Evening Brief: Iowa National Guard Identifies Soldiers Killed in Syria, Trinidad Opens Airports to US Military, US Jewish Groups Urge Tighter Security

The measure encourages predictive analytics for suicide prevention and provides $698 million for related programs, as about 6,500 veterans die by suicide each year. REACH VET uses machine learning to scan health records and flag the top 0.1 percent of veterans at highest risk, prompting VA staff to intervene with targeted support. The program has identified more than 130,000 veterans since 2017, but drew criticism in 2024 for bias after reporting showed it overlooked key risk factors affecting women. The VA has since launched REACH VET 2.0, adding military sexual trauma and intimate partner violence as variables and removing race and ethnicity. Veteran suicide has been a scourge on our nation for too long. Under President Trump, we are totally revamping @DeptVetAffairs’ approach in this area, with new leadership, a fresh focus on reaching those who need our help and – for the first time in VA’s history – a serious… pic.twitter.com/jRrgrNcrEG — VA Secretary Doug Collins (@SecVetAffairs) December 14, 2025 VA officials stressed that the system supports, but does not replace, human judgment as Congress continues to push AI as part of broader suicide prevention efforts. The Veterans Crisis Line is available 24/7 to support veterans in crisis. Call 988 and press 1, text 838255, or visit VeteransCrisisLine.net to chat online.   Brown University Gunman Still at Large as Probe Resets Authorities renewed door-to-door searches Monday for video evidence after releasing a person of interest in the Brown University shooting that killed two students and wounded nine others. Investigators said new footage shows a person dressed in black walking away from the scene, but the suspect’s face remains unseen and police have not confirmed the shooter’s location. The attack unfolded Saturday in a first-floor classroom during a study session, raising questions about campus security and the lack of surveillance cameras in the area. NEW: @BryanLlenas captures on-the-ground footage as FBI agents search the Brown University campus for evidence after a shooting leaves 2 dead and 9 injured, with the manhunt for the gunman intensifying. pic.twitter.com/kTLKrBNJNu — Fox News (@FoxNews) December 15, 2025 The victims were identified as Ella Cook, a 19-year-old sophomore, and MukhammadAziz Umurzokov, an 18-year-old freshman. One wounded victim remains in critical condition as law enforcement continues to trace the gunman’s movements and search for physical evidence.   Lawmakers Threaten Funding Fight Over Military Flight Safety Rules Senator Ted Cruz said he will block funding to keep the federal government open after January if Congress fails to tighten military flight safety rules following a deadly January mid-air collision over Washington, D.C. Cruz and Senator Maria Cantwell urged lawmakers to remove language from a defense bill that would allow military aircraft to stop broadcasting their locations, a practice in place before the crash that killed 67 people. The senators said the provision undermines new Federal Aviation Administration requirements that all aircraft use ADS-B tracking and could reverse recent safety gains in the crowded airspace around the capital. Families of the victims, along with aviation officials and unions, warned the exemption would weaken safeguards. .@SenatorCantwell “There’s no reason to have this language in the National Defense Authorization Act, unless you’re somebody who wants to continue to see letting the military do whatever they want to do in a congested airspace.” pic.twitter.com/QVvatcAWVW — CSPAN (@cspan) December 15, 2025 Cruz said he will hold up government funding unless Congress passes separate legislation mandating location broadcasting for all aircraft.   US Army Activates New Long-Range Artillery Unit, Europe Deployment Unclear The US Army has activated a new long-range artillery battalion designed to boost firepower in Europe, but has not disclosed when troops or missiles will deploy. The 3rd Battalion, 12th Field Artillery Regiment, based at Fort Drum, New York, became operational in October as part of the Army’s push to expand long-range strike capabilities under the Germany-based 56th Multi-Domain Command. The unit traces back to a 2024 Biden administration decision to begin rotating long-range fires assets to Germany in 2026, with plans for eventual permanent basing. Those forces are expected to field SM-6 and Tomahawk missiles and, later, hypersonic weapons. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said Berlin still expects the deployment to move forward, though US officials have offered no timeline. The initiative faces internal debate as Pentagon leaders weigh shifting resources toward the Pacific and pressing Europe to assume more responsibility for its own defense.   Trinidad and Tobago Opens Airports to US Military, Venezuela Cuts Gas Talks Trinidad and Tobago said on Monday that it will allow the US military to use its airports in the coming weeks for logistical support and personnel rotations as US-Venezuela tensions rise. The government said the access follows the recent installation of a US radar system in Tobago and stressed that the country would not serve as a base for attacks on other nations. Venezuela responded by canceling all gas supply agreements and negotiations with Trinidad and Tobago, accusing the government of supporting US military actions and participating in the seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker. The Government of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago has released a statement today reaffirming its sustained cooperation with the United States, which it states it has benefited from through joint military training exercises, enhanced surveillance capabilities, and the… pic.twitter.com/2QqrAjdegG — OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) December 15, 2025 The move threatens a previously approved cross-border gas project involving Shell. The decision also sparked domestic criticism in Trinidad, where opposition figures warned the arrangement risks escalating regional tensions as the United States expands military operations near Venezuela.   Colombia Condemns ELN ‘Armed Strike’ Linked to US Naval Buildup Colombia’s government on Monday condemned an “armed strike” launched by the National Liberation Army, or ELN, saying the action harms rural communities and undermines prospects for peace. The rebel group ordered civilians to stay home and businesses to close through early Wednesday, citing opposition to a US naval buildup in the Caribbean and what it called Washington’s “neocolonial” policies. The ELN has announced an ‘armed strike’ across #Colombia from 14-17 December. Monitor the media for emerging threats, take official warnings seriously and follow the advice of local authorities. Read & subscribe: https://t.co/JitzZ5RQD1 — Smartraveller (@Smartraveller) December 14, 2025 The strike followed a US seizure of a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast and coincided with ELN attacks on an army base and a police station, which left an ambulance driver dead. Peace talks between the government and the ELN have been suspended since January after a wave of rebel violence displaced tens of thousands. The ELN, Colombia’s second-largest guerrilla group, continues to operate across Colombia and Venezuela while both sides have failed to restart negotiations.   Ukraine, US Narrow Gap on Security Guarantees, Stall on Territory Talks between Ukraine, the United States, and European officials made progress on security guarantees but failed to resolve disputes over territory after two days of negotiations, US officials said on Monday. The sides moved closer to agreement on NATO-style security assurances for Ukraine, but Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy confirmed they still hold opposing positions on post-war territorial lines, particularly in the Donbas region. The US proposal would have Ukraine withdraw from roughly 14 percent of Donbas territory it controls, turning the area into a demilitarized free economic zone. Zelenskyy raised concerns about Russia reoccupying the area and stressed that only the Ukrainian people could approve territorial concessions. Trump on Russia-Ukraine: I think we are closer now than we have been ever. pic.twitter.com/SHM8WmJ1up — Clash Report (@clashreport) December 15, 2025 US officials said most elements of a broader deal are close to completion, including strong security guarantees and economic support, but warned the offer is time-limited as negotiations move toward further technical talks and possible engagement with Russia.   Lithuania Plans New Training Area Near Strategically Vital Suwalki Gap Lithuania plans to build a new military training area near the Suwalki Gap and expand an existing range in western Lithuania to strengthen national defense and NATO readiness. The new site near Kapciamiestis will support brigade-level training for several thousand troops, while the Taurage training area will double in size, according to national broadcaster LRT. 🇱🇹 Lithuania is strengthening its national defence with plans for new and expanded military training ranges, boosting NATO’s rapid response capabilities and securing the strategically crucial Suwałki Corridor. pic.twitter.com/TBvDLLINcf — Lithuanian MOD 🇱🇹 (@Lithuanian_MoD) December 15, 2025 The move targets one of Europe’s most sensitive corridors, the narrow land link connecting the Baltic states to the rest of NATO and separating Russia’s Kaliningrad exclave from Belarus. Lithuania hosts more than 1,000 rotational US troops and has seen sustained US heavy battalion rotations since 2019. Officials say the expanded training infrastructure will enable a larger allied presence as Lithuania builds its first modern army division and prepares for Germany’s planned brigade deployment by 2027.   US-Led Effort Delivers 30,000 Aid Trucks to Gaza, Needs Remain Acute More than 30,000 trucks of humanitarian aid have entered Gaza as of last week, marking a milestone for the US-led Civil-Military Coordination Center (CMCC), according to US Central Command (CENTCOM). The deliveries included food, shelter materials, medical supplies, and winter clothing, supported through a coordination hub in Kiryat Gat that brings together US forces and about 60 partner nations and organizations. The center, established after a US-brokered ceasefire ended nearly two years of fighting between Israel and Hamas, has helped sustain aid flows of at least 4,200 trucks per week for five consecutive weeks. Aid partners now support bakeries producing more than 160,000 loaves of bread daily and kitchens serving about 1.6 million meals a day. Claims suggesting that weather-related impacts result from deliberate restrictions are inconsistent with facts on the ground, and the ongoing coordination taking place daily. ⬆️Close to 310,000 tents and tarpaulins entered Gaza lately. ⬆️Close to 100,000 pallets of… pic.twitter.com/hzHbvPNahQ — COGAT (@cogatonline) December 15, 2025 Despite the progress, UN officials say humanitarian needs far exceed current assistance, with more than 1.3 million people still requiring shelter as winter weather, debris, and unexploded ordnance continue to complicate relief efforts.   Diplomats Tour Lebanon Border as Army Moves to Push Hezbollah South Western and Arab diplomats toured southern Lebanon on Monday to observe efforts by the Lebanese army and UN peacekeepers to remove Hezbollah’s armed presence near the border with Israel. The delegation, which included the US and Saudi ambassadors, traveled with Lebanese Armed Forces commander General Rodolph Haikal to areas south of the Litani River that were previously dominated by Hezbollah. Lebanon’s government says the army aims to clear the border zone of Hezbollah fighters by year’s end, in line with the ceasefire that ended the Israel-Hezbollah war in November 2024. Hezbollah has pledged to withdraw from the area but retain its weapons elsewhere in Lebanon. Visit to South Lebanon 🇱🇧 with the Lebanese army. After a briefing with the Commander of the Army, we saw some of the destruction along the blue line, 1 of 5 Israeli occupied positions in Lebanon and a dismantled #Hezbollah tunnel. pic.twitter.com/wDZR7Nvnz2 — Marion Weichelt (@SwissAmbLEB) December 15, 2025 The tour comes as Israel continues near-daily strikes in southern Lebanon and the United States presses Beirut to accelerate Hezbollah’s disarmament while weighing additional support for an army weakened by years of economic crisis.   US Jewish Groups Urge Tighter Security After Deadly Hanukkah Attack Major Jewish organizations in the United States urged communities to strengthen security at public events following a mass shooting at a Hanukkah celebration in Australia that killed several people. The groups advised restricting access to preregistered, screened attendees and limiting the release of event details, citing heightened risks around large public gatherings. At the same time, many synagogues and Jewish organizations said they would continue public Hanukkah celebrations, including outdoor menorah lightings, while increasing security. Leaders emphasized balancing safety with visibility, arguing that withdrawing from public life would cede ground to antisemitism. “We have witnessed a continuing surge in antisemitic incidents across the United States: protests targeting synagogues, bomb threats, acts of vandalism, and organized attempts to intimidate Jewish communities…. These are not isolated episodes.” In a letter to Assistant… pic.twitter.com/83lCHjRG7f — American Jewish Committee (@AJCGlobal) December 12, 2025 The attack, which killed a rabbi who organized the Australian event, renewed debate within the Jewish community over how to protect worshippers while maintaining an open and visible presence.   Thai-Cambodian Fighting Intensifies as Airstrikes Reach Deeper Into Cambodia Heavy fighting between Thailand and Cambodia continued into a second week as Cambodia accused Thai forces of bombing targets deep inside its territory, including near camps housing displaced civilians. Cambodian officials said Thai F-16 jets struck sites in Oddar Meanchey and Siem Reap provinces, with one attack hitting a bridge more than 70 kilometers (43 miles) from the border. Thailand’s Royal Air Force said it targeted military objectives and denied harming civilians. The conflict, driven by longstanding border disputes over territory and ancient temple sites, has killed more than two dozen people and displaced over half a million civilians, according to officials. 🇹🇭 #Thailand – 🇰🇭 #Cambodia: Helmet-cam footage shows Cambodian troops exchanging fire with Thai soldiers in a border area. According to reports, the Thai Army recently captured a position from Cambodian forces along the border, seizing several ATGM systems. (📹 via @war_noir) pic.twitter.com/rpO7eCiRYn — POPULAR FRONT (@PopularFront_) December 14, 2025 Thailand claims it has inflicted heavy losses on Cambodia’s military and is moving to cut fuel and weapons supplies, while Cambodia reports civilian casualties and rejects Thai damage assessments. The fighting has collapsed a US-backed ceasefire and continued despite renewed calls to halt the violence.   Sources: News Agencies — ** Editor’s Note: Thinking about subscribing to SOFREP? 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