SOFREP Evening Brief: UN Agencies Slash Staff and Cut Programs, Russia Strikes Civilians as Putin Offers Disputed Ceasefire in Ukraine

Wrapping up the day with SOFREP’s evening brief: Get the latest updates on defense and global affairs for Tuesday, April 29, 2025. Here’s a quick summary: Israeli airstrikes killed 27 in Gaza as hunger worsens under blockade. ISIS-linked militants killed 26 civilians in Nigeria. UN agencies are slashing staff after US funding cuts. The US lost several drones and a fighter jet during Red Sea ops. Russia continued strikes in Ukraine despite a ceasefire announcement. A bomb killed 7 at a tribal meeting in Pakistan. India signed a deal to buy 26 Rafale jets from France amid tensions with Pakistan and China.

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Israeli Airstrikes Kill 27 in Gaza as Humanitarian Crisis Deepens

Israeli airstrikes on Gaza overnight into Monday killed at least 27 Palestinians, according to local health officials.

The Israeli military has not issued a statement regarding the strikes. Israel has maintained daily attacks on Gaza since ending a ceasefire with Hamas last month and has blocked all imports, including food and medicine, since early March in an effort to pressure Hamas into releasing hostages.

The ongoing bombardment and blockade are severely affecting Gaza’s most vulnerable residents, with widespread hunger reported.

The United Nations’ International Court of Justice began hearings Monday to examine Israel’s obligations to facilitate humanitarian aid to occupied territories. Israel claims the court is biased and that Hamas diverts aid supplies, a charge humanitarian workers strongly deny.

“Humanitarian aid is being used as a weapon of war.”

The International Court of Justice has begun a hearing on Israel’s actions in Gaza. A UN lawyer detailed Israel’s responsibilities before the Palestinian UN Ambassador explained how Israel is blocking humanitarian operations. pic.twitter.com/h20sPIkPoS

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) April 28, 2025

Strikes overnight hit three homes across Gaza. In Beit Lahiya, a strike killed 10 people, including Abdel-Fattah Abu Mahadi, a former Palestinian prisoner released during the previous ceasefire, along with his family members. Another strike in Gaza City killed seven, including two women. A third strike in Khan Younis killed at least 10 people, including five siblings as young as four years old.

Israel asserts it aims to minimize civilian casualties and blames Hamas for operating within densely populated areas. Palestinians argue that no location within the besieged enclave is safe.

The war, now in its 18th month, began after Hamas-led militants attacked southern Israel on October 7, 2023, killing about 1,200 people and abducting 251 others. Hamas continues to hold 59 hostages, with 24 believed to be alive. Israel’s response has killed more than 52,000 Palestinians, mostly women and children, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry, which does not differentiate between civilian and fighter casualties.

Since the truce ended on March 18, Israeli actions have killed 2,151 people, including 732 children. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has vowed to continue operations until all hostages are returned and Hamas is eliminated or disarmed.

Netanyahu has also pledged to implement a US-endorsed plan to resettle much of Gaza’s population abroad, a proposal Palestinians and human rights experts say could constitute forcible expulsion and violate international law.

Hamas maintains it will only release remaining hostages in exchange for the release of Palestinian prisoners, a lasting ceasefire, and full Israeli withdrawal from Gaza.

IED Attack in Northeastern Nigeria Kills 26 as Islamic State Affiliate Claims Responsibility

Improvised explosive devices detonated Monday on a busy road in Nigeria’s northeastern Borno state, killing at least 26 civilians, including women and children, according to police.

Authorities identified the Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), an affiliate of the Islamic State group, as responsible for the attack.

The blasts struck multiple civilian vehicles traveling between the towns of Rann and Gamboru, near the Cameroon border. Police spokesperson Nahum Daso reported that most of the victims were local farmers and traders traveling in a Toyota pickup truck that triggered a landmine buried by militants.

In addition to the fatalities, at least three people sustained injuries and were transported to local medical facilities. Security forces have secured the area and launched clearance operations to remove additional threats.

Members of the Civilian Joint Task Force, a local vigilante group supporting the military, suggested the explosives may have originally been intended for security patrols. Terrorists often bury improvised explosive devices (IEDs) beneath damaged road sections to target military convoys, said task force member Abba Modu.

ISWAP officially claimed responsibility for the attack via a statement released Tuesday on Telegram.

The group, which broke away from Boko Haram in 2016 over disagreements on targeting civilians, has remained active in Nigeria’s northeast.

Nigeria’s struggle against Islamic extremists is Africa’s longest-running insurgency, having killed more than 35,000 civilians and displaced over 2 million people, according to United Nations figures. The conflict has also spread into neighboring Chad, Niger, and Cameroon.

Earlier this month, a similar roadside bomb killed eight people traveling on a passenger bus in the same region.

In response to continued militant violence, the Nigerian military announced Tuesday the appointment of Maj. Gen. Abdulsalam Abubakar as the new commander overseeing counterinsurgency operations against Boko Haram and ISWAP forces in the northeast.

UN Agencies Slash Staff and Cut Programs Amid Major US Funding Reductions

Several United Nations agencies are cutting staff and scaling back operations following major funding reductions, primarily from the United States.

Internal memos and UN officials confirm that agencies serving children, refugees, and vulnerable populations will see widespread cuts that threaten vital humanitarian programs.

The World Food Program (WFP), the UN’s largest humanitarian organization, plans to cut up to 30% of its staff. The WFP stated that it would prioritize urgent food assistance efforts but warned that many operations could be downsized or eliminated entirely.

US funding accounted for nearly half of the WFP’s 2024 budget.

🚨@WFP is out of food in Gaza.

On Friday, April 25, WFP delivered its last remaining food stocks to hot meals kitchens in the Gaza Strip and with no humanitarian or commercial supplies entering Gaza, the situation has once again reached a breaking point. ⬇️ pic.twitter.com/ad17ypuLh8

— World Food Program USA (@WFPUSA) April 29, 2025

The UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) announced plans to reduce costs by 30% through downsizing headquarters, regional offices, and senior positions. The agency warned that vital programs providing food, water, shelter, and education to millions of displaced people would be severely impacted.

It highlighted that cuts will diminish access to clean water for displaced populations in Sudan, increasing the risk of disease outbreaks.

Funding cuts to humanitarian aid come at a human cost, and people forced to flee are paying the highest price.

High Commissioner @FilippoGrandi reminds the Security Council: aid is indispensable to finding solutions to crises.

Read his full address: https://t.co/AQe57Tduwm pic.twitter.com/b8b26i3TRx

— UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency (@Refugees) April 29, 2025

UNICEF, the UN children’s agency, projects a 20% funding drop for 2025 and has already implemented efficiency measures. However, UNICEF warned that additional cost-cutting would be necessary, endangering child-focused humanitarian and advocacy efforts in more than 190 countries.

Other agencies such as the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) are also facing major cutbacks.

IOM cited a 30% funding decrease and announced a reduction of 6,000 personnel, while OCHA revealed plans to cut 20% of its workforce due to a $60 million funding shortfall.

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres expressed deep concern over the cuts, warning they will have an “immediate and often deadly impact” on vulnerable populations worldwide.

The funding shortfalls come as UN leadership also pushes for broader internal reforms under the “UN80 Initiative,” aiming for a more sustainable organization ahead of its 80th anniversary.

The funding crisis follows President Donald Trump’s decision to significantly scale back US foreign assistance. Trump’s administration, with backing from the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE) led by Elon Musk, has targeted UN agencies as part of a broader effort to reduce federal spending on international aid.

Earlier this year, the Trump administration abruptly terminated US funding for WFP emergency operations in over a dozen countries. While funding was restored in some areas, aid terminations remain in place for Afghanistan and Yemen—two of the world’s most war-torn nations.

US Loses Multiple MQ-9 Drones, F/A-18 Warplanes Amid Escalating Red Sea Operations

The US has lost seven MQ-9 Reaper drones near Yemen since March 15, an unnamed defense official confirmed earlier this week. Each drone, valued at around $30 million, was involved in the ongoing campaign against Yemen’s Houthi rebels.

The official did not specify the cause of the drone losses.

MQ-9s are critical for both reconnaissance and strike missions as the US seeks to disrupt Houthi attacks on regional shipping. The losses highlight the growing risks American forces face as operations intensify in the Red Sea and surrounding areas.

24/7 operations continue against Iran-backed Houthis from CENTCOM forces aboard USS Harry S. Truman (CVN 75) and USS Carl Vinson (CVN 70).#HouthisAreTerrorists pic.twitter.com/ArFPA86WYo

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) April 26, 2025

Separately, the US Navy announced that an F/A-18E Super Hornet, costing over $67 million, fell off the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) into the Red Sea.

The accident occurred when a tow tractor lost control of the aircraft during a movement operation inside the carrier’s hangar bay. Both the aircraft and the tow vehicle were lost overboard. One sailor sustained non-life-threatening injuries.

The Navy stated the Truman remains operational while an investigation is underway.

This marks the second loss of an F/A-18 from the Truman within six months. Late last year, another F/A-18 was accidentally shot down by the USS Gettysburg (CG-64). Both pilots survived.

The Truman is one of two American aircraft carriers currently operating in the Middle East, supporting an intensified air campaign against the Iran-backed Houthis.

Russia Strikes Civilians as Putin Offers Disputed Ceasefire in Ukraine

Russia launched a deadly drone and guided bomb assault across Ukraine overnight, killing at least one child and wounding others, even as President Vladimir Putin announced a 72-hour unilateral ceasefire set to begin May 8.

Ukrainian officials have dismissed the ceasefire declaration as a deceptive maneuver aimed at influencing the US.

In the southeastern Dnipropetrovsk region, Russian strikes damaged homes and killed a 12-year-old girl, wounding three others including a six-year-old, according to local authorities.

Russia also launched 20 drones and 31 guided bombs at Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city, while a downed drone ignited a fire in a Kyiv neighborhood.

Putin’s proposed ceasefire coincides with Russia’s Victory Day commemorations marking the defeat of Nazi Germany. However, the Kremlin has provided no mechanism for monitoring or enforcing the truce.

US and Ukrainian leaders remain skeptical of the offer, citing continued Russian offensives along the 620-mile front and persistent long-range strikes on civilian infrastructure.

🚨 A 12-year-old girl was killed and four others injured in a Russian drone strike on Dnipropetrovsk region, local authorities report. pic.twitter.com/UdxnAFU5c9

— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) April 29, 2025

Ukraine has agreed to a separate US-backed proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire, while Moscow has rejected it, instead attaching extensive conditions that effectively nullify the offer.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy labeled Putin’s ceasefire declaration a manipulative ploy intended to “deceive the United States.” He reiterated that any ceasefire must be “immediate, full, and unconditional” to be credible.

Andrii Yermak, head of Ukraine’s presidential office, echoed the sentiment, noting that Russia remains actively engaged in offensive operations.

“Putin can give the order for his forces to stop, but he does not do this in the hope of deceiving everyone,” he said.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Kyiv of manipulation for not formally responding to Putin’s announcement. Meanwhile, US President Donald Trump expressed doubt over the Russian president’s sincerity and reiterated concerns about Putin using ceasefire rhetoric as a smokescreen.

Analysts at the Institute for the Study of War suggest Putin’s ceasefire offer is a strategic move to prevent Ukrainian strikes during the May 9 Victory Day celebrations in Moscow, when foreign dignitaries are expected to attend. The think tank also indicated the truce may be intended to buy time for Russian forces on the battlefield.

MORE: Putin is leveraging unilateral ceasefires to achieve informational and battlefield advantages in Ukraine, which runs counter to Trump’s goal of using a general ceasefire as a step towards an enduring and sustainable peace agreement in Ukraine. Ukraine, in contrast to… https://t.co/hzXJH51mqx pic.twitter.com/whsSEuDMrW

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) April 29, 2025

This is not the first time Moscow has proposed a short-term truce; a 30-hour ceasefire over Easter earlier this year similarly collapsed amid mutual accusations of violations by both sides.

Bomb Hits Tribal Jirga in Northwest Pakistan, Killing Seven

A bomb blast at the guest house of a pro-government tribal elder killed at least seven people and wounded 21 others Monday in Pakistan’s northwestern South Waziristan district, police confirmed.

The explosion occurred in the town of Wana, the district capital of the rugged Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province bordering Afghanistan. Local police official Usman Khan said the blast struck during a jirga, or tribal council, hosted by elder Saifur Rahman. Rahman was among the injured and taken to a hospital. The cause and type of explosive device remain under investigation.

BREAKING: 7 people have been killed and 13 injured in an explosion at a facility held by a former ‘peace militia’ leader of the Commander Nazir Group in Wana Bazar, South Waziristan district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He was identified as Saifur Rahman: Local Sources pic.twitter.com/S2SkXG3WX2

— The Khorasan Diary (@khorasandiary) April 28, 2025

A senior local administrator also confirmed the casualty figures and said the attack targeted a gathering of tribal elders.

South Waziristan has long served as a haven for militant groups. The Pakistani military has conducted multiple operations over the past two decades to dismantle insurgent networks in the region.

Islamabad previously backed tribal vigilante militias—known as peace committees—to resist militants locally. However, most of these groups have been disbanded following security gains in the wake of Operation Zarb-e-Azb launched in 2014.

Jirga Held in South Waziristan on Security and Regional Development

A jirga was held in Wana, South #Waziristan, attended by tribal elders, religious scholars, teachers, students, and civil and military officials.

Inspector General Frontier Corps KP (South), Major General Mehr… pic.twitter.com/oEaaXAHTCd

— Pak Afghan Affairs (@Pak_AfgAffairs) April 29, 2025

Since the Taliban’s return to power in Afghanistan in 2021, Pakistan has seen a surge in cross-border militancy. Officials in Islamabad claim that fighters from the Pakistani Taliban and other extremist groups have taken refuge in Afghanistan and are staging attacks from there.

According to the Centre for Research and Security Studies in Islamabad, 2023 was the deadliest year for Pakistan in nearly a decade, with the majority of attacks occurring near the Afghan border.

India Signs Deal to Buy 26 Rafale Fighter Jets From France Amid Regional Tensions

India signed a multi-billion-dollar agreement Monday to purchase 26 Rafale fighter jets from France, further advancing its efforts to modernize military capabilities.

The contract, signed between the Indian and French governments, includes 22 single-seat and four twin-seat jets, as well as training packages, simulators, associated equipment, weapons, and logistics support.

The new jets, manufactured by Dassault Aviation, will operate from Indian-made aircraft carriers, replacing aging Russian MiG-29K fighters.

The deal also includes additional equipment for India’s existing fleet of 36 Rafale jets purchased in 2016 for approximately $9.4 billion.

India’s defense ministry emphasized that the new acquisition aims to bolster national defense and enhance the Indian Navy’s air operations.

Dassault Aviation stated the Rafale fighters will deliver “state-of-the-art capabilities” and further solidify India’s position as a major global player.

India’s Navy will be the first foreign operator of the Rafale Marine variant.

The agreement follows Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2023 visit to France, where the initial intention to acquire more Rafales was announced. Although India historically depended heavily on Russian military supplies, it has diversified its defense partnerships over the past decade, increasingly sourcing equipment from France, the US, and Israel.

Ministers @SebLecornu & @RajnathSingh graced the signing of an Intergovernmental Agreement for the purchase of 26 #Rafale Marine fighter jets for @indiannavy.

A historic moment reflecting the deep trust between 🇫🇷 & 🇮🇳, and our shared commitment to strategic autonomy. pic.twitter.com/rEkUpOHONb

— French Embassy in India 🇫🇷🇪🇺 (@FranceinIndia) April 28, 2025

The Rafale deal comes as India faces heightened tensions with Pakistan following an April 22 attack in Indian-administered Kashmir that killed 26 civilians. India has accused Pakistan of backing the attack, allegations Islamabad denies. Diplomatic relations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors have deteriorated, and analysts warn of a potential risk of military escalation.

India’s defense modernization drive also responds to security concerns over China, particularly following a deadly 2020 border clash. In recent years, India has launched its first domestically produced aircraft carrier, opened a new helicopter factory, and successfully tested long-range hypersonic missiles.

India continues to strengthen its defense ties with Western nations through platforms like the Quad alliance, alongside the United States, Japan, and Australia.

Sources: News Agencies