SOFREP Daily: Hegseth and Nakatani Reaffirm US-Japan Alliance in First Talks, Sweden Sends Ukraine $1.2B in Military Aid, Russia Pulls Back North Korean Troops After Heavy Losses

Good morning! It’s Saturday, February 1, 2025, and we’re kicking off a new month with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.

Hegseth, Nakatani Reaffirm US-Japan Alliance in First Talks

Newly appointed US Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and Japan’s Defense Minister Gen Nakatani reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening the US-Japan alliance during a phone call on Friday.

With tensions rising in the Asia-Pacific, both sides emphasized upgrading military coordination and expanding their presence in Japan’s southwest, particularly amid concerns over China’s territorial claims.

Hegseth, a former infantryman and Fox News personality, was narrowly confirmed by the Senate despite controversy over past allegations. His nomination only passed thanks to Vice President JD Vance’s tie-breaking vote—just the second time in history a VP has had to intervene for a cabinet pick.

During the call, both officials reiterated that the US-Japan security treaty covers the Senkaku Islands, a long-standing flashpoint with China.

DM Nakatani held a tele-conference with newly appointed U.S. @SecDef Hegseth on Jan 31 and congratulated his appointment. Ministers underscored the importance of 🇯🇵🇺🇸 Alliance and concurred to cooperate closely for stability and security in the region.https://t.co/TMMxoz3i2E pic.twitter.com/rrqJec56T3

— Japan Ministry of Defense/Self-Defense Forces (@ModJapan_en) January 31, 2025

Nakatani also extended condolences for the recent air crash in the US involving a passenger jet and a military helicopter.

Hegseth, known for his outspoken media persona and close ties to President Trump, has pledged to “restore the warrior ethos” at the Pentagon.

Meanwhile, Japanese Prime Minister Shigeru Ishiba is expected to visit Washington soon, as Tokyo works to ensure continued US commitment to regional security amid shifting power dynamics.

Sweden Sends Ukraine $1.2B in Military Aid, Its Biggest Package Yet

Sweden is stepping up its military support for Ukraine with its biggest aid package yet—13.5 billion kronor ($1.2 billion) worth of weapons, equipment, and funding.

Defense Minister Pål Jonson emphasized in an announcement Thursday that this move isn’t just about Ukraine; it’s a wake-up call for Europe to start taking more responsibility in backing Kyiv against Russia.

Unlike previous aid packages, which came from Sweden’s own stockpiles, this one shifts towards purchasing new weapons for Ukraine.

A big chunk of the funding of 5.9 billion kronor ($536 million) will go toward acquiring military gear from Swedish and international defense firms.

Sweden sends Ukraine its largest $1.2 billion military aid package.

It includes 16 combat boats, 1,500 anti-tank missiles, 146 trucks, and 200 grenade launchers. Part of the funds will support Ukrainian long-range missile and drone production. pic.twitter.com/MqTu4ann2o

— KyivPost (@KyivPost) January 30, 2025

Another portion will help Ukraine ramp up its own production of long-range missiles and drones.

The package also includes 16 more Swedish Combat Boat 90s, doubling the number previously sent, along with additional arms and supplies.

Since Russia’s 2022 invasion, Sweden has already provided Ukraine with nearly $5.6 billion in military aid, including artillery, tanks, and anti-air systems.

NEW: The United Kingdom, Finland, and Czechia announced several immediate and longer-term military assistance packages for Ukraine on January 31.

Russian forces are expanding their salient north of Kupyansk as part of long-term operational efforts to push Ukrainian forces from… pic.twitter.com/sCy6K0K9Fb

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) February 1, 2025

Sudanese Forces Oust Paramilitary Force, Retake Strategic City in Kordofan

Sudan’s Army reclaimed Thursday the city of Umm Rawaba from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), marking another major victory in its ongoing war against the group.

The city, a key transportation hub in North Kordofan, had been under RSF control since May 2023.

The win comes as the Army also reports advances in Khartoum North (Bahri), where troops have secured central and southern areas, along with a key bridge linking the city to the capital.

El-Obeid and Al-Abbasiya Tagali in North and South Kordofan Celebrate the Sudanese Armed Forces’ Victory in Umm Rawaba

The cities of El-Obeid and Al-Abbasiya Tagali in North and South Kordofan witnessed large public celebrations rejoicing over the Sudanese Armed Forces’… pic.twitter.com/c4WODoc93C

— Sudanese Echo (@SudaneseEcho) January 30, 2025

This follows last week’s breakthrough when the military broke the RSF’s months-long siege of the army headquarters in Khartoum.

The Army has been gaining ground in recent weeks, including retaking Wad Madani, a major city south of the capital.

As the fight between Army Chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo rages on, these victories could signal a shift in momentum.

Mozambique Deploys Troops After Jihadists Kill Three in Cabo Delgado

Mozambique’s military has launched a new operation in the north of the country after jihadist militants allegedly beheaded three people at an artisanal gold mine in Cabo Delgado province.

The attack, which took place over the weekend, saw insurgents kill two men and a woman while forcing other miners to pay for their lives.

In response, Mozambican and Rwandan troops have been deployed to track down and dismantle terrorist hideouts near the Tanzania border.

On behalf of the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF) leadership, Major General Wilson Gumisiriza, Commander of the Mechanised Infantry Division, this morning briefed the Rwanda Security Forces (RSF) contingent ahead of their deployment to Cabo Delgado Province, Mozambique.… pic.twitter.com/cx34ywnFBK

— Rwanda Defence Force (@RwandaMoD) January 30, 2025

The ongoing insurgency, linked to the Islamic State group, has killed nearly 5,800 people since 2017 and continues to disrupt local communities and the region’s massive gas projects.

French energy giant TotalEnergies, which halted operations after a deadly attack in 2021, recently stated that it won’t restart its $20 billion gas project in Cabo Delgado until stability returns.

For now, Mozambique’s military is hoping this latest offensive will bring them one step closer to securing the region.

Myanmar Junta Extends Emergency Rule, Delays Elections Again

Myanmar’s military junta extended Friday the country’s state of emergency for another six months, marking four years since it seized power in a coup that sparked a brutal civil war.

The move delays long-promised elections yet again, as the junta struggles to maintain control amid major battlefield losses to ethnic minority armed groups and pro-democracy resistance forces.

Army chief Min Aung Hlaing and the ruling military council unanimously approved the extension, citing the need for “peace and stability” before elections can take place.

While the junta has floated the idea of holding polls in 2025, this latest move suggests they won’t happen until at least the second half of the year—if at all.

The military originally took power in February 2021, claiming election fraud after Aung San Suu Kyi’s National League for Democracy (NLD) won in a landslide.

Since then, the country has spiraled into a multi-sided conflict, with the junta repeatedly extending emergency rule to maintain its grip on power.

Israel Strikes Hezbollah Targets in Lebanon, Killing Two

Israeli airstrikes hit Hezbollah targets in Lebanon’s Bekaa Valley overnight, killing two people and injuring ten, according to Lebanon’s health ministry Friday.

The strikes targeted underground weapons manufacturing and smuggling sites near the Syrian border, just weeks after a previous attack in the same area.

The escalation comes amid a shaky ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, which has been in place for two months.

Israel’s military claims it was responding to a Hezbollah surveillance drone that breached Israeli airspace on January 27.

Israeli strikes target several parts of Beqaa Valley in eastern Lebanon, close to the Syrian border, in yet another violation of the ceasefire agreement. Priyanka Navani brings us the latest from Beirut pic.twitter.com/Cy5iNm0XIo

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) January 31, 2025

Tensions remain high as Israel has yet to complete its withdrawal from Lebanon, missing its initial January 26 deadline. Under the ceasefire agreement, Hezbollah is supposed to pull its forces back north of the Litani River, while the Lebanese Army takes over security in the south.

But Israel argues that Lebanon hasn’t held up its end of the deal, setting the stage for more potential clashes before the new February 18 deadline.

Russia Pulls Back North Korean Troops After Heavy Losses

The Kremlin is keeping quiet on reports that North Korean soldiers fighting alongside Russian forces in Ukraine have been pulled back from the front lines.

Western and Ukrainian intelligence claim Pyongyang sent over 10,000 troops to support Russia in the Kursk region, where Ukraine has been launching cross-border attacks.

According to US and Ukrainian officials, the North Korean units suffered heavy losses and haven’t been seen in combat for about two weeks.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky even shared footage of what he claimed were captured North Korean soldiers.

When asked about the reports, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov brushed them off, saying there were “a lot of different arguments” floating around and it wasn’t worth responding to every claim.

Meanwhile, Kyiv and its allies have slammed the deployment of North Korean troops as a dangerous escalation in the ongoing war.

Last night, Russia launched an attack on our cities using various types of weapons: missiles, attack drones, and aerial bombs. Another wave of terrorist crimes.

In Poltava, a residential building was hit, a section of the building was completely destroyed. Ten people were… pic.twitter.com/1FQAf4bfql

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) February 1, 2025

Hamas Releases Three Hostages as Israel Frees 183 Prisoners

Hamas released three Israeli hostages on Saturday as part of a ceasefire deal that also saw Israel free 183 Palestinian prisoners.

The hostages—Yarden Bibas, Ofer Kalderon, and American-Israeli Keith Siegel—had been held since the October 7, 2023, Hamas-led attack that sparked the war.

Their release brings the total number of hostages freed since the truce began on January 19 to 18.

Unlike previous chaotic exchanges, this transfer was more organized, with masked militants standing by as the hostages were handed over to the Red Cross.

Meanwhile, crowds in Tel Aviv’s Hostages Square cheered as they watched the release unfold on a big screen, while celebrations also erupted in the West Bank as Palestinian prisoners were freed.

The ceasefire, which has allowed increased aid into Gaza and given displaced Palestinians a chance to return home, is part of a broader deal to release 33 hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 prisoners.

However, tensions remain. Hamas refuses to release more captives without a full Israeli withdrawal, while some in Israel’s government are pushing for a return to war once the first phase of the truce ends.

As negotiations continue for a longer ceasefire, Israel remains committed to dismantling Hamas, even as the militant group reasserts control over Gaza.

If no agreement is reached, fighting could resume in early March.

Sources: News Agencies