SOFREP Daily: Israel Extends Presence as Lebanon Awaits Withdrawal, US Airstrike Takes Out Al-Qaeda-Linked Leader, China Condemns US for Taiwan Policy Shift

Welcome back! It’s Tuesday, February 18, 2025, and we’re here with your essential briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s shaping the world today.

Israel Extends Presence as Lebanon Awaits Withdrawal

As the deadline for Israel’s withdrawal from southern Lebanon under a ceasefire deal with Hezbollah expired, Israel announced it would maintain a presence in five strategic locations for security reasons.

While some Israeli forces began withdrawing from border villages, others remained, raising tensions.

The ceasefire, brokered by Washington and Paris, called for Hezbollah to pull back north of the Litani River and for the Lebanese army, alongside UN peacekeepers, to take control.

The prolonged conflict has left extensive destruction in Hezbollah strongholds across southern and eastern Lebanon, with reconstruction costs estimated at over $10 billion and more than 100,000 people displaced.

Israel refuses to withdraw troops from South Lebanon despite a ceasefire deal set to expire on Tuesday.

With Hezbollah’s disarmament in question, many fear the fragile truce could collapse into renewed fighting pic.twitter.com/SdMwrpxVRX

— TRT World (@trtworld) February 18, 2025

Many residents, eager to return home, have been advised to wait until the Lebanese army fully secures the area.

Despite the ceasefire, sporadic violence has continued, with around 60 people killed since the truce began.

Lebanese authorities insist Israel must complete its withdrawal, rejecting any extension.

Meanwhile, calls for Hezbollah’s disarmament have grown, with Lebanon’s government reaffirming that only the state should control weapons.

US and Russia Start Talks, Ukraine Left Out

Senior US and Russian officials are set to hold high-stakes talks in Saudi Arabia on improving ties and negotiating a potential end to the war in Ukraine.

The meeting, scheduled for Tuesday, marks a major shift in US policy under President Donald Trump, who has taken steps to re-engage with Moscow.

The talks could pave the way for a direct meeting between Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The move has unsettled Kyiv and its European allies, who fear being sidelined in negotiations that could favor Russia.

🇷🇺🇺🇸 The meeting between US and Russian officials without Ukraine represents a shift from the international isolation imposed on #Russia since the start of its war on #Ukraine 🇺🇦

Today’s talks could pave the way for a possible summit between #Trump and #Putin.

📷 AP pic.twitter.com/EystSNOGez

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) February 18, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy insisted that no deal would be accepted without Ukraine’s participation, while the EU has also pushed for a role in the process.

Despite US assurances that Ukraine will be involved in any final settlement, Russia has made it clear that it will not give up any occupied territory.

The talks will focus on restoring US-Russia relations, potential diplomatic solutions for Ukraine, and other global security concerns.

Zelenskyy says he will NOT ACCEPT any peace deal.

Turn off the financial faucet and he’ll be back to dancing on the pole for tips.
pic.twitter.com/nskGrJHeFt

— Chad Prather (@WatchChad) February 16, 2025

Meanwhile, Trump’s special envoy for Russia and Ukraine is set to visit Kyiv for further discussions.

DR Congo Slams UN for Ignoring Rebel Takeover

The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has strongly criticized the UN Security Council for its lack of action following the capture of Bukavu by the M23 rebel group.

In a letter to the Security Council, DRC’s UN ambassador Zenon Mukongo Ngay expressed frustration over the body’s failure to respond decisively to the crisis, accusing it of allowing Rwandan forces and M23 militants to continue their occupation of Congolese territory.

M23 fighters, backed by Rwandan soldiers, had already taken control of Goma, the capital of North Kivu, before advancing into South Kivu and seizing Bukavu.

The DRC is calling for an emergency Security Council meeting to address the situation and demand immediate action.

Ambassadeur de la #RDC auprès des Nations unies, Zenon Mukongo Ngay : “Mon gouvernement est indigné que le Conseil de sécurité, paralysé par une maladie inconnue, n’ait pas été en mesure de prendre une décision malgré la gravité de la situation” pic.twitter.com/SJI3E4V2rd

— Alwihda Info (@alwihdainfo) February 18, 2025

A French-led draft resolution, in progress since January, seeks to halt M23’s advance, push for the withdrawal of Rwandan forces, encourage diplomatic talks between DRC and Rwanda, and impose sanctions on M23 leaders and their external supporters.

However, the lack of urgency from the Security Council has only intensified frustrations in Kinshasa.

Trawlers, Not Saboteurs, Are Breaking the Web

Recent concerns over undersea cable sabotage in the Baltic Sea have focused on suspected Russian hybrid warfare tactics, but the latest UN reports that fishing trawlers are the main culprits behind cable damage.

Tomas Lamanauskas, deputy head of the UN’s International Telecommunications Union (ITU), highlights in a recent interview the critical role of submarine cables, which carry 99 percent of global internet traffic.

Fishing trawlers, not sabotage, behind most undersea cable damage: UN https://t.co/VwW6Y4SVBN

— Digital Journal (@digitaljournal) February 18, 2025

With over 1.4 million kilometers of fiber optic cables on the ocean floor, damage—whether from natural causes, aging, or human activities—poses significant risks to global connectivity.

Despite media focus on sabotage, fishing and anchoring account for 80 percent of all recorded cable damage.

Given the increasing importance of this infrastructure, the UN is calling for stronger international cooperation, faster repair mechanisms, better cable protection, and stricter maritime “cohabitation rules.”

A working group of experts will convene later this month to address these challenges.

US Airstrike Takes Out Al-Qaeda-Linked Leader

The US military announced that a precision airstrike in northwest Syria killed a senior finance and logistics official from Hurras al-Din (HaD), an Al-Qaeda affiliate.

The strike, carried out by US Central Command (CENTCOM) on Saturday, aimed to disrupt terrorist activities targeting civilians and military personnel.

While CENTCOM did not name the individual, this marks the second such strike in recent weeks.

CENTCOM Forces Kill Senior Operative of Al-Qaeda affiliate Hurras al-Din

On Fed. 15, U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) Forces conducted a precision airstrike in Northwest Syria targeting and killing a senior finance and logistics official in the terrorist organization Hurras al-Din… pic.twitter.com/MTsJ5TbIe1

— U.S. Central Command (@CENTCOM) February 16, 2025

On January 30, another key HaD operative, Muhammad Salah al-Zabir, was also killed in a US airstrike.

Hurras al-Din, founded in 2018 and publicly aligning with Al-Qaeda in 2019, recently announced its dissolution.

The US has designated it a terrorist group and has offered financial rewards for information on its members.

CENTCOM reaffirmed its commitment to targeting terrorists who threaten the US and its allies.

China Condemns US for Taiwan Policy Shift

China has condemned the United States for removing a key reference to Taiwan’s status from a State Department fact sheet, urging Washington to “correct its mistakes.”

The deleted line, which stated, “We do not support Taiwan independence,” sparked praise from Taipei but angered Beijing, which sees Taiwan as part of its territory.

Beijing’s Taiwan Affairs Office warned that the change sent the wrong signal to separatist forces and threatened stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Despite not diplomatically recognizing Taiwan, the US remains its main security backer, further complicating tense US-China relations.

Meanwhile, the return of Donald Trump has added uncertainty to US-Taiwan ties. His transactional approach has unsettled Taiwanese leaders, as he has suggested Taiwan should pay for US protection and blamed it for issues in the American chip industry.

Von der Leyen Warns, Europe Ramps Up Defense Plans

European leaders held an emergency meeting in Paris to respond to a major shift in US policy on the war in Ukraine.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen warned that the continent’s security is at a critical juncture, stressing the need for immediate defense measures.

The meeting was prompted by US President Donald Trump’s unexpected diplomatic move to engage with Russia in efforts to end the war, catching European allies off guard.

European Council President Antonio Costa emphasized that this meeting marks the start of an ongoing process to shape Europe’s security strategy.

With uncertainty over the US role, Europe is working on long-term strategies to ensure stability in Ukraine, with Britain even considering deploying peacekeepers.

The high-level meeting included leaders from major EU nations, as well as representatives from NATO and the European Union.

Sources: Bloomberg, News Agencies, Reuters