Morning Brief: Congress Presses Pentagon for Strike Video, US F-18s Enter Venezuelan Airspace, ICE Uses Pepper Spray in Minneapolis Standoff

  US F-18s Enter Venezuelan Airspace in Latest Show of Force Near Key Oil Region Two US F-18 fighter jets flew into Venezuelan airspace on Tuesday and circled over the Gulf of Venezuela for about 40 minutes in a high-visibility show of force as tensions rose between Washington and Nicolás Maduro’s government. The jets operated near major Venezuelan energy hubs in Zulia and Falcón states, an area dotted with oil infrastructure and busy tanker routes. 🇻🇪🇺🇸🚨 BREAKING: Two US F-18 military jets have made three passes over the Gulf of Venezuela, entering Venezuelan airspace with no response from the Chavista regime. This is the first time the US has flown and maintained presence inside Venezuela. pic.twitter.com/LL3qmz7RNo — WAR (@warsurveillance) December 9, 2025 The flight occurred despite Venezuela’s deployment of Russian-made S-300VM air defense systems and came as the United States continues to build up forces in the Caribbean under Operation Southern Spear, which now includes roughly 15,000 to 16,000 personnel. Caracas has declared a state of emergency and activated military units, framing the US presence as preparation for aggression while Washington says it is targeting narcotrafficking. The flyover followed Venezuela’s claim last week that it intercepted a “hostile” aircraft in Apure state.   ICE Uses Pepper Spray in Minneapolis Standoff Amid Crackdown on Somali Community Federal agents deployed pepper spray to push through a crowd in a Somali American neighborhood of Minneapolis after residents blocked their vehicles during identification checks tied to the Trump administration’s crackdown on Somali nationals. City Council Member Jamal Osman said Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents entered East African restaurants, demanded identifications and later moved to a senior housing complex, where local residents confronted them and triggered the standoff. ICE reported no arrests at the scene but Osman said at least one US citizen was detained, fingerprinted, and released miles from home. ICE launches large-scale enforcement operations at group housing facilities near Minneapolis, detaining numerous undocumented migrants in coordinated raids. pic.twitter.com/J9fxnGDIR8 — Polymarket Intel (@PolymarketIntel) December 9, 2025 Tensions in Minnesota’s Somali community have risen sharply since President Donald Trump ended Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Somalis and escalated enforcement actions. Federal officials have highlighted recent arrests of Somali nationals with criminal convictions, while state leaders and community advocates denounced the president’s rhetoric and the scope of the operation.   US Criticizes China for Targeting Radars at Japanese Jets in Most Serious Run-In in Years The United States criticized China for aiming fighter-jet radars at Japanese military aircraft during a training exercise near Okinawa last week, calling the move destabilizing and reaffirming its support for Japan. Tokyo said the radar lock-on was dangerous and marked the most serious encounter between the two militaries in years, while Beijing insisted its drills were lawful and claimed Japanese aircraft had interfered with its naval training. ❌ Japan rejects China’s claim over fighter jet encounter near Okinawa ▪️ Defense Minister Koizumi denied the accusation that Japanese jets endangered Chinese aircraft, saying instead that China’s J-15s locked radar on two ASDF F-15s over high seas https://t.co/uWa6JPekMV — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 10, 2025 The incident comes as tensions rise following Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi’s comments suggesting Tokyo could respond militarily to a Chinese attack on Taiwan. China has demanded she retract the remarks. US officials have publicly backed Japan, though US President Donald Trump has avoided direct comment as he prepares for trade talks with Beijing.   Ukraine Holds Northern Pokrovsk as Syrskyi Orders Limited Pullback amid Heavy Russian Buildup Ukraine’s top commander Oleksandr Syrskyi said Ukrainian forces continue to hold the northern part of Pokrovsk and areas west of the city despite intense Russian pressure and a recent withdrawal from exposed positions. Syrskyi said troops secured about 13 square kilometers (5 square miles) inside the city since mid-November and now control roughly 54 square kilometers (21 square miles) to the west, contradicting Russia’s claim that it has captured the city. He ordered units stationed 5-7 kilometers (3-4 miles) outside Pokrovsk to withdraw because rotation was impossible and Russian forces were slipping through. Syrskyi: Some German media posted information that the Russian army had taken Pokrovsk. I can confirm with full certainty this is not true. We hold the northern part of the city, and the Russian army continues losing its soldiers there. We hold the city. 3/ pic.twitter.com/LE1CFL90gS — Tymofiy Mylovanov (@Mylovanov) December 8, 2025 Syrskyi described the situation as difficult, citing a Russian buildup of 156,000 troops under cover of poor weather. He also accused Russia of spreading disinformation to distort battlefield conditions.   Israel Responsible for Nearly Half of Global Journalist Deaths in 2025: Press Freedom Group Reports Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reported that 67 journalists were killed worldwide over the past year, with Israeli forces responsible for 29 of those deaths in Gaza, accounting for 43 percent of the global total. The group said Israel has been the world’s deadliest force for journalists for three consecutive years, with nearly 220 reporters killed since the Gaza conflict began in October 2023. The deadliest single incident was an August 25 “double-tap” strike on a southern Gaza hospital that killed five journalists. Foreign media still lack independent access to Gaza outside tightly controlled Israeli military tours. 67 journalists killed in 2025, half in Gaza, says Reporters Without Borders. The figure, outlined in RSF’s latest annual report, is an increase on the 66 killed in 2024 pic.twitter.com/xmkOjf8r5u — AFP News Agency (@AFP) December 10, 2025 RSF said Mexico recorded nine journalist killings, its worst toll in at least three years, while Sudan and Ukraine also remained dangerous for reporters. The number of imprisoned journalists reached 503 worldwide, with China, Russia, and Myanmar leading in detentions.   Kim Jong Un Opens Party Plenum to Set Agenda Ahead of First Congress in Five Years North Korean leader Kim Jong Un convened a plenary meeting of the ruling Workers’ Party on Tuesday to prepare for the party’s first full congress since 2021. State media said officials began reviewing major policy issues and planning the agenda for the congress, expected early next year. The gathering comes as the United States and South Korea seek to revive talks with Pyongyang, which has rejected negotiations since Kim’s diplomacy with US President Donald Trump collapsed in 2019. Kim has signaled he might return to dialogue if Washington drops its push for North Korean denuclearization. Enlarged Meeting of 13th Plenary Meeting of Eighth Central Committee of WPK Convened pic.twitter.com/0RCRXkaLjf — KFA-UK (@Korea_Friend_UK) December 10, 2025 The meeting follows renewed military activity, including North Korean artillery fire off its west coast, and comes amid Kim’s shift toward labeling South Korea a permanent enemy in a rewritten constitution.   Seoul Protests After Russian and Chinese Warplanes Enter Air Defense Zone South Korea issued a formal protest to Russia and China after nine of their military aircraft entered the South Korean Air Defense Identification Zone on Tuesday. Seoul said seven Russian aircraft and two Chinese aircraft approached from the east and south but did not enter national airspace. South Korea scrambled fighter jets to monitor the flights, which its Joint Chiefs of Staff identified as bombers and fighters. China later said the operation was part of a planned joint strategic air patrol with Russia over the East China Sea and western Pacific. Regarding the situation of the joint China-Russia patrol, the Ministry of National Defense has released relevant information. We would like to emphasize that this joint strategic air patrol falls within the annual cooperation plan and demonstrates both sides’ resolve and… pic.twitter.com/mRhrhf60Ua — Global Times (@globaltimesnews) December 10, 2025 The incursion was the latest in a series of similar entries, including a joint patrol last November and multiple Russian flights near South Korean airspace in March. South Korea said it will continue to respond firmly to foreign aircraft activity in the zone.   Sources: News Agencies — ** Editor’s Note: Thinking about subscribing to SOFREP? You can support Veteran Journalism & do it now for only $1 for your first year. Pull the trigger on this amazing offer HERE. – GDM