SOFREP Daily: Israel Begins Troop Pullback from South Lebanon, North Korea Unveils Hypersonic Missile to Deter Pacific Threats

Good morning! It’s Tuesday, January 7, 2025, and we’re back with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.

Israel Begins Troop Pullback from South Lebanon Under UN Ceasefire Deal

The United States envoy Amos Hochstein shared on Monday that Israeli forces have started pulling back from Naqura, a border town in south Lebanon, as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hezbollah.

This is the second withdrawal since the truce kicked in on November 27, with UN peacekeepers and Lebanon’s prime minister previously pushing for quicker action from Israel.

The ceasefire terms require the Lebanese army to take over the south alongside UN peacekeepers, while Hezbollah must move its forces north of the Litani River and dismantle military infrastructure near the border.

“Withdrawals will continue until all Israeli forces are out of Lebanon completely,” says US envoy Amos Hochstein in Beirut.#Israel #Lebanon #Hezbollah

Read more: https://t.co/bsYGQdIbcG pic.twitter.com/pnatAPx236

— Al Arabiya English (@AlArabiya_Eng) January 7, 2025

While progress is being made, tensions remain, with Israel accusing Hezbollah of not fully withdrawing as agreed, and Hezbollah pointing fingers at Israel for violations.

Hochstein, during his visit to Lebanon, also emphasized the need for political unity, especially with a presidential election looming after two years without a head of state. He called it a crucial time for Lebanon to focus on rebuilding its economy and finding common ground for the country’s future.

Israel Targets Militants in Overnight West Bank Raids

The Israeli military carried out major raids in the West Bank overnight, killing three Palestinians it identified as militants and arresting over 20 others.

Two were killed in an airstrike after allegedly firing on troops near Tamun, while a third died in close combat in Taluza, where an Israeli soldier was also severely wounded.

Hamas confirmed that one of its commanders, Jaafar Dababsah, was among those killed.

Israeli special forces assassinated freed Palestinian prisoner Jaafar Dababsah in front of his home in Wadi Al-Badhan in northern the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, this morning. pic.twitter.com/i0LiEpJnOO

— Al-Jarmaq News (@Aljarmaqnetnews) January 7, 2025

The raids came a day after a deadly attack where gunmen shot and killed three Israelis on a bus in the West Bank.

While Israel said the operations weren’t directly linked to the shooting, they are part of a broader crackdown on militants amid ongoing tensions.

Clashes have escalated in the past 15 months during the Israel-Hamas conflict, with frequent Israeli raids and retaliatory attacks by Palestinians.

Sudanese Army Hits Khartoum Market, 10 Civilians Dead

A Sunday airstrike by the Sudanese Army on a market in southern Khartoum left ten civilians dead and over 30 injured, according to volunteer rescue workers.

This marks the third such attack in less than a month in the area.

Many of the victims suffered severe burns, with some in critical condition at Bashair Hospital.

10 civilians died & 30+ were injured, including 5 with serious burns, due to an airstrike at Sahraj Station, Khartoum, according to the Southern Belt Emergency Room. The aid group said this is the 3rd time the area was targeted. Geolocation of attack site:
📍15.492976, 32.565114 pic.twitter.com/Y12SpHLaVK

— Sudan War Monitor (@sudanwarmonitor) January 7, 2025

The ongoing conflict between Sudan’s Army and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has devastated the country since April 2023, with tens of thousands killed and millions displaced.

In Khartoum alone, violence has claimed over 26,000 lives, turning entire neighborhoods into battlegrounds.

Despite controlling the skies, its Army has struggled to regain control of the capital, while both sides face accusations of targeting civilians in the crossfire.

Turkey Eyes Kurdish Forces as Threat, Not Allies

Turkey’s Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan made it clear on Monday that the Syrian Kurdish fighters, known as the YPG, are living on borrowed time.

Speaking at a press conference, Fidan said it’s “only a matter of time” before the group, which Turkey links to its domestic enemy, the PKK, is eliminated.

While the US sees the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) as a key partner in keeping ISIS in check, Turkey views them as a terrorist threat.

Fidan also warned Western countries against supporting the YPG, accusing them of using ISIS as a pretext to bolster Kurdish groups in Syria.

Meanwhile, discussions about integrating the SDF into Syria’s national Army surfaced after comments from Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa.

Observers worry that as the region grapples with shifting power dynamics, space could open up for ISIS to regroup.

Fidan emphasized Turkey’s commitment to preventing that, calling ISIS “a poison for Muslim societies” and stressing the importance of stopping its resurgence.

North Korea Unveils Hypersonic Missile to Deter Pacific Threats

North Korea’s leader, Kim Jong Un, announced that a new hypersonic missile system tested on Monday would bolster the country’s defense and keep rivals in the Pacific at bay.

According to state media KCNA, the missile flew 1,500 kilometers (930 miles) at 12 times the speed of sound, outperforming South Korea’s reported estimate.

Kim called the missile a self-defense tool, emphasizing its ability to punch through defensive barriers and deliver a serious military strike.

North Korean state media released footage of its latest missile test on Tuesday, a day after South Korea detected it. Pyongyang said it tested a hypersonic intermediate-range missile designed to strike remote targets in the Pacific. pic.twitter.com/METhKRajFr

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) January 7, 2025

The test coincided with a visit to South Korea by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, who, alongside his South Korean counterpart, condemned the launch.

Both highlighted the need for stronger ties with Japan to counter regional threats.

This was North Korea’s first launch since US President-elect Donald Trump’s victory and follows November’s test of an advanced solid-fuel intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM).

Russia Captures Kurakhove as Ukraine Fights Back in Kursk

Russia claimed Monday to have captured the town of Kurakhove and the nearby village of Dachenske in eastern Ukraine, which it says will accelerate its advance in the Donetsk region.

However, Ukrainian forces are still actively fighting in Kurakhove, according to Kyiv, and reports suggest the town is not fully under Russian control.

This comes as Ukraine continues its offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, where heavy losses have been reported on both sides.

Russian forces advanced in the Lyman, Toretsk, and Pokrovsk directions, and the Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) claimed that Russian forces seized Kurakhove.

More key takeaways ⬇️(1/4) https://t.co/fi3IHkkel5 pic.twitter.com/HgpstCXL83

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 7, 2025

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy highlighted Moscow’s significant casualties in Kursk, claiming nearly 15,000 of the 38,000 Russian losses in the area are “irreversible.” Meanwhile, Russia insists it has destroyed Ukraine’s main forces near Berdin.

Both sides appear to be jockeying for better battlefield positions ahead of US President-elect Donald Trump taking office later this month, as his administration could reshape the conflict’s trajectory.

The Kursk offensive, bolstered by Western support for Kyiv, has seen fierce fighting and significant casualties, including reports of North Korean troops supporting Russian forces.

4/ Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky stated in an interview published on January 5 that 3,800 North Korean personnel have been killed and wounded in Kursk Oblast. https://t.co/9Ds0EFHeG0 pic.twitter.com/XN7AzxjRkW

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) January 7, 2025

With international pressure mounting, Ukraine hopes its gains in Kursk can serve as leverage in potential peace talks.

India Tackles Drone Threats with Homegrown Ammo Plan

India is stepping up its game against aerial threats by planning to produce its own ammo for two Russian-made anti-aircraft guns.

Its Ministry of Defense has reportedly invited local companies, issuing a request for information (RFI) earlier this month, to design 23mm anti-drone rounds for the Zu-23mm and Schilka systems.

🇮🇳 Indian Army issues RFI for procurement of 23mm anti-drone ammunition from Indian industry

The ammunition should have proximity or timed fuses and will be used from Zu-23-2 & Schilka systems. #IADN pic.twitter.com/byfOo7Fph4

— News IADN (@NewsIADN) January 2, 2025

These systems, known for their rapid-fire, need better ammunition with proximity fuses to handle fast-moving drones effectively.

This move comes as drones play an increasingly crucial role in modern warfare, with examples from the Ukraine war and growing investments by neighboring rivals like China and Pakistan.

India already has tools like laser-guided jammers and anti-drone shields like “Indrajaal,” but this initiative aims to bolster its self-reliance and readiness against emerging threats.

Sources: News Agencies