SOFREP Evening Brief: Hamas Rejects Israeli Truce Proposal, US Destroys Key Houthi Fuel Port in Yemen Amid Ongoing Strikes

SOFREP Evening Brief – Friday, April 18, 2025. Here’s what you need to know: Hamas rejected Israel’s truce deal, demanding full withdrawal and reconstruction. US forces struck a key Houthi fuel port and accused China of aiding rebel targeting. The US told Rwanda to pull troops from Congo and stop backing M23 rebel group. Rubio warned the US may quit Ukraine peace talks as Russian strikes continue. In Myanmar, fighting resumed near the Thai border despite a post-quake ceasefire.

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Hamas Rejects Israeli Truce Proposal, Demands Full Withdrawal and Reconstruction Plan

Hamas has rejected Israel’s latest ceasefire proposal and called for a comprehensive agreement to end the ongoing 18-month war in Gaza.

The rejection came as Israeli airstrikes killed at least 40 people across displaced civilian camps, according to Gaza civil defense authorities.

The proposed deal, submitted by Israel through international mediators, sought a 45-day ceasefire, the release of 10 hostages, disarmament by Hamas, the release of 1,231 Palestinian prisoners, and increased humanitarian aid to Gaza.

Hamas refused, calling the offer a political cover for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s agenda.

Hamas negotiator Khalil al-Hayya stated the group would only accept a full package deal that includes a permanent end to hostilities, Israeli military withdrawal from Gaza, and reconstruction of the war-torn territory.

Israeli strikes Thursday hit multiple areas in Gaza, including the Al-Mawasi camp in Khan Yunis—declared a safe zone by Israel in December—killing 16 people, most of them women and children. Additional strikes killed civilians in Beit Lahia, Jabalia, and Gaza City.

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed one of the attacks targeted a Hamas command center.

The resumed Israeli offensive has displaced over 500,000 Palestinians and pushed the territory further into what the United Nations calls the worst humanitarian crisis since the war began following Hamas’s October 7, 2023 attack on Israel. That attack killed 1,218 people. Gaza’s death toll now exceeds 51,000, mostly civilians.

Qatar’s Emir blamed Israel for the collapse of a previous ceasefire agreement, while Hamas accused Israel of weaponizing starvation after Defense Minister Israel Katz confirmed ongoing aid restrictions.

The International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) reported a second strike on one of its bases within three weeks, calling the attack unacceptable.

The ICRC is outraged that on 16 April an ICRC premises in Gaza was struck and damaged by an explosive.

This is the second such incident in three weeks; another premises in the area was struck by a tank shell on 24 March. pic.twitter.com/B3l1jutHrW

— ICRC in Israel & OT (@ICRC_ilot) April 17, 2025

President Donald Trump’s administration has not commented on the proposal but continues to support Israel’s right to self-defense. Hamas remains designated a Foreign Terrorist Organization by the United States.

US Destroys Key Houthi Fuel Port in Yemen Amid Ongoing Strikes

The US military has destroyed the Ras Issa fuel port in western Yemen, targeting a critical supply hub for the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.

The strike, part of an ongoing campaign since March 15, aims to cut off the group’s funding and fuel access.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) said the action was intended to degrade the Houthis’ economic power and disrupt revenue used to support regional attacks.

Destruction of Houthi Controlled Ras Isa Fuel Port

The Houthis have continued to benefit economically and militarily from countries and companies that provide material support to a designated foreign terrorist organization. The Iran-backed Houthis use fuel to sustain their… pic.twitter.com/SRiELV4juk

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 17, 2025

The Houthis reported 20 killed and 50 wounded in the strike, including paramedics and port workers. Rebel media showed images of a massive fireball and ongoing fires at the port site.

The Houthis have carried out persistent missile and drone attacks on international shipping and Israeli targets since late 2023, citing support for Palestinians in Gaza.

On Friday, Israel confirmed intercepting a missile launched from Yemen.

🚨Sirens sounding across Israel following a projectile launched from Yemen pic.twitter.com/OQEhgOYGMZ

— Israel Defense Forces (@IDF) April 18, 2025

The Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping lanes remain under threat, with Houthi actions forcing the re-routing of global maritime traffic from the Suez Canal to longer routes around Africa.

The US and allies, including France, continue military operations to ensure freedom of navigation in the region. A French frigate recently destroyed a drone launched from Yemen.

The Biden administration reclassified the Houthis as a foreign terrorist organization earlier this year.

President Donald Trump has vowed to maintain military pressure until the Houthis no longer pose a threat to global shipping.

Separately, the US State Department accused China’s Chang Guang Satellite Technology Company of providing satellite imagery to assist Houthi attacks.

Chinese government-linked satellite company Chang Guang Satellite Technology, Co., Ltd (CGSTL), provided satellite intelligence to the Houthis as part of ongoing Chinese, Russian, and Iranian support to the Houthis.⬇️

This intelligence could support Houthi attacks against US… pic.twitter.com/rfHN8vb9F1

— Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) April 17, 2025

US officials condemned Beijing’s continued support despite prior diplomatic warnings.

US Demands Rwanda Withdraw Troops from Eastern Congo, End Support for M23

The US special envoy to Africa, Massad Boulos, has called on Rwanda to immediately withdraw its troops from the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) and cease all support to the M23 rebel group.

Speaking from Washington, Boulos emphasized that M23 must disarm and that the ongoing conflict must be resolved through dialogue.

M23, which has seized key cities including Goma and Bukavu since early 2025, is widely believed by the international community to be backed by Rwanda—an allegation Kigali denies.

A UN report, however, confirms that Rwanda maintains roughly 4,000 troops in eastern Congo to support the group.

An immediate ceasefire is needed in eastern DRC.

Resolution 2773 should be implemented in full.

We urge M23 to withdraw from all controlled areas and the Rwandan Defence Forces to withdraw from DRC.

All parties should seriously engage with regional peace processes. pic.twitter.com/qOGnkb7wNa

— UK at the UN 🇬🇧🇺🇳 (@UKUN_NewYork) April 16, 2025

The fighting has intensified in recent months, resulting in thousands of deaths and the displacement of tens of thousands of civilians.

Despite repeated calls for peace, M23 forces recently captured Walikale, a strategic mining town, further escalating the crisis.

Boulos acknowledged Rwanda’s concerns about the FDLR (Democratic Forces for the Liberation of Rwanda), a Hutu militia linked to the 1994 genocide, but reiterated that US policy will prioritize sovereignty and territorial integrity. He warned that the US would use “all diplomatic and economic tools” to push for peace.

Efforts by Qatar and the African Union (AU) to mediate have made limited progress. While Qatar hosted talks between Congolese President Félix Tshisekedi and Rwandan President Paul Kagame, fighting resumed immediately after.

The AU has appointed Togolese President Faure Gnassingbé as its new mediator but continues to face criticism for avoiding direct condemnation of Rwanda’s involvement.

Rubio Signals US May Abandon Ukraine Peace Push Amid Stalled Progress, Ongoing Russian Strikes

Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced Friday that the US may abandon its efforts to broker peace between Russia and Ukraine if no breakthrough emerges in the coming days.

Speaking after high-level talks in Paris, Rubio said the US is reassessing its role and could “move on” if next week’s meeting in London fails to deliver results.

“It’s not our war,” Rubio stated, emphasizing that the US has other priorities. The Trump administration expects to make a final decision within days.

The Paris meeting, which included US, Ukrainian, and European officials, produced preliminary outlines for peace but no binding agreement.

Rubio and US envoy Steve Witkoff, who has held three meetings with Russian President Vladimir Putin, have led the US negotiating team. Several rounds of talks have also taken place in Saudi Arabia.

Russia Open to Dialogue, but Ceasefire Lapses

Russian officials, while expressing openness to continued negotiations, have not agreed to a comprehensive ceasefire.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov confirmed ongoing talks but noted no upcoming meetings between Trump and Putin.

Moscow continues to tie any peace deal to a halt in Ukrainian mobilization and Western arms shipments—conditions Kyiv refuses to accept.

The 30-day ceasefire, backed by Washington and embraced in principle by both sides last month, has now lapsed. Conflicting reports about its implementation and immediate violations followed its announcement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov says that the month-long ceasefire on strikes against energy infrastructure has expired, but Putin hasn’t given any new instructions on the matter pic.twitter.com/b6cUMgo9fO

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) April 18, 2025

Russian Strikes Continue as Civilian Casualties Mount

Despite diplomatic efforts, Russia continues to launch attacks on Ukrainian cities.

On Friday, Russian cluster munitions struck a residential area in Kharkiv, killing one person and injuring 98 others, including six children. In Sumy, a drone attack on a bakery killed one and wounded another—days after a deadly Palm Sunday missile strike in the same city killed 34.

This is how Russia began this Good Friday – with ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, Shaheds – maiming our people and cities.

A missile strike on Kharkiv, right on the city. Dozens of residential buildings were damaged, as well as an enterprise and vehicles. Around 70 people… pic.twitter.com/z84NrkmqrH

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 18, 2025

The April 4 missile attack on Kryvyi Rih, President Zelenskyy’s hometown, killed 20 civilians, including nine children, marking a sharp escalation in the scale of Russian strikes on civilian targets.

European Allies Weigh In

European leaders, including representatives from the United Kingdom, France, and Germany, participated in the Paris talks.

Rubio noted that their involvement was key in advancing negotiations. However, concerns persist in Europe about the Trump administration’s potential pivot toward Russia.

Security guarantees for Ukraine remain under discussion, but Rubio declined to outline any prospective US role in post-war defense arrangements.

The war, now entering its third year, continues to destabilize Europe and cause significant civilian harm, even as diplomatic efforts teeter on collapse.

Fighting Erupts Along Myanmar-Thailand Trade Route Despite Post-Quake Truce

Fierce clashes have erupted near the Myanmar towns of Kyondoe and Kawkareik, key locations on a major trade route to Thailand, despite a ceasefire declared by both the junta and opposition groups following the deadly March 28 earthquake.

Residents told AFP that rebel groups have launched coordinated assaults on the junta-held towns, triggering airstrikes and artillery fire.

The post-quake truce, set to expire on April 22, was intended to facilitate humanitarian relief after a 7.7-magnitude earthquake killed over 3,700 people and displaced tens of thousands. However, fighting resumed days ago, with residents reporting attacks by a coalition of anti-junta forces, including the People’s Defense Force (PDF), near the Thai border town of Mae Sot.

Locals described airstrikes and shelling forcing mass displacement, with many villagers fleeing or trapped in makeshift shelters.

Up to 60,000 people are currently living in tents, according to UN figures.

Just weeks after a deadly quake, Myanmar’s ceasefire is unraveling as rebel groups clash with junta forces near the Thai border. https://t.co/ntvvbJHGJY

— The Japan Times (@japantimes) April 18, 2025

Junta spokesperson Zaw Min Tun accused rebel groups of violating the truce near the conflict zones. Independent monitors confirm the ceasefire has broken down.

Junta leader Min Aung Hlaing is reportedly traveling to Bangkok to meet Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim, aiming to negotiate an extension of the truce to ensure the safety of Malaysian aid teams in the region.

Malaysia chairs Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) this year and has previously barred Myanmar’s junta from regional summits over its failure to implement a peace plan following the 2021 military coup that ignited the civil war.

The current fighting underscores the fragile nature of ceasefire efforts in Myanmar’s conflict-ridden border regions.

Sources: News Agencies