Evening Brief: Iran reopens airspace to foreign flights, Senior Russian Navy General killed in combat near Ukrainian border

Tonight’s Evening Brief cuts through another turbulent day: Hamas weighs a ceasefire as Gaza’s death toll surges, Russia unleashes its biggest aerial assault on Kyiv, and Washington pushes sweeping tax cuts through Congress. From the front lines in Ukraine to the halls of power in D.C., here’s what you need to know heading into the weekend.

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Hamas Weighs US-Backed Ceasefire Proposal as Gaza Death Toll Rises

Hamas leaders are reviewing what US President Donald Trump has called a “final proposal” for a 60-day Gaza ceasefire, with a response expected within hours, according to two sources from the group.

Hamas is demanding guarantees that negotiations to permanently end the war will occur during the truce and be extended if necessary.

The group also wants the United Nations to oversee aid delivery and prevent Israel from leveraging humanitarian supplies.

Hamas is seeking guarantees that the latest US ceasefire proposal would lead to end of Gaza war – Reuters, citing source close to group pic.twitter.com/tHMeNICLL9

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) July 3, 2025

Trump said Israel has already agreed to the ceasefire terms. However, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has not publicly confirmed this and insists Hamas must be disarmed—something the group refuses.

Trump, set to meet Netanyahu in Washington on Monday, has pledged to be “very firm” about the need for a quick ceasefire to free the 20 remaining hostages believed held by Hamas.

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 138 Palestinians in Gaza over the past 24 hours, including 15 in a tent camp near Khan Younis. The Israeli Defense Forces reported that it struck 100 targets and dismantled Hamas outposts.

Palestinian civilians held funerals Friday, mourning those killed in the ongoing war that has left over 57,000 dead, most of them civilians, and displaced millions.

The Gaza Health Ministry says 138 killed Palestinians have been brought to hospitals in the past 24 hours while another 452 wounded people sought medical care.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/L2CazZ6iYX pic.twitter.com/zQPbOcIZXc

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) July 4, 2025

The war began after Hamas’s October 7, 2023, surprise attack that killed around 1,200 Israelis and took 251 hostages. Nearly two years of Israeli retaliation has left Gaza in ruins, with Hamas now controlling only parts of the territory.

Peace efforts remain fragile, but US pressure and public outcry continue to mount.

Iran Reopens Airspace to Foreign Flights Following Ceasefire with Israel

Iran’s Imam Khomeini International Airport received its first foreign flight—a Flydubai jet from the United Arab Emirates (UAE)—on Wednesday, marking the end of a 20-day suspension of international air travel, Iranian media reported Friday.

Mehdi Ramezani, spokesperson for Iran’s Civil Aviation Organization, called the flight a “new phase of stability” for the country’s aviation sector, citing improved security and diplomatic coordination following recent hostilities with Israel.

A Flydubai flight from the United Arab Emirates landed at Imam Khomeini International Airport on Friday ⬇️https://t.co/Ma0duBgvwn

— The New Arab (@The_NewArab) July 4, 2025

International flights will resume gradually in coordination with government authorities, Ramezani said, aiming to restore critical air links and meet public travel needs.

The resumption follows a US-brokered ceasefire between Iran and Israel after a 12-day conflict in which Israel conducted widespread airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear infrastructure, and Iran responded with missile attacks.

The US played a decisive role by launching bunker-buster strikes on three Iranian nuclear sites to help bring the conflict to a halt.

UN Report: Rwanda Backed M23 Rebel Offensive in Congo to Secure Mineral Access

A confidential United Nations report has accused Rwanda of providing “critical” military support to the M23 rebel group’s recent offensive in eastern Congo, enabling the seizure of strategic cities Goma and Bukavu.

According to the report, Kigali’s backing—allegedly including armed drones, jamming systems, and air defense assets—aimed to control Congolese territory and exploit its vast natural resources.

The report details how Rwanda facilitated the smuggling of coltan from the M23-controlled Rubaya mine at “unprecedented levels,” blending it with domestically sourced material before export.

Coltan yields tantalum and niobium, critical minerals used in smartphones, jet engines, GPS systems, and missile components. Congo accounted for 40% of global coltan production in 2023.

Boss Mining Solution Limited, a Rwandan firm, reportedly purchased some of the smuggled minerals. The Rwandan Development Board claimed high domestic production to justify exports, though these figures were disputed by national statistics and independent studies.

Exclusive: Rwanda has exercised command and control over M23 rebels during their advance in eastern Congo, gaining political influence and access to mineral-rich territory, according to a confidential report by a group of United Nations experts https://t.co/ShxJOt2kyt

— Reuters (@Reuters) July 2, 2025

Despite a recent US-brokered peace agreement signed by Rwanda and Congo, experts doubt its immediate impact as M23—part of the Congo River Alliance—claims the deal does not apply to it. The conflict has displaced over 7 million people, with 100,000 fleeing this year alone.

The UN report accuses both sides of human rights abuses. Rwanda and M23 allegedly engaged in systematic repression, including extrajudicial killings, torture, and hospital raids. Meanwhile, retreating Congolese forces and allied militias were accused of looting, sexual violence, and murder.

Rwanda has denied all allegations, calling the UN findings outdated and inaccurate.

House Passes Trump’s Sweeping Tax and Spending Cuts Bill Before July 4 Deadline

The House has passed an 887-page tax and spending package that President Donald Trump calls “beautiful,” delivering it to his desk one day before the July 4 deadline he set.

The bill includes tax cuts, deep reductions to Medicaid and renewable energy programs, increased military spending, and funding for deportations. It also raises the debt ceiling by $5 trillion, avoiding a potential US default.

According to the Congressional Budget Office, the bill would leave 11.8 million more Americans uninsured by 2034 and cut 3 million off from Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. Despite dissent from a few Republicans, Trump’s pressure campaign ensured party unity, with only two GOP House members and three GOP senators voting against the measure.

#BREAKING U.S. House of Representatives PASSES GOP Tax & Spending Cuts Bill, 218-214. pic.twitter.com/OJQBngteZl

— CSPAN (@cspan) July 3, 2025

The bill moved swiftly due to Republican control of the White House and both chambers of Congress. Speaker Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune negotiated internal differences and secured enough votes by tailoring the bill to skeptical members’ priorities, such as state-specific carve-outs for Medicaid and tax deductions.

Democrats opposed the legislation unanimously, warning of dire consequences for public health and economic stability.

With no power to stop the bill, they delayed proceedings with lengthy speeches and procedural tactics. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer said the bill “will haunt” Republicans politically, predicting major electoral backlash in the midterms.

.@SpeakerJohnson signs GOP Tax & Spending Cuts Bill.

Goes now to the president. pic.twitter.com/xuaSF5WWzE

— CSPAN (@cspan) July 3, 2025

Ultimately, even GOP lawmakers who initially opposed the bill voted in favor after concessions. There was no last-minute defection akin to Sen. John McCain’s 2017 Obamacare vote. Sen. Lisa Murkowski, the last undecided Republican, backed the measure after winning provisions for Alaska, calling the decision “agonizing.”

Senior Russian Navy General Killed in Combat Near Ukrainian Border

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, deputy commander of the Russian Navy, was killed during combat operations in Russia’s Kursk region on July 2, 2025, according to the Russian defense ministry.

At 42, Gudkov is one of the most senior Russian military officers to die since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022.

Gudkov, a career officer since 2000 and former commander of the 155th Guards Naval Infantry Brigade of the Pacific Fleet, was awarded the title “Hero of the Russian Federation” by President Vladimir Putin in 2023. Officials say he routinely visited front-line positions despite his high-ranking status.

BREAKING:

Major General Mikhail Gudkov, the Deputy Commander-in-Chief of the Russian Navy, has been killed in a Ukrainian missile strike.

He was killed in a strike on a command center in Russia’s Kursk region along with 10 other high-ranking Russian officers. pic.twitter.com/NmW3XBk97l

— Visegrád 24 (@visegrad24) July 3, 2025

The Kursk region, which borders Ukraine, remains contested. Ukrainian forces briefly seized large parts of the area during a surprise offensive last year. Although Moscow claimed to have retaken the region in April, skirmishes have continued.

Russian officials praised Gudkov for his leadership and frontline presence at the time of his death.

Russia Launches Largest Air Assault of War on Kyiv; Trump, Zelenskyy Discuss Defense Cooperation

Russia launched its largest aerial assault on Kyiv since the war began in 2022, firing 550 drones and missiles in a seven-hour overnight bombardment that killed one person and injured at least 26, including a child.

Ukrainian air defenses intercepted 270 of the threats, while 208 others were lost from radar and presumed jammed. The attack caused widespread destruction across Kyiv and five other regions, with debris striking at least 33 locations.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy condemned the assault as a “deliberate act of terror” and confirmed a phone call with US President Donald Trump to discuss enhanced air defense cooperation, joint weapons production, particularly drone technology, and further diplomatic coordination.

Ukraine continues to face a delay in US military aid shipments, including critical air defense systems.

I had a very important and fruitful conversation with @POTUS. I congratulated President Trump and the entire American people on the US Independence Day.

We – in Ukraine – are grateful for all the support provided. It helps us protect lives, safeguard our freedom and… pic.twitter.com/kQ3Byipvd2

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) July 4, 2025

The airstrike followed Trump’s separate call with Russian President Vladimir Putin. Trump expressed disappointment afterward, stating that Putin showed no willingness to end the war.

The Kremlin reiterated its intent to pursue military goals in Ukraine and blamed NATO expansion for the conflict.

Kyiv, the primary target, saw damage in half of its districts. Emergency crews removed over 300 tons of rubble, and several ambulances were hit during response efforts. Ukraine’s economy and foreign ministers described the attack as one of the worst since the invasion, with families seeking shelter in metro stations and basements.

Ukraine’s Western allies continue to provide military aid to Ukraine, but the United States remains the only Ukrainian partner that can provide certain critical weapons systems, especially air defenses, at scale and quickly. ⬇️ https://t.co/7S0Dt4QLlo pic.twitter.com/RgcS4J9Reh

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) July 4, 2025

The strike occurred amid a broader Russian offensive along the 1,000-kilometer (620-mile) front line and a record month of drone and missile attacks across Ukraine.

A prisoner exchange also took place Friday, with Ukrainian forces recovering wounded and long-detained soldiers from Russian captivity.

Peace negotiations remain stalled.

Germany Seeks US Patriot Systems for Ukraine in Call with Trump Amid Aid Delays

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz urged US President Donald Trump to support arms deliveries to Ukraine—especially Patriot air defense systems—during a phone call Thursday, according to a government spokesperson.

The call comes as the Pentagon pauses shipments of key military equipment, including 30 Patriot missiles, citing low stockpiles.

Germany, already the second-largest donor to Ukraine after the US, is in talks to purchase additional Patriot systems from US sources and redirect them to Kyiv.

German Defense Minister Boris Pistorius is also pursuing more systems through the Ramstein contact group and plans to travel to Washington this month for direct talks with his US counterpart.

BILD reports, citing government circles, that the German government is currently trying to obtain approval from the US government for the procurement of two MIM-104 Patriot fire units, which Germany would finance for #Ukraine.

According to BILD information, the Ukrainian… pic.twitter.com/O2lGOQB54K

— German Aid to Ukraine (@deaidua) July 3, 2025

The push follows Russia’s largest drone attack on Kyiv to date, which injured at least 23 civilians. Ukraine urgently needs Patriot systems to intercept high-speed ballistic threats, a point reinforced by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his own call with Trump on Friday.

Germany has already transferred three US-made Patriot systems to Ukraine and has committed €38 billion ($43 billion) in military aid. A new €25 billion tank order is reportedly underway to strengthen NATO forces, according to Bloomberg, though the German defense ministry has not confirmed it.

Officials say Europe may be able to sustain Ukraine’s defense without US support, but the burden would be severe.

Merz’s outreach to Trump signals Berlin’s intent to fill capability gaps and maintain transatlantic cooperation as US policy toward Ukraine remains uncertain.

Pakistani Forces Kill 30 Taliban Militants Crossing from Afghanistan

Pakistani security forces killed 30 Pakistani Taliban militants attempting to infiltrate from Afghanistan into North Waziristan, the military announced Friday.

Troops seized weapons, ammunition, and explosives during the operation, though officials did not disclose whether a gunfight occurred.

The military accused India of backing the militants and urged the Afghan Taliban government to stop allowing its territory to be used by “foreign proxies” against Pakistan.

#UPDATE Pakistan’s army said Friday it had killed 30 militants attempting to cross the border from Afghanistan over the last three days, after 16 soldiers were killed in a suicide attack in the same border region last week.

— AFP News Agency (@AFP) July 4, 2025

India has not responded, but Islamabad has repeatedly accused New Delhi of supporting militant groups like the Pakistani Taliban and Baloch Liberation Army, claims that have escalated since an April shooting in Indian-controlled Kashmir.

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the military’s success.

In April, Pakistani forces killed 54 insurgents in the same border region. Militant attacks have surged in recent months, largely attributed to the Pakistani Taliban, who maintain close ties with the Afghan Taliban and have operated from Afghan territory since the Taliban’s 2021 return to power.

Sources: News Agencies