SOFREP Daily: Hamas Frees Eight Hostages in Latest Ceasefire Deal, Passenger Plane Collides with Army Helicopter Near DC, NATO Boosts Baltic Patrols to Protect Undersea Cables

Good morning! It’s Thursday, January 30, 2025, and we’re back with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.

Hamas Frees Eight Hostages in Latest Ceasefire Deal

Hamas released the first of eight hostages on Thursday, including 20-year-old Israeli soldier Agam Berger, as part of the ongoing ceasefire deal with Israel.

The truce, which aims to end the deadliest Israel-Hamas war to date, remains in place despite earlier disputes over the timing of releases.

Israel is expected to free 110 Palestinian prisoners in return, including high-profile figures like former militant leader Zakaria Zubeidi.

As people cautiously return to northern Gaza, many find only rubble where their homes once stood.

Hamas Is Releasing 8 Israeli & Thai Hostages in Gaza Cease-Fire 1/30/2025 3:13 AM PDT pic.twitter.com/jJusXXQsvQ

— Boaz Guttman בועז גוטמן (@boazgu1) January 30, 2025

The deal calls for Hamas to release a total of 33 Israeli hostages in exchange for nearly 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.

While the ceasefire holds for now, tensions remain high—Israel insists on Hamas’ destruction, while Hamas refuses to release more hostages without a full Israeli withdrawal.

If no new agreement is reached, the war could resume by early March.

Philippines, New Zealand Negotiate Troop Agreement

The Philippines and New Zealand are working on a defense agreement that would allow their troops to operate on each other’s soil, a move aimed at strengthening military ties as tensions with China in the South China Sea continue to rise.

Officials from both countries kicked off negotiations in Manila Wednesday, marking the first step toward a Status of Visiting Forces Agreement (VFA)—a legal framework that would enable joint training and military exercises.

🇵🇭🇳🇿 A step closer to a historic moment! The Philippines and New Zealand kicked off talks for a Visiting Forces Agreement in Manila. The 🇳🇿 Embassy, led by Amb. Catherine McIntosh, proudly joined this significant move to deepen defence ties and strengthen cooperation. 🌏✨ pic.twitter.com/4yhpikkCf3

— New Zealand Embassy in Manila (@NZinManila) January 29, 2025

This agreement follows a pattern for the Philippines, which recently ratified a similar deal with Japan and already has defense pacts with the US, Australia, and ongoing talks with France.

As Beijing continues to assert its expansive territorial claims in the South China Sea—despite an international ruling against it—the Philippines is clearly expanding its network of security partners to counter the growing pressure.

Israeli Forces Kill Two in Ongoing West Bank Raids

Israeli forces killed two Palestinians in overnight raids in the occupied West Bank as their military offensive in Jenin entered its eighth day.

One of the men, 25-year-old Osama Abu al-Hija, was reportedly killed Wednesday by an Israeli airstrike, while 23-year-old Ayman Naji was shot in Tulkarem.

Israel’s military says it has eliminated over 15 militants and arrested 40 individuals during the operation, which has forced many residents of Jenin’s refugee camp to flee.

Tulkarem and Jenin have long been strongholds for Palestinian militant groups, which often challenge the authority of the Palestinian Authority.

Violence in the West Bank has surged since the Israel-Hamas war began on October 7, 2023.

According to Palestinian health officials, Israeli forces and settlers have killed at least 863 Palestinians in the region since then, while Israeli authorities report 29 Israeli deaths in Palestinian attacks or military operations.

M23 Rebels Capture Key Parts of DR Congo’s Goma

Fighters from the Rwanda-backed M23 armed group have taken control of most of Goma, a key city in eastern DR Congo, after days of intense clashes.

The group seized the airport and key government buildings, forcing Congolese soldiers to flee as civilians cautiously began emerging from their homes.

Hospitals are overwhelmed, with more than 100 people dead and nearly 1,000 wounded.

The conflict, fueled by regional rivalries and the DRC’s vast mineral wealth, has displaced over 500,000 people this year.

Sky’s Yousra Elbagir reports from Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo, where “hundreds of mercenaries” are sent to Rwanda by Rwandan-backed M23 rebels.#congo #DRCongo #skynews #WorldNews #Rwanda pic.twitter.com/IyXtloM0tV

— Sky News (@SkyNews) January 29, 2025

The UN, US, and EU have urged Rwanda to withdraw, but Kigali denies direct military involvement, claiming its interest is in targeting the FDLR, a group linked to the 1994 genocide.

Meanwhile, anger is boiling over—protesters in Kinshasa attacked embassies, accusing the international community of standing by as the crisis unfolds.

The situation remains volatile, with a crisis meeting between DR Congo’s President Tshisekedi and Rwanda’s Kagame reportedly in the works, though neither side has confirmed their participation.

European Union Plans Retaliation for Hostile Actions in Space

The European Union is considering hitting back with sanctions if hostile actions in space escalate, particularly from Russia.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas warned on Wednesday that the bloc is already facing “hybrid warfare,” with satellite signals being jammed and espionage threats looming.

Kallas pointed to Russia’s past space-related attacks—such as an anti-satellite missile test and a cyberattack ahead of its 2022 invasion of Ukraine—as clear signs that Europe needs to step up its space defenses.

She suggested that the EU should expand its mutual defense clause to include space threats and look at imposing sanctions on those responsible.

When we defend space, we are defending our economies.
The security of our satellites is the security of our societies.

And it is in every EU Member State’s interest that we address the challenges together.

Extract from my speech at the #EuropeanSpaceConf ↓ pic.twitter.com/xj5VEGJ4xk

— Kaja Kallas (@kajakallas) January 29, 2025

She also emphasized the importance of working closely with the US, calling it the EU’s “most important security partner on the ground and in space.”

The renewed focus on space security follows discussions on a potential “European Space Shield” to unify the EU’s efforts in protecting its assets beyond Earth.

Syria Appoints Sharaa as Interim President After Assad’s Fall

Syria’s new leadership has officially appointed Ahmed al-Sharaa as interim president following last month’s dramatic ousting of Bashar al-Assad, its state media reported on Wednesday.

Backed by the rebel alliance led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Sharaa is now tasked with forming a transitional legislature and overseeing the next steps in reshaping the country’s government.

The Assad-era parliament has been dissolved, along with the former regime’s army and security forces, as Syria moves toward a new political structure.

The new authorities have also disbanded all armed groups involved in Assad’s removal, pledging to integrate them into state institutions while building a new security apparatus and military.

Syria’s de facto leader Ahmed al-Sharaa was declared president for a transitional phase, tightening his hold on power less than two months after he led a campaign that toppled Bashar al-Assad https://t.co/Ijz557vTCz pic.twitter.com/BjQ3cfpVPj

— Reuters (@Reuters) January 30, 2025

Sharaa has outlined Syria’s immediate priorities as filling the power vacuum, maintaining stability, and rebuilding state institutions and the economy. However, it could take up to four years before elections are held and three years to draft a new constitution.

While HTS is designated a terrorist organization by several Western countries, it has recently tried to moderate its stance, promising to protect Syria’s minorities.

Meanwhile, Western diplomats have begun engaging with the new leadership, calling for an inclusive transition.

Passenger Plane Collides with Army Helicopter Near D.C., Search Underway

A regional jet carrying 60 passengers and four crew members collided with a US Army Blackhawk helicopter while approaching Ronald Reagan National Airport near Washington on Wednesday night, triggering a massive search-and-rescue effort in the Potomac River.

The cause of the midair crash remains unclear.

The jet had taken off from Wichita, Kansas, and the Blackhawk was on a training flight when the two aircraft collided around 9 p.m. (EST).

Passenger Plane and Army Black Hawk Helicopter Collide Near Reagan National Airport pic.twitter.com/CChFkRtPUu

— ihearts143quotes (@iHearts143Quote) January 30, 2025

Officials have not confirmed any fatalities but struck a serious tone during a press conference.

Rescue teams, including dive squads and helicopters, are scouring the crash site, while all flights at the airport are grounded until at least 11 a.m. Thursday, as the investigation continues.

US to Hold 30,000 Migrants at Guantanamo, Trump Announces

President Donald Trump announced Wednesday his plans to expand a migrant detention facility at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, to hold up to 30,000 people.

The existing facility, separate from the high-security prison for terrorism suspects, has been used in the past to detain migrants intercepted at sea.

Trump says the site will be used for the “worst criminal illegal aliens” whom the US does not trust to be held in their home countries.

The move has drawn sharp criticism.

Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel condemned it as “an act of brutality,” while refugee advocates have long pushed for the Guantanamo migrant facility to be shut down, citing reports of poor conditions and lack of services.

Meanwhile, the administration is also ramping up immigration enforcement, deploying active-duty troops to the US-Mexico border and detaining migrants at Buckley Space Force Base in Colorado.

NATO Boosts Baltic Patrols to Protect Undersea Cables

NATO is ramping up surveillance over the Baltic Sea, deploying warships, drones, and long-range patrol aircraft like France’s Atlantique 2 to monitor suspected sabotage attempts on undersea energy and communication cables.

With over 11 incidents of damaged cables since October 2023, concerns are growing that these disruptions may not be accidental.

🌊⚓NATO Allies Secure the Baltic Sea

Critical infrastructure—submarine cables, pipelines, & wind farms—are vital to our security and connectivity. With #balticsentry , NATO Allies are stepping up to protect these assets from espionage & sabotage in the Baltic Sea.

🇧🇪Belgium… pic.twitter.com/ayFmfkQlu7

— NATO Allied SOF Command (SOFCOM) (@NATO_SOF) January 29, 2025

While some Western intelligence officials suggest poor maintenance and dragged anchors could be to blame, Finnish authorities suspect Russian involvement—pointing to the Eagle S, a tanker allegedly linked to Moscow’s “shadow fleet,” as responsible for severing multiple cables.

NATO’s new “Baltic Sentry” mission aims to deter future threats, ensuring the security of vital undersea infrastructure that powers economies and connects nations.

Sources: News Agencies, Reuters