SOFREP Evening Brief: US Hits Over 800 Houthi Targets in Yemen Under Operation Rough Rider, Putin Declares Three-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine for Victory Day

Good evening! Welcome to SOFREP’s evening brief. Here’s your roundup of defense and global affairs for Monday, April 28, 2025. The United States hit 800+ Houthi targets in Yemen, but Houthis still strike ships. A US soldier died during Fort Jackson training. Spain and Portugal suffered a massive blackout. Trump says Zelenskyy might concede Crimea for peace. Russia announced a 3-day Ukraine ceasefire for Victory Day. The Philippines denied China’s claim of seizing the Sandy Cay reef.

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US Hits Over 800 Houthi Targets in Yemen Under Operation Rough Rider

The US military announced Sunday that it has struck more than 800 targets in Yemen since mid-March under Operation Rough Rider, killing hundreds of Houthi fighters, including several leaders.

US Central Command (CENTCOM) stated that the ongoing air campaign aims to neutralize the Houthis’ threat to shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden and restore American deterrence in the region.

Since launching the operation on March 15, CENTCOM has destroyed multiple Houthi command centers, air defense systems, and weapons manufacturing and storage facilities. The military said Houthi ballistic missile launches have dropped by 69 percent, and attacks using one-way drones have decreased by 55 percent.

Today, GEN Michael Erik Kurilla, USCENTCOM Commander, embarked the aircraft carrier USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70) and thanked the Sailors for their professionalism, competence, and dedication in support of continuous operations against the Iran-backed Houthis in Yemen. pic.twitter.com/sQVtHBtnpn

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 27, 2025

Despite the strikes, the Houthis, backed by Iran, have continued attacks against US and Israeli vessels. CENTCOM accused Tehran of enabling the Houthis’ ability to continue operations.

US forces recently targeted Houthi positions in the Yemeni capital Sanaa, with Houthi-controlled media reporting at least eight deaths from the strikes. Footage broadcast showed destroyed buildings, damaged vehicles, and bloodstains at the scene. Houthi sources estimate 228 casualties since the campaign began.

The Houthis began targeting shipping lanes in late 2023, citing solidarity with Palestinians amid Israel’s war in Gaza. Their attacks have disrupted traffic through the Suez Canal, forcing global shipping to reroute around southern Africa.

The campaign against the Houthis has sparked domestic political controversy after reports emerged that senior Trump administration officials used commercial messaging apps like Signal to coordinate the March 15 strikes. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth and National Security Advisor Mike Waltz were among those implicated.

President Trump has vowed that US military action will continue until the Houthis are no longer a threat to international maritime navigation.

US Army Soldier Dies During Training at Fort Jackson, South Carolina

A Soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 2nd Battalion, 13th Infantry Regiment at Fort Jackson, South Carolina, was found dead during training on last week Thursday, the US Army announced Sunday.

The soldier’s identity is being withheld pending notification of next of kin by the Army Casualty Assistance Office.

Details about the cause of death have not been released, and the Army has not confirmed whether an investigation is underway. In response to the death, the unit has initiated a 48-hour training stand down to support the grieving process.

A soldier was found dead Thursday during training at Fort Jackson in Columbia, S.C., the U.S. Army said Sunday.

Information about the soldier’s cause of death was not available, and there was no word if the death is under investigation. https://t.co/zEEp3pJ3GQ

— Stars and Stripes (@starsandstripes) April 27, 2025

Fort Jackson Commander Maj. Gen. Daryl Hood expressed condolences, saying, “Losing a teammate affects us all,” and affirmed that support resources are being provided to the soldier’s family and fellow trainees.

Fort Jackson, the nation’s largest military basic training facility, trains over 50,000 recruits annually. The post has experienced multiple deaths among soldiers and drill sergeants since mid-2023.

Recent fatalities include Staff Sgt. Corey R. Brown, Sgt. 1st Class Joshua A. Alfieri, Pfc. Veronica L. Wynn, 2nd Lt. Pascal Buma, and several drill sergeants between June and December 2023.

Despite the cluster of incidents, Army officials have not publicly linked the deaths. Fort Jackson continues to implement measures to monitor and support the health and welfare of its personnel.

Massive Blackout Hits Spain and Portugal, Paralyzing Transport, Communications, and Services

A major power outage swept across Spain and Portugal on Monday, disrupting transportation, phone networks, and essential services for millions across the Iberian Peninsula.

Spanish power distributor Red Eléctrica said full restoration could take six to ten hours. By mid-afternoon, power was gradually returning to some regions.

The blackout, described as “exceptional and extraordinary” by Red Eléctrica’s operations head Eduardo Prieto, halted subway and railway services, cut mobile phone service, shut down ATMs, and brought traffic lights to a standstill in major cities including Madrid, Barcelona, and Lisbon.

Offices closed, flights were delayed, and civilians improvised traffic control as authorities scrambled to manage the chaos.

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez convened an emergency meeting of the National Security Council and visited Red Eléctrica to monitor efforts. Portuguese Prime Minister Luis Montenegro also held emergency consultations and indicated the outage likely originated in Spain’s distribution network.

The Portuguese National Cybersecurity Center said there was no indication of a cyberattack, and Portuguese distributor E-Redes cited a broader European electricity system issue as the cause. However, specifics remained unclear.

The outage hit just after midday, with electricity demand in Spain plummeting sharply around 12:15 p.m. Backup systems kept airports, hospitals, and emergency services operational, though many flights were delayed, subway stations evacuated, and courts shut down.

Traffic police were deployed across Portugal to manage the disruption, and many gas stations and stores selling generators were overwhelmed.

This is one of the most widespread blackouts in recent Iberian history, affecting a population of more than 50 million across both countries.

Trump Says Zelenskyy May Cede Crimea as US Pushes for Ukraine Ceasefire Deal

US President Donald Trump said he believes Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy is prepared to concede Crimea to Russia as part of a potential ceasefire deal, as negotiations entered what Washington called a critical phase on Monday.

Trump’s remarks followed a brief meeting with Zelenskyy during the funeral of Pope Francis in the Vatican, the first since a public fallout between the two leaders in February.

Speaking in Bedminster, New Jersey, Trump said he and Zelenskyy had “briefly” discussed Crimea, which Moscow annexed in 2014. Despite Zelenskyy’s public insistence that Ukraine would never give up the Black Sea peninsula, Trump stated, “Oh, I think so,” when asked whether Zelensky was ready to relinquish it.

Trump, who campaigned on promises to end the war quickly, has launched a diplomatic push for a ceasefire, pressuring Russian President Vladimir Putin to “stop shooting” and sign a deal. He warned that the US would give the negotiations only two weeks before reconsidering its role as broker.

Secretary of State Marco Rubio emphasized that while progress toward a deal is close, it remains incomplete, calling this week pivotal for the outcome.

Russia currently occupies roughly 20% of Ukraine’s territory, including Crimea and four other partially-held regions annexed since the 2022 invasion. Moscow continues to demand the demilitarization of Kyiv and an end to Western military support.

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov reaffirmed Russia’s long-standing position against making any form of territorial concessions, undermining US President Donald Trump’s efforts to broker a lasting peace. ⬇️

Lavrov and other Russian officials’ recent statements directly… https://t.co/A9ELOMiWud pic.twitter.com/sfYkwv7Paf

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) April 28, 2025

Meanwhile, cross-border hostilities continue. Russia conducted drone and missile attacks across eastern Ukraine, killing four civilians, while Ukraine launched a drone assault on Russia’s Bryansk region, killing one.

Germany’s Defense Minister Boris Pistorius warned that Ukraine should not accept the full extent of the proposed territorial concessions.

European leaders, including France’s Emmanuel Macron and Britain’s Keir Starmer, are pushing for a stronger European role in the peace talks.

In a further sign of the war’s expanding international dimension, North Korea confirmed it deployed troops to assist Russian forces in Kursk, a region Ukraine briefly captured in a 2024 offensive. Ukraine maintains it still holds positions inside Russian territory.

Putin Declares Three-Day Ceasefire in Ukraine for Victory Day

Russian President Vladimir Putin announced a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8–10 to coincide with Russia’s Victory Day celebrations commemorating the defeat of Nazi Germany.

The Kremlin said the ceasefire, starting at midnight on May 8 (2100 GMT May 7), was ordered on “humanitarian grounds.”

Ukraine has not yet officially responded to the offer.

Kyiv previously agreed to US President Donald Trump’s proposed 30-day ceasefire plan, though earlier unilateral truces announced by Moscow, including a 30-hour Easter ceasefire, saw continued hostilities and mutual accusations of violations.

The Kremlin urged Ukraine to reciprocate and warned that any breaches would meet a “swift and adequate response.” Putin’s government also reiterated its willingness to engage in peace talks “without preconditions,” emphasizing a desire to address the “root causes” of the conflict and to cooperate with international mediators.

Just in: Russian President Vladimir Putin has declared a three-day ceasefire in Ukraine from May 8-11 and called on Kyiv to do the same. @mchancecnn on what we know so far. pic.twitter.com/KshGRUCxgV

— CNN International PR (@cnnipr) April 28, 2025

The ceasefire announcement comes as the Trump administration assesses whether a comprehensive deal to end the more than three-year war is achievable. US and European diplomats have pushed for momentum toward a broader cessation of hostilities.

Previously, both sides pledged to halt strikes on energy infrastructure under a US-brokered deal, but mutual accusations of violations continued until the agreement expired.

Putin has so far refused a full, unconditional ceasefire, insisting it must be linked to a freeze on Western arms shipments to Ukraine and a halt to Ukrainian mobilization efforts.

Philippines Rejects Chinese Claim of Control Over Disputed South China Sea Reef

The Philippines on Monday dismissed a Chinese state media report claiming that Beijing had seized control of Sandy Cay, a disputed reef near Thitu Island in the South China Sea.

Philippine officials said the report was false and that the status quo remains unchanged.

Chinese state broadcaster CCTV reported Saturday that the China Coast Guard had “implemented maritime control” over Tiexian Reef, part of Sandy Cay, in mid-April, and released a photo of officials posing with a Chinese flag on the reef.

The Philippines responded by releasing its own photo showing Filipino sailors raising their national flag over the same reef during a mission the day before.

Statement of the National Task Force West Philippine Sea
27 April 2025 | Manila, Philippines

An Inter-Agency Maritime Operation (IAMO) at Pag-asa Cay 1, Cay 2, and Cay 3 and its surrounding waters was completed this morning, 27 April 2025. This coordinated effort involved the… pic.twitter.com/Rqtnwsut2Z

— Jay Tarriela (@jaytaryela) April 27, 2025

“There is no truth whatsoever to the claim of the China Coast Guard,” said National Security Council spokesman Jonathan Malaya, calling the Chinese report “irresponsible” and accusing Beijing of using media to intimidate and harass Manila.

There are no indications that China has established a permanent presence or built structures on Sandy Cay, a cluster of sandbanks in the Spratly Islands.

Tensions between the two nations have escalated in recent months amid repeated confrontations in the South China Sea, where China asserts sweeping claims despite a 2016 international tribunal ruling that rejected its position.

Both sides have also traded accusations of environmental damage to disputed landforms.

The dispute flared as US and Philippine forces conduct joint Balikatan (“shoulder-to-shoulder” in Tagalog) military exercises, which Beijing has criticized as a threat to regional stability. Chinese warships, including the aircraft carrier Shandong, were recently spotted near Philippine territory, coming within 2.23 nautical miles (about four kilometers) of Babuyan Island.

Sources: News Agencies