Evening Brief: US SOUTHCOM Chief Retires Early, Germany Probes Laser Incidents, Kremlin Signals Postwar Security Grip on Donbas

House Republicans Seek Legal Briefing on Fatal Venezuela Boat Strike The chairman of the House Armed Services Committee plans to summon the senior military lawyer involved in a controversial US strike that killed survivors of an alleged drug smuggling boat off Venezuela. Representative Mike Rogers said he wants the lawyer to appear alongside Navy Admiral Frank Bradley, who oversaw the September 2 operation, to brief the full committee on the legal reasoning behind a follow-on strike ordered after survivors were spotted. The operation killed 11 people and has triggered congressional and legal scrutiny over possible violations of the law of armed conflict. Lawmakers are seeking clarity on whether the survivors were lawful targets and what legal advice informed the decision to strike again. Both House and Senate committees continue investigations, while Democrats and some Republicans press for the public release of video footage and related orders authorizing the operation. New: The Democrats on the Gang of 8 — @SenSchumer, @RepJeffries, @MarkWarner and @jahimes — demand release of the full, unedited, “double tap” boat strike from @SecWar. pic.twitter.com/2rxK9uQ1WH — Anthony Adragna (@AnthonyAdragna) December 12, 2025   Maintenance Delays Cut Years From Navy Destroyers’ Operational Time, Report Finds US Navy Arleigh Burke-class destroyers are spending far more time in maintenance than planned, sharply reducing their availability and effective service lives, according to a new Congressional Budget Office (CBO) analysis. The report found the ships spend about nine years in overhauls and other maintenance, roughly 27 percent of their intended lifespan, more than double earlier Navy estimates. The delays have strained fleet readiness, with availability at times dropping to about one-third of the destroyer force. CBO Report on Navy Ship Maintenance — USNI Newshttps://t.co/E0a7DkWMK6 pic.twitter.com/fALEfFqPlg — U.S. Naval Institute (@NavalInstitute) December 11, 2025 Maintenance costs have also surged, averaging $28 million per ship in 2024, a 300 percent increase since 2009. The CBO cited aging ships, labor shortages, parts delays, and contracting practices as key drivers, warning that prolonged overhauls disrupt deployments and effectively shrink the operational fleet.   USS Abraham Lincoln Strike Group Makes Early Guam Port Call The aircraft carrier USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN-72) and its strike group arrived at Guam’s Apra Harbor this week, marking the carrier’s first visit to the island since 2024 and less than three weeks into its current deployment. The carrier was joined by the guided-missile destroyers USS Spruance (DDG-111), USS Michael Murphy (DDG-112), and USS Frank E. Peterson Jr. (DDG-121). The visit follows the recent stop by the USS George Washington (CVN-73) and underscores Guam’s role as a key US military hub in the Indo-Pacific. USS Abraham Lincoln (CVN 72) Nimitz-class aircraft carrier coming into Guam – December 11, 2025 SRC: FB- US Naval Base Guam pic.twitter.com/7bmzu380Lq — WarshipCam (@WarshipCam) December 12, 2025 US Navy officials said the port call supports readiness, regional partnerships, and US commitment to a free and open Indo-Pacific, as the strike group begins its latest deployment after departing San Diego in late November.   Germany Probes Laser Incidents Targeting US F-16 Pilots Near Air Base German authorities have opened a criminal investigation into multiple incidents in which US Air Force pilots reported being targeted by laser beams while approaching Spangdahlem Air Base earlier this month. Three pilots flying F-16s reported encounters with blue laser beams on December 2 and December 9 while only a few miles from the base, according to regional police. All aircraft landed safely, and no injuries were reported. Неизвестные пытались ослепить пилотов лазером на авиабазе США в Германии. Полиция расследует три случая лазерной атаки на американской авиабазе Шпангдалем в земле Рейнланд-Пфальц. Возбуждено дело об опасном вмешательстве в воздушное движение. Попытки ослепить американских… pic.twitter.com/WUNsSiYpxs — DW на русском (@dw_russian) December 12, 2025 German police and the US Air Force are jointly investigating the incidents, and the source of the lasers remains unknown. Officials warned that laser strikes pose serious risks to pilots, including temporary blindness and disorientation, and urged witnesses to come forward as the investigation continues.   Kremlin Signals Postwar Security Grip on Donbas as Ukraine Claims Gains Near Kupiansk A senior Kremlin adviser said Russia intends to keep police and National Guard forces in eastern Ukraine’s Donbas region even if a peace settlement ends the war, underscoring Moscow’s aim to maintain control over territory it claims as its own. Yuriy Ushakov said Russian security forces would oversee the region in a postwar scenario, a position Ukraine is expected to reject as US-led peace efforts continue. As negotiations stall over territorial control, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Ukrainian forces have retaken several settlements and neighborhoods near the contested city of Kupiansk, dealing a setback to recent Russian advances. The Kremlin has responded to Zelensky’s comments about holding a referendum on territorial issues “Donbas is Russian. All of it. It’s in the Constitution,” said Putin’s aide Yuriy Ushakov. “Zelensky has until now opposed withdrawing his troops from Donbas, and this is one of… pic.twitter.com/N82aKQ4gY5 — Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) December 12, 2025 Fighting continues across the front line, with both sides reporting drone attacks and strikes overnight. Ukrainian officials also said Kyiv is expanding its long-range strike capabilities to disrupt Russian logistics, while Russia reported intercepting dozens of Ukrainian drones.   EU Freezes Russian Assets Indefinitely to Secure Funding for Ukraine The European Union (EU) has indefinitely frozen Russian state assets held in Europe to prevent member states from blocking their use to support Ukraine. Using emergency economic procedures, the EU moved to keep roughly 210 billion euros ($247 billion) in Russian Central Bank assets immobilized until Russia ends its war and compensates Ukraine for damage caused since 2022. The decision allows EU leaders to plan the use of the assets to back major financial assistance for Ukraine in 2026 and 2027 and blocks their release in any peace negotiations without EU approval. 🇪🇺 The EU ‘indefinitely immobilize’ Russian central bank assets 💰 Up to $246 billion in Russian state funds will remain on EU soil until Moscow pays reparations for the damage caused to Ukraine, says foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas https://t.co/JSbanTL0Qu pic.twitter.com/DPUTqGjpC0 — Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) December 12, 2025 Hungary and Slovakia criticized the move, arguing it undermines EU law and peace efforts, while Russia’s central bank filed a lawsuit against the Belgian clearing house holding most of the funds. EU officials said the measure is legally sound and necessary to sustain support for Ukraine.   Video Shows Israeli Hostages Marking Hanukkah in Gaza Months Before Their Deaths Newly released video and photos show six Israeli hostages celebrating Hanukkah while being held captive in a Gaza tunnel months before they were killed by Hamas, Israeli authorities said. The footage, published on Thursday by the forum representing hostage families, depicts the captives lighting candles, praying, and spending time together under apparent coercion during their captivity in late 2023. Israel says Hamas killed all six hostages last August shortly before Israeli troops reached the area, with autopsies showing they were shot at close range. WATCH: Full video is released showing six hostages killed in Gaza lighting Chanukah candles in captivity Credit: IDF pic.twitter.com/3unkd7SbMT — i24NEWS English (@i24NEWS_EN) December 11, 2025 The release of the footage has renewed criticism over failed ceasefire negotiations and the inability to secure their release while they were still alive. Families said the videos highlight both the hostages’ resilience and the missed opportunities to bring them home, as talks now move toward a more complex next phase of a fragile ceasefire.   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