SOFREP Daily: US Federal Agents Sweep Aurora in Immigration Raid, South Korea Blocks DeepSeek AI Over Security Concerns, Iran Converts Cargo Ship into Drone-Launching Warship

Good morning! It’s Wednesday, February 5, 2025, and we’re back with your midweek briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.

Trump Proposes US Takeover of Gaza, Faces Global Backlash

US President Donald Trump’s proposal for the US to “take over” Gaza and permanently relocate its Palestinian residents was swiftly rejected worldwide, drawing backlash from US allies, adversaries, and humanitarian organizations.

The idea—announced during a White House press conference with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Tuesday—involved the US “owning” Gaza, clearing debris, and turning it into the “Riviera of the Middle East.”

The reaction was immediate and overwhelmingly negative.

Egypt, Jordan, and Saudi Arabia flatly rejected any forced displacement of Palestinians, with Riyadh reaffirming its commitment to a Palestinian state.

European leaders, including those from Germany, Ireland, and the UK, dismissed the plan, while Turkey and China called it “absurd” and “a violation of international law.”

Even within the US, Democratic lawmakers slammed Trump’s remarks, with Senator Chris Coons calling them “insane and dangerous.”

Critics argue that Trump’s proposal echoes past impractical ideas, like his suggested purchase of Greenland or annexation of Canada.

Meanwhile, Hamas condemned the plan, calling it a recipe for chaos, while Palestinian leaders urged the UN to intervene.

With Israel’s war in Gaza ongoing, Trump’s idea is unlikely to gain traction, but it has fueled global concerns over US foreign policy stability.

US Federal Agents Sweep Aurora in Immigration Raid

US Federal agents raided apartment complexes in Aurora, Colorado, on Wednesday in a large-scale operation targeting illegal immigrants and alleged gang members of Tren de Aragua, a Venezuelan gang with a growing presence across the Americas.

However, witnesses reported that agents were knocking on all doors and detaining anyone suspected of being in the US illegally, raising concerns that the raids were broader than just gang enforcement.

The operation was carried out by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives (ATF), and US Marshals, but officials did not confirm how many people were detained.

Some media outlets reported seeing handcuffed individuals loaded onto buses.

Aurora, a city with a large migrant population, was a key stop in Trump’s campaign, where he vowed to launch “Operation Aurora” to crack down on gang members.

Since taking office, Trump has aggressively ramped up immigration enforcement, with officials emphasizing that mass deportations are coming.

The raids sparked backlash from local officials and immigrant advocacy groups.

Denver’s mayor and Colorado’s governor distanced themselves from the operation, while activists accused the federal government of instilling fear in immigrant communities, especially since some families were allegedly prevented from leaving their homes.

Despite the criticism, ICE Acting Director Caleb Vitello defended the operation, saying, “as long as there are bad guys in the streets, we’re going to be out here arresting them.”

Germany Turns Historic Train Plant into Military Hub

A historic train factory in Goerlitz, Germany, is under major transformation, but instead of rolling out train carriages, it will soon be producing tanks and military vehicles.

Defense giant KNDS sealed a deal Wednesday to take over the plant, marking another step in Germany’s push to ramp up defense production amid ongoing security concerns.

At the signing ceremony, Chancellor Olaf Scholz framed the move as critical for national security, pointing to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine as proof that Europe needs stronger defense capabilities.

Nach 175 Jahren endet der Waggonbau in Görlitz. Das schmerzt. Aber wir schreiben die Industriegeschichte der Stadt fort: mit guten Arbeitsplätzen bei KNDS. Hier arbeiten Fachleute, die überall gesucht werden. Dank ihres Könnens beginnt im bisherigen Alstom-Werk ein neues Kapitel. pic.twitter.com/htzMVLf2l2

— Bundeskanzler Olaf Scholz (@Bundeskanzler) February 5, 2025

The plant, which has been building trains for over 175 years, will start churning out parts for Leopard 2 tanks, Puma infantry fighting vehicles, and Boxer armored units by next year.

KNDS will retain about half of the factory’s 700 employees, while offering new positions at other production sites for a handful of others. This shift is part of a bigger trend in Germany, where civilian factories are being converted into military production sites.

Defense contractor Rheinmetall recently did something similar, hiring workers from an auto plant, and Volkswagen factories have also been eyed for potential defense projects.

South Korea Blocks DeepSeek AI Over Security Concerns

South Korea has blocked employee access to Chinese artificial intelligence (AI) startup DeepSeek over security concerns, joining a growing list of countries restricting the platform.

On Tuesday, Seoul urged caution when using generative AI services, including ChatGPT and DeepSeek, and several major organizations—including Korea Hydro and Nuclear Power, the defense ministry, and the foreign ministry—have followed suit.

DeepSeek has been under scrutiny worldwide for its privacy policies and potential security risks.

Australia and Taiwan recently banned the AI platform on government devices, while Italy’s data regulator ordered it to be blocked back in January.

Other governments, including the US and India, are also reviewing the implications of using DeepSeek.

South Korean tech companies are now tightening AI security policies, with Kakao Corp, SK Hynix, and Naver restricting access to generative AI tools that store data externally.

Meanwhile, South Korea’s privacy watchdog plans to question DeepSeek on how it manages user data, adding to the mounting global scrutiny surrounding the Chinese AI firm.

Iran Converts Cargo Ship into Drone-Launching Warship

Iran’s Revolutionary Guards just added a serious upgrade to their naval fleet—a converted commercial ship that can launch drones and helicopters at sea.

The newly unveiled Shahid Beheshti is a former container vessel now fitted with a 590-foot (180-meter) runway, fast-attack boats, unmanned submarines, and anti-ship cruise missiles.

According to Iranian Navy Commander Alireza Tangsiri Thursday, this floating drone and helicopter platform strengthens Iran’s defense capabilities in distant waters, particularly as tensions rise with Israel and the US under President Donald Trump.

The warship can operate for up to a year without refueling and is equipped to deploy larger drones, including the Qaher, a scaled-down drone version of a local fighter jet.

Iran’s Drone Carrier Warship Joins IRGC Navy in Persian Gulfhttps://t.co/29g01AZ6kP pic.twitter.com/KnQ8jtzQCv

— Fars News Agency (@EnglishFars) February 6, 2025

This reveal comes amid Iran’s months-long military exercises and follows the recent addition of a signals intelligence ship to Iran’s conventional navy.

With increasing maritime presence, Iran is clearly signaling its growing ambitions on the high seas.

North Korean Missiles Hit Ukraine with Deadly Accuracy: Reports

North Korean ballistic missiles used by Russia in Ukraine are getting alarmingly more accurate, raising concerns about Pyongyang’s growing weapons capabilities.

According to Ukrainian military sources, recent North Korean missiles have hit within 50-100 meters of their targets—a major improvement compared to earlier launches, which had an accuracy of 1-3 kilometers, Reuters reported on Thursday.

Exclusive: North Korean ballistic missiles fired at Ukraine by Russian forces since late December have been far more precise than salvos of the weapons launched over the past year https://t.co/Lu1iMij6mA

— Reuters (@Reuters) February 6, 2025

Experts believe North Korea is using Ukraine as a testing ground to refine its missile tech, likely with Russian assistance.

While Moscow and Pyongyang deny any arms deals, intelligence reports suggest Russia has received missiles, artillery shells, and even North Korean troops in exchange for military tech and financial support.

With a larger payload and longer range than Russia’s Iskander-M missiles, the K-23 and K-24 missiles now pose a growing threat to South Korea, Japan, and even US forces in the region.

Military analysts warn that this “customer feedback loop” between Russia and North Korea could fuel further weapons advancements, making Pyongyang’s arsenal deadlier than ever.

Washington, Seoul, and other global powers are now watching closely as North Korea’s once-questionable missiles prove their battlefield effectiveness.

NEW: Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky continues to demonstrate his willingness to negotiate with Russia from a principled position that preserves Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity in the long run.

Zelensky reiterated that the Ukrainian Constitution bans… pic.twitter.com/yZAw9Vh8aN

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) February 6, 2025

Sources: News Agencies, Reuters