SOFREP Morning Brief: British Military Joins US in New Wave of Airstrikes Against Houthis in Yemen, North Korea Unveils First Destroyer and Tests Latest Missiles

Good day! Here’s SOFREP’s morning brief, bringing you the latest in defense and global affairs for Monday, April 30, 2025. At a glance: UK joins US air campaign in Yemen, striking a Houthi drone site. In Sudan, millions displaced return to ruins with little aid. Col. Trevor Felter replaces MCAS Beaufort commander after leadership shake-up. Vietnam marks 50 years since war’s end with parade, stresses peace. North Korea unveils its first destroyer, tests missiles with Russian help. South Korea says 4,700 North Korean troops were killed or wounded fighting for Russia in Ukraine.

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British Military Joins US in New Wave of Airstrikes Against Houthis in Yemen

The British military joined the United States in a coordinated airstrike on Houthi targets in Yemen late Tuesday, marking the UK’s first strike under the Trump administration’s intensified campaign, Operation Rough Rider.

The campaign has conducted over 800 strikes since mid-March in an effort to dismantle the Iranian-backed group’s operational capacity amid ongoing Houthi attacks on shipping lanes.

The UK Ministry of Defence confirmed its Royal Air Force Typhoon FGR4s struck a drone manufacturing facility 15 miles south of the Houthi-held capital, Sanaa. British officials stated the facility was responsible for producing unmanned aerial vehicles used in attacks against Red Sea and Gulf of Aden shipping.

UK Defense Secretary John Healey cited the strikes as a necessary response to a “persistent threat from the Houthis to freedom of navigation,” noting that a 55% drop in Red Sea shipping traffic has cost the global economy billions and jeopardized economic security in the UK. The strike was conducted after dark to minimize civilian casualties. No casualty figures or damage assessments were released by British authorities.

Overnight, @RoyalAirForce Typhoons conducted strikes against a Houthi military target in Yemen to defend freedom of navigation, strengthen regional stability, protect UK economic security, and reduce the Houthis’ capacity to launch further attacks. https://t.co/Hlu2Yhk3Oi pic.twitter.com/gppCNZTgQt

— Ministry of Defence 🇬🇧 (@DefenceHQ) April 29, 2025

This latest strike marks a renewed British involvement in air operations that began in January 2024, but had since escalated.

The US military has not yet commented on the specific British strike, though US Central Command (CENTCOM) continues leading offensive operations from two aircraft carriers: the USS Harry S. Truman (CVN-75) in the Red Sea and the USS Carl Vinson (CVN-70) in the Arabian Sea.

The strike follows recent high-casualty incidents involving the US, including an alleged airstrike on a migrant detention center in Yemen on Monday that killed at least 68 people and wounded 47.

US military strikes in Yemen have killed at least 68 people and wounded 47 others as they hit a detention centre holding African migrants in Saada, according to Houthi-affiliated media reports.

— in pictures https://t.co/8F8AVRCVYU pic.twitter.com/fUykolQxDH

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

Another American strike on April 18 at the Ras Isa fuel port killed at least 74 and wounded 171, the deadliest confirmed attack in the campaign so far.

The Houthis, backed by Iran, have been launching missile and drone strikes targeting shipping in the Red Sea in response to Israel’s blockade on aid to Gaza and the broader conflict with Hamas. The group remains the most active member of Iran’s so-called “Axis of Resistance” capable of directly targeting Israel.

Domestically, Operation Rough Rider has generated controversy in the US over Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth’s alleged use of the unclassified Signal messaging app to share sensitive military information related to the strikes.

Sudan’s War Leaves Millions Displaced as Returnees Find Ruins and Scarce Aid

The civil war between Sudan’s military and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) continues to devastate large parts of the country, creating one of the world’s worst humanitarian crises.

While some displaced Sudanese are beginning to return to recaptured areas, they are met with destroyed homes, nonexistent services, and life-threatening conditions.

According to the United Nations, the conflict has killed at least 20,000 people, though the real toll is likely higher. Nearly 13 million people have been forced to flee, including 4 million who crossed into neighboring countries. The rest remain displaced inside Sudan. Famine is spreading, and aid organizations warn that conditions remain dire.

The International Organization for Migration (IMO) estimates that roughly 400,000 people have returned to areas in and around Khartoum, Gezira, and Sennar provinces.

Urgent aid is needed to support displaced families in South Darfur. IOM & DPI Organization are restoring the health center Kela in Mershing, which supports IDPs & host communities.

Special thanks to our private sector partners for standing with us in this critical response. pic.twitter.com/Pt8WdQJ2DH

— IOM Sudan 🇺🇳 (@IOMSudan) April 24, 2025

More than 120,000 Sudanese have also returned from Egypt since January, with April’s numbers nearly doubling the previous month. Still, many who tried to resettle found conditions so unbearable that they returned to displacement shelters.

The lack of functional government has compounded the crisis. A military-backed interim administration based in Port Sudan has little reach. Though the army recently recaptured Khartoum and pledged to form a new transitional government, aid remains limited. UN International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) have delivered some supplies and cash assistance, but resources fall far short of demand.

As Sudan’s war grinds on, millions continue to pay the price for a conflict with no clear end in sight—and little help in rebuilding what’s left behind.

Col. Trevor Felter Assumes Command of MCAS Beaufort After Leadership Shake-Up

Col. Trevor J. Felter has taken command of Marine Corps Air Station Beaufort (MCAS), replacing Col. Mark Bortnem, who was relieved of duty on April 15 for a “loss of trust and confidence” in his ability to lead.

The US Marine Corps has not disclosed specific reasons for Bortnem’s removal. He had served as the station’s commander since July 2023 and has been reassigned to Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island.

Felter, a native of Tiffin, Ohio, brings over 30 years of service in the Marine Corps with extensive operational and leadership experience in aviation. He most recently served as assistant chief of staff for government and external affairs at Marine Forces Command in Norfolk, Virginia, overseeing aviation operations and readiness initiatives.

MCAS Beaufort, often referred to as “Fightertown East,” is home to Marine Aircraft Group 31 and the F-35B Lightning II. The air station plays a critical role in training and supporting the readiness of the 2nd Marine Aircraft Wing based in Cherry Point, North Carolina.

The base is currently transitioning from F/A-18 Hornets to the more advanced F-35Bs, which are capable of short takeoffs and vertical landings from amphibious assault ships.

Felter enlisted in 1994, earned his commission in 2002, and became a naval aviator in 2005. His aviation career includes instructor duty with VMAT-203 and executive officer service with VMA-231, an AV-8B Harrier attack squadron.

He has deployed extensively, including tours in the Horn of Africa and Afghanistan during Operation Enduring Freedom, as well as in Bahrain in support of Operation Inherent Resolve, flying combat missions in Iraq and Syria.

Felter’s appointment comes at a time of continued modernization and operational focus for the air station, which remains a cornerstone of Marine Corps aviation on the East Coast.

Vietnam Marks 50 Years Since End of US War with Parade, Peace Message

Vietnam celebrated the 50th anniversary of the end of the war with the US on Wednesday with a large military parade in Ho Chi Minh City and public calls for peace, unity, and national development.

The event commemorated the fall of Saigon on April 30, 1975, which ended decades of conflict and unified the communist North and US-backed South into a single nation.

General Secretary To Lam of the Communist Party led the ceremonies, framing the anniversary as a time to “close the past” and focus on a peaceful future. In a shift from past rhetoric focused on military victory, Vietnamese leaders emphasized reconciliation and development.

“All the Vietnamese are the descendants of Vietnam,” Lam said, vowing to build a peaceful, prosperous country.

About 13,000 participants, including troops, veterans, and civilians, took part in the parade. Chinese, Cambodian, and Laotian soldiers marched in solidarity, while helicopters and fighter jets flew over Independence Palace—where a North Vietnamese tank breached the gates in 1975.

The parade featured cultural and patriotic symbols, including a float bearing the Lac bird and a large portrait of Ho Chi Minh. Thousands of spectators camped overnight for prime viewing and stayed for drone and fireworks shows in the evening.

Vietnam’s foreign policy pivot was evident during the event. The presence of Chinese troops, and recent visits by Chinese leader Xi Jinping, contrasted with the absence of US Ambassador Marc E. Knapper. However, US Consul General Susan Burns did attend, amid reports that Washington discouraged official attendance.

The anniversary also marked 30 years of diplomatic relations with the US, a relationship that was recently elevated to “comprehensive strategic partner” status—the same level Vietnam grants to China and Russia.

But tensions have emerged under President Donald Trump, whose administration imposed 46% tariffs on Vietnamese exports and slashed foreign aid, including war legacy remediation projects such as unexploded ordnance and Agent Orange cleanup.

Analysts say this shift could diminish Vietnam’s strategic role in US Indo-Pacific policy, at a time when Vietnam continues to confront China in the South China Sea and seeks to balance great power relations through diplomacy and economic partnerships.

North Korea Unveils First Destroyer, Tests Missiles in Bid to Boost Naval Nuclear Capability

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un observed test-firings of missiles from the country’s newly launched destroyer, the first warship of its kind in Pyongyang’s fleet.

State media KCNA announced Wednesday that the destroyer test-fired supersonic and strategic cruise missiles, anti-aircraft weapons, and electronic jamming systems earlier this week under Kim’s supervision.

DPRK Begins Weapons Tests on Newly Commissioned Destroyer

North Korea has commenced weapons testing on its newly inducted naval destroyer, just days after the vessel was formally accepted into service. According to a detailed report by the state-run Korean Central News Agency… pic.twitter.com/lQ6yLxcBU7

— Global Defense Insight (@Defense_Talks) April 30, 2025

The 5,000-ton vessel, revealed last Friday at a launch ceremony in Nampo, was described by Kim as a “breakthrough” in modernizing the country’s naval forces. He praised the warship’s powerful strike capabilities and called for accelerating the nuclear arming of the Navy.

The destroyer is expected to be deployed in early 2025.

Military analysts say the destroyer marks a significant escalation in North Korea’s naval ambitions. Though still behind South Korea’s fleet in terms of overall capabilities, the new vessel — reportedly able to carry up to 80 missiles — could enhance Pyongyang’s maritime strike and defense power.

Experts believe Russia played a key role in developing the warship, contributing to its anti-air radar, engine systems, and other weapons platforms.

Kim also reaffirmed his intent to acquire a nuclear-powered submarine as part of a broader naval buildup to deter what he called growing US-led military threats. South Korea’s spy agency said Wednesday that the North would not likely complete such a submarine without continued Russian technological assistance.

In March, North Korea unveiled a nuclear-powered submarine under construction, which experts believe includes a Russian-supplied reactor.

The enhanced destroyer, positioned off North Korea’s west coast, is seen as a strategic addition to protect Pyongyang with advanced air defenses. South Korea’s military and US intelligence are closely monitoring the new warship and North Korea’s broader maritime developments.

North Korea and Russia have rapidly expanded military ties in recent years, with Pyongyang reportedly supplying troops and weapons to support Moscow’s war in Ukraine. In exchange, Russia is believed to be providing advanced technology, military hardware, and economic aid that could accelerate North Korea’s nuclear and conventional weapons programs.

Nearly 4,700 North Korean Troops Killed or Wounded Fighting for Russia in Ukraine: South Korea Spy Agency

South Korea’s spy agency reported Wednesday that approximately 4,700 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded while fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine.

The announcement follows North Korea’s first official confirmation that it deployed combat troops to assist Russia in recapturing parts of the Kursk region lost during a Ukrainian offensive last year.

The National Intelligence Service (NIS) told lawmakers in a closed-door briefing that 600 North Korean troops were killed, and about 2,000 injured personnel were evacuated from Russia by air and train between January and March. The NIS added that Russian authorities cremated the deceased before returning their remains to North Korea.

North Korea acknowledged the deployment Monday, stating that leader Kim Jong Un ordered the operation to “annihilate and wipe out the Ukrainian neo-Nazi occupiers.” Russian President Vladimir Putin thanked North Korea for its support and vowed to remember the sacrifices made by its soldiers.

Both leaders claimed the deployment fell under the terms of their 2024 mutual defense treaty, which obligates each side to assist the other if attacked.

US, South Korean, and Ukrainian officials have said North Korea sent between 10,000 and 12,000 troops to Russia in late 2024, with an additional 3,000 deployed earlier this year.

The NIS reported Wednesday that 15,000 North Korean laborers have also been dispatched to Russia as part of bilateral industrial cooperation.

Sources: News Agencies