SOFREP Morning Brief: US Denies Role in Deadly Blast Near Old City of Sanaa in Yemen, India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate After Kashmir Massacre and Cross-Border Fire

Good morning! Welcome to SOFREP’s morning brief. Here’s your roundup of defense and global affairs for Friday, April 25, 2025: The US denied hitting a historic site in Yemen, blaming a Houthi missile for the deadly blast. US Defense Secretary Hegseth is under fire for using an unsecured line to share strike info. Trump and Zelenskyy remain at odds over Crimea in stalled Ukraine peace talks. NATO’s chief urged more defense spending as the US shifts focus away from Europe. India and Pakistan tensions rose after a Kashmir attack and cross-border fire. In Thailand, a police plane crash killed five officers.

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US Denies Role in Deadly Blast Near UNESCO Site in Yemen, Blames Houthi Missile

The US military denied responsibility for a deadly explosion near the UNESCO-listed Old City of Sanaa, Yemen, on Sunday, asserting the blast was caused by a Houthi missile, not a US airstrike.

The incident reportedly killed at least a dozen people, according to the Houthi-run health ministry.

The Houthi authorities accused the US of conducting the strike in the capital’s historic neighborhood, but US Central Command (CENTCOM) countered that its closest strike that night occurred more than three miles away.

2/ Yemen: US Central Command (CENTCOM) has conducted at least 22 airstrikes targeting Houthi infrastructure and leadership in Houthi-controlled areas of Yemen on April 22. https://t.co/nOVxJJdZdj

The Houthis shot down a US MQ-9 Reaper drone over Sanaa Governorate on April 22… pic.twitter.com/NOEPi0FWx1

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) April 24, 2025

A CENTCOM spokesperson said the military’s review, including local reports and video evidence of missile fragments with Arabic inscriptions, pointed to a malfunctioning Houthi air defense missile as the cause.

He also stated that Houthi forces detained local Yemenis following the incident.

The blast occurred amid an ongoing US air campaign in Yemen ordered by President Donald Trump. The campaign aims to degrade the military and economic capabilities of the Iran-backed Houthi rebels, who have launched dozens of missile and drone attacks on Red Sea shipping since November 2023, claiming to target vessels linked to Israel in solidarity with Palestinians in Gaza.

Continuous 24/7 operations against Iran-backed Houthis from USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75)#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/lh5DpvdCOR

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 23, 2025

Tensions escalated further on Thursday after a U.S. airstrike reportedly killed 74 people at an oil terminal, marking the deadliest US strike in Yemen since Trump intensified operations last month.

The Pentagon has faced growing scrutiny from human rights groups and lawmakers, including three Democratic senators who demanded accountability for civilian casualties.

The Houthis, who control large swathes of Yemen, remain a key regional player in the broader conflict landscape shaped by US-Iran tensions and the ongoing Israeli-Palestinian war. That war flared in October 2023 after Hamas militants killed 1,200 Israelis and kidnapped approximately 250.

Israel’s military campaign in Gaza has since killed more than 51,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s health authorities—a toll fueling further instability and backlash across the region.

Hegseth Used Unsecured Line for Signal Messaging, Raising Security Concerns

US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly had an unsecured internet line installed in his Pentagon office to use the Signal messaging app on a personal computer, according to two officials familiar with the setup.

The so-called “dirty” line bypassed Department of Defense security protocols, potentially exposing sensitive information to hacking or foreign surveillance.

The unsecured line allowed Hegseth to avoid Pentagon cybersecurity filters and communicate without appearing as a Defense Department user. While similar lines exist in some government offices for open-source monitoring, their use risks security breaches and lacks proper recordkeeping compliance required by federal law.

The revelation follows earlier reports that Hegseth shared classified strike details over Signal in group chats—including one with his wife and brother, and another with senior Trump administration officials. The information allegedly included precise launch and bomb drop times for a US airstrike on Houthi targets in Yemen, reportedly sent before aircraft had completed the mission.

While Pentagon spokesman Sean Parnell said Hegseth never used Signal on his government computer, the Defense Department’s acting inspector general has opened an investigation into his use of the app at the request of bipartisan leaders on the Senate Armed Services Committee.

Hegseth’s Signal use and broader handling of sensitive material have triggered scrutiny across the Pentagon and Capitol Hill. Critics argue his actions may have compromised operational security. Supporters, including President Trump and Vice President JD Vance, have dismissed the controversy as politically motivated leaks from disgruntled staff.

The Pentagon provides multiple secure systems for internal communications, including SIPRNet for secret information and JWICS for top-secret data. Personal devices are not permitted inside high-security offices, and secure communications are expected to be handled through approved government networks.

Signal, though encrypted, is not authorized for classified communications.

The National Security Agency (NSA) and Google have both issued recent warnings about foreign intelligence services targeting Signal users, particularly in government roles.

Hegseth has denied posting “war plans” and maintains that the details he shared were not classified. However, defense officials note that the disclosed launch times and targeting details would have been considered classified and could have endangered US personnel.

This is the latest controversy for Hegseth, who has recently dismissed or reassigned multiple advisers and senior military officers, consolidating control over a shrinking inner circle amid ongoing turbulence within the Pentagon.

Crimea at Center of US Peace Push as Trump Clashes with Zelenskyy

As US-led peace efforts intensify, Crimea remains the most contentious issue blocking a negotiated end to Russia’s war in Ukraine.

Eleven years after Russia’s swift and largely bloodless annexation of the Black Sea peninsula, Kyiv refuses to concede the territory, drawing criticism from US President Donald Trump.

Trump on Wednesday accused Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of prolonging the war by insisting on the return of all occupied territories, including Crimea. He questioned why Ukraine did not defend the peninsula in 2014, calling Zelenskyy’s position “very harmful” to ongoing negotiations.

Zelenskyy rejected Trump’s criticism, stating: “There is nothing to talk about. It is our land.”

Kyiv has consistently maintained that any peace deal must include the full return of Ukrainian territory, including Crimea and four eastern and southern regions illegally annexed by Russia in 2022.

Emotions have run high today. But it is good that 5 countries met to bring peace closer. Ukraine, the USA, the UK, France and Germany. The sides expressed their views and respectfully received each other’s positions. It’s important that each side was not just a participant but… pic.twitter.com/lDFV5WK8tw

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) April 23, 2025

Russia seized Crimea in March 2014 after Ukraine’s pro-Moscow president was ousted amid mass protests. Russian forces, wearing insignia-free uniforms, quickly occupied the peninsula and held a referendum condemned internationally as illegal. Only a handful of countries, including North Korea and Sudan, recognized the annexation.

Russia’s control over Crimea has allowed it to dominate the Black Sea region and stage military operations into southern Ukraine. The peninsula hosts the Russian Black Sea Fleet at Sevastopol and has been central to Moscow’s logistics and troop movements during the ongoing war.

Ukraine has ramped up attacks on Crimea in recent years, targeting airfields, ammunition depots, and the Kerch Bridge—a key supply route linking the peninsula to mainland Russia. While Zelenskyy initially sought to regain Crimea through diplomacy, Ukraine now considers military action a viable path.

NEW: The official Kremlin spokesperson and the Russian Security Council secretary repeated a series of long-standing Russian demands that purposely preclude the establishment of a stable and enduring peace in Ukraine and set conditions for future Russian aggression from an… pic.twitter.com/q31wgHPNw4

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) April 25, 2025

US Vice President JD Vance confirmed this week that Washington has offered a proposal to freeze territorial lines “close to where they are today.” He emphasized that both sides would need to make concessions but did not clarify whether the plan would formally recognize Russia’s hold on Crimea.

Trump claimed no one is asking Ukraine to give up the peninsula, but the ambiguity surrounding US policy has raised concerns in Kyiv.

Ukrainian officials have cited past US declarations—by former Secretaries of State Rex Tillerson and Mike Pompeo—rejecting Russia’s annexation.

Putin, meanwhile, continues to demand Ukraine formally recognize Crimea and the four occupied regions as part of Russia, abandon its NATO ambitions, and restrict its military. Kyiv has dismissed these terms as unacceptable.

Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014 marked the beginning of a deeper confrontation with the West, leading to years of sanctions and deteriorating relations. With the war now in its third year and Russia holding roughly 20% of Ukrainian territory, any peace agreement that solidifies current frontlines would favor Moscow’s position.

Ukraine remains firm that conceding territory is a red line.

As Zelenskyy reiterated this week, “We are absolutely sure that our partners, in particular the USA, will act in line with its strong decisions.”

Crimea’s fate continues to be the keystone in any future resolution—either as a symbol of resistance for Ukraine or a strategic stronghold for Russia.

NATO Chief Urges Members to Boost Defense Spending as US Retreats from European Security Role

NATO Secretary-General Mark Rutte on Thursday called on the alliance’s 32 member nations to increase defense spending, military equipment contributions, and political commitment, warning that NATO must evolve as the US shifts its security focus away from Europe.

“In 2025, we need to significantly increase our efforts to ensure NATO remains a key source of military advantage,” Rutte stated in his annual report. “Our continued freedom and prosperity depend on it.”

The report follows growing uncertainty within the alliance after US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth declared in February that America’s top security priorities now lie in Asia and along its own borders.

Hegseth also said Ukraine should not expect to regain all its territory or join NATO, signaling a dramatic pivot in US policy.

Rutte’s annual report was quietly published on NATO’s website without the usual press rollout, news conference, or public remarks.

NATO did not comment on the change in approach.

Rutte, who was in Washington on Thursday for meetings with US officials, is set to chair a NATO summit hosted by President Donald Trump in the Netherlands this summer.

Thanks very much to @realDonaldTrump for the warm welcome back to the White House. Great meeting with the President, along with his team @SecRubio @SecDef Hegseth and NSA @MikeWaltz47
We’re working together to ensure that NATO continues to deliver strength and security. pic.twitter.com/C768uga99m

— Mark Rutte (@SecGenNATO) April 24, 2025

Leaders are expected to consider raising NATO’s defense spending guideline, which currently stands at 2% of each country’s GDP.

According to the report, 22 of 32 member states met the 2% target in 2023, down from earlier projections of 23. Countries falling short included Belgium, Canada, Italy, and Spain—though Spain expects to meet the goal in 2024. A new benchmark, possibly exceeding 3%, may be introduced at the upcoming summit.

While the US remains the alliance’s largest contributor—spending an estimated 3.19% of GDP in 2024—this figure has declined from 3.68% in 2014. Still, US military spending continues to exceed that of all other members combined, with NATO’s total defense expenditure estimated at $1.3 trillion last year.

On Ukraine, Rutte offered restrained language compared to his predecessor, Jens Stoltenberg. While he reaffirmed unity in pursuing a “just and lasting peace,” his comments stood in contrast to Stoltenberg’s 2023 declaration that supporting Ukraine was essential to NATO’s own security.

Despite diminished rhetoric and ongoing US disengagement, Rutte insisted that NATO’s backing of Ukraine remained firm throughout 2024—even as ceasefire negotiations continued to stall.

India-Pakistan Tensions Escalate After Kashmir Massacre and Cross-Border Fire

Indian and Pakistani troops exchanged fire along the Line of Control (LoC) in disputed Kashmir overnight, officials said Friday, intensifying regional tensions following a deadly militant attack that killed 26 civilians in the Indian-controlled town of Pahalgam.

Pakistani officials confirmed the exchange but stated there was no firing on civilian areas. India’s Army said the small-arms fire was initiated by Pakistan and that Indian forces responded “effectively.” The cross-border clash comes a day after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi vowed to pursue and punish those behind the massacre, which New Delhi has blamed on Pakistan-based militants.

India identified two of the three fugitive gunmen as Pakistani nationals and linked them to the UN-designated terrorist group Lashkar-e-Taiba. Police have issued arrest warrants and offered a bounty of $23,500 for each suspect.

The Pahalgam attack, one of the deadliest on civilians in the region in 25 years, has plunged Indo-Pakistani relations to a new low. Modi declared, “We will pursue them to the ends of the Earth,” while calling on the international community to support India’s counterterrorism stance.

Islamabad denied any involvement, calling the accusations “frivolous” and warning that any Indian action would be met with “firm reciprocal measures.” Pakistan expelled Indian diplomats, cancelled visas for most Indian citizens, and shut down the main border crossing—retaliatory moves following India’s suspension of a water-sharing treaty, diplomatic downgrades, and visa bans.

Pakistan also warned that attempts by India to block the Indus River water supply would be considered “an act of war.”

The attack in Pahalgam marks a shift in militant tactics, as previous operations typically targeted Indian security forces. Witnesses said the gunmen opened fire on tourist crowds and spared those able to recite the Islamic declaration of faith.

In response, Indian forces launched a large-scale manhunt, detaining numerous individuals across the region. Modi ordered military readiness drills, and both India’s air force and navy conducted exercises Thursday.

The UN has urged both nuclear-armed nations to show “maximum restraint” to prevent further escalation. However, security analysts caution that a military response from India—similar to its 2019 airstrikes after the Pulwama attack—remains on the table.

Thai Police Plane Crashes Off Hua Hin Coast, Killing Five Officers

A small police aircraft crashed into the sea near Hua Hin, Thailand, on Thursday morning, killing five of the six officers onboard, according to Thai authorities.

The plane was on a test flight preparing for parachute training when it went down around 8 a.m. local time.

Royal Thai Police spokesperson Archayon Kraithong confirmed the aircraft crashed approximately 100 meters offshore near Hua Hin Airport, a coastal area popular with tourists.

While the model was not officially disclosed, images from the scene suggest the aircraft was a Viking DHC-6 Twin Otter, a commonly used propeller plane.

Royal Thai Police Viking DHC-6-400 Twin Otter crashes into the sea shortly after takeoff from Hua Hin Airport in Thailand.

All six occupants sustained fatal injuries in the accident.

Pol Lt Gen Archayon Kraithong, spokesman for the Royal Thai Police, said the incident happened… pic.twitter.com/dcp4gY2Nre

— Breaking Aviation News & Videos (@aviationbrk) April 25, 2025

The aircraft broke into two parts upon impact, according to photos shared by the provincial public relations department. One officer was initially reported dead at a hospital, but later updates confirmed the officer survived in critical condition, revising the death toll to five.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Authorities are analyzing evidence from the wreckage, including data from the aircraft’s black box, to determine what led to the fatal incident.

Sources: News Agencies