion of Ukraine began over three years ago. These operations, officials say, are intended to undermine Russia’s military logistics and readiness.

Ukraine, Allies Hold Black Sea Security Talks in Turkey

Representatives from Ukraine, the United Kingdom, France, and Turkey are meeting in Turkey this week to discuss military cooperation and security in the Black Sea region, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced Tuesday.

The discussions, described as a “coalition of the willing,” are focused on establishing post-ceasefire maritime security guarantees.

Speaking in Odesa alongside NATO Secretary General Mark Rutte, Zelenskyy said the meetings would occur over Tuesday and Wednesday, though it remained unclear if they had already commenced. He emphasized the strategic nature of the talks, stating, “We are talking about the presence of a contingent at sea, and we believe that Turkey can have a serious place in future security guarantees for the sea.”

Today, @SecGenNATO Mark Rutte is in Ukraine. We discussed the security of Ukraine, our entire Europe, and the Euro-Atlantic region, as well as relations with all our partners in Europe and America.

The main focus was on strengthening Ukraine’s air defense. Absolutely everyone… pic.twitter.com/FWOBRCouci

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 15, 2025

Rutte welcomed Turkey’s diplomatic role, referencing Ankara’s previous success in brokering the Black Sea grain deal in 2022.

“Let’s be positive on the fact that Turkey again tries to bring together all relevant parties,” he said, expressing hope for a productive outcome.

Zelenskyy clarified that the discussions are not aimed at ending the war with Russia, but rather at shaping the security architecture that would follow a potential ceasefire.

“This is about what will happen after the ceasefire – security guarantees,” Zelenskyy noted.

The talks come amid ongoing tensions in the Black Sea, where both military and economic stakes remain high for Ukraine and its Western partners.

Philippine Military Finds Underwater Drones Linked to China, Warns of Underwater Warfare Threat

The Philippine military confirmed Tuesday that five underwater drones retrieved by local fishermen between 2022 and 2024 possess capabilities suited for underwater warfare, including intelligence gathering and weapons testing.

Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad, the Philippine Navy’s spokesman on South China Sea issues, stated that at least one of the devices had transmitted data to mainland China.

Navy says drones found in Phl waters may be Chinese-made

WATCH: Navy spokesperson Rear Admiral Roy Vincent Trinidad said three of the five drones found within the Philippines’ territorial waters are “55 to 85 percent likely” to be Chinese-made and could pose security risks, as… pic.twitter.com/CQWbKjcViF

— Daily Tribune (@tribunephl) April 15, 2025

The discovery comes amid heightened tensions between Manila and Beijing over contested territories in the South China Sea and just weeks ahead of the Philippines’ largest annual joint military exercise with the US.

Trinidad reported that the drones were found in locations critical to both national defense and global maritime navigation. Three were discovered off Luzon’s northern coast—two near the Balintang Channel, south of Taiwan—while two others were located near strategic chokepoints in Masbate and Mindanao.

While the military stopped short of formally attributing the drones to China, several bore Chinese markings. Technical analysis of a SIM card from one drone showed its last recorded communication occurred in mainland China, according to Trinidad.

Military officials warned that the drones’ purpose extended “beyond navigation,” with the potential to detect submarine threats and assist in testing or deploying undersea weapons systems.

The Chinese Embassy has not responded to the allegations.

Separately, the Philippines announced that this year’s Balikatan (“shoulder to shoulder”) exercises with the US will include an integrated air and missile defense test for the first time. The drills, scheduled from April 21 to May 9, will involve around 10,000 troops.

Philippine troops learned about the FGM-148 Javelin anti-tank missile from their U.S. Army counterparts ahead of Balikatan 2025’s main activities at Fort Magsaysay. The Javelin has been prominently featured at 🇺🇸🇵🇭 exercises in recent years.

U.S. Army 📸 Spc. Taylor Gray pic.twitter.com/PXvdcoYzmW

— Aaron-Matthew Lariosa (@Aaron_MatthewIL) April 15, 2025

Brigadier General Mike Logico emphasized that the exercises are intended as rehearsals for actual contingency scenarios, building on previous years’ planning. Defense Secretary Romeo Brawner noted that northern Luzon will host the bulk of the exercises due to its strategic proximity to Taiwan and the South China Sea.

“These are the areas where we perceive the possibility of an attack. I do not want to sound alarmist, but we have to prepare,” Brawner said.

China Accuses NSA of Cyberattacks Targeting Winter Games and Key Industries

China accused the US National Security Agency (NSA) on Tuesday of conducting “advanced” cyberattacks during the Asian Winter Games in February.

Authorities in Harbin, the capital of Heilongjiang province, alleged the attacks targeted critical industries including energy, transportation, communications, and national defense research.

According to China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency, Chinese police added three US nationals—Katheryn A. Wilson, Robert J. Snelling, and Stephen W. Johnson—to a wanted list for their alleged involvement in repeated cyberattacks.

The report also named the University of California and Virginia Tech as being implicated, though it did not specify their roles.

Investigators claimed the NSA used anonymous servers and foreign IP addresses to mask its operations, including suspected activation of pre-installed backdoors in Microsoft Windows systems in Heilongjiang.

The attacks reportedly aimed to steal personal data of athletes, disrupt event systems, and gather sensitive information during the Winter Games.

Xinhua said cyber activity peaked on February 3, coinciding with the first ice hockey match.

During the 2025 #AsianWinterGames in #Harbin, the U.S. government launched cyberattacks against the Games’ information systems and critical information infrastructure in #Heilongjiang Province. The attacks seriously endangered China’s critical information infrastructure, national… pic.twitter.com/SfK1OgWmee

— CHINA MFA Spokesperson 中国外交部发言人 (@MFA_China) April 15, 2025

The alleged cyber campaign targeted systems associated with the Games’ registration process and attempted to access identity data tied to event personnel. Chinese officials claimed the effort was intended to sabotage critical infrastructure and cause social disruption.

China’s Foreign Ministry confirmed the allegations, stating that concerns had been raised with the US.

“We urge the US to take a responsible attitude on the issue of cyber security and… stop unprovoked smears and attacks on China,” said ministry spokesperson Lin Jian.

The US Embassy in Beijing has not commented on the allegations.

These accusations follow years of mutual cyber espionage claims between the two countries. While Washington regularly indicts Chinese hackers for targeting US government agencies and corporations, Beijing has increasingly issued counter-accusations, including two reported US cyberattacks on Chinese tech firms last year.

The rising cyber tensions reflect broader deterioration in US-China relations, currently strained by trade disputes, technology restrictions, and geopolitical rivalry.

Sources: News Agencies