Morning Brief: South Sudan Army to Disarm Youths as Deadly Cattle Raids Raise, Russia Expands Military Reach in Africa with Major Arms Shipments

Good day! Here’s your SOFREP Morning Brief for Tuesday, June 10, 2025, covering the latest defense and global affairs news, starting with the United Nations accusing Israel of war crimes in Gaza, citing attacks on civilians and cultural sites. Israel deported Greta Thunberg after seizing her Gaza-bound aid ship. South Sudan’s army plans to disarm youths amid deadly cattle raids. Russia launched major drone strikes on Ukraine and expanded its military footprint in Africa. Canada will hit NATO’s defense spending goal early. The Philippines boosted its South China Sea presence to counter China’s maritime aggression.

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UN Commission Accuses Israel of War Crimes, Crimes Against Humanity in Gaza

A United Nations commission on Tuesday accused Israel of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity in Gaza, including the extermination of Palestinians through attacks on schools, religious sites, and cultural institutions.

The UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry stated that Israeli forces “obliterated Gaza’s education system” and destroyed over half of the region’s religious and cultural sites.

The report concluded that Israeli attacks on civilians sheltering in schools and religious sites constitute the crime against humanity of extermination.

It also accused Israel of war crimes such as targeting civilians and willful killings, particularly through strikes on educational facilities.

An independent UN commission says Israeli attacks on schools, religious and cultural sites in Gaza amount to war crimes and the crime against humanity of seeking to exterminate Palestinians.

🔴 LIVE updates: https://t.co/KfGOgnx2yl pic.twitter.com/rXvvMLNY92

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 10, 2025

While the destruction of cultural property was not classified as genocide, the commission noted such actions may indicate genocidal intent. The commission urged Israel to halt its attacks on educational, religious, and cultural sites and to end its occupation of Palestinian territory, including settlement activity.

The findings follow a January 2024 order from the International Court of Justice mandating Israel take steps to prevent incitement to genocide and allow humanitarian aid into Gaza. The report also cited alleged violations by Israel in East Jerusalem and the broader occupied Palestinian territories.

Israel Deports Greta Thunberg After Seizing Gaza-Bound Protest Ship

Israel deported climate activist Greta Thunberg on Tuesday, a day after naval forces intercepted the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen, which she and 11 others were aboard.

Thunberg flew to France and is now returning to Sweden, the Israeli Foreign Ministry confirmed, sharing an image of her on a plane.

The Madleen, organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, aimed to break Israel’s blockade of Gaza and deliver humanitarian aid.

Israeli forces seized the vessel roughly 125 miles off the coast of Gaza and escorted it to the port of Ashdod without incident. Israel defended the move as enforcement of a lawful blockade; rights groups called it a violation of international law.

Legal NGO Adalah said Thunberg, two other activists, and a journalist agreed to deportation. The remaining eight passengers refused and are in detention, with hearings expected within 96 hours.

Among them is French MEP Rima Hassan, a vocal critic of Israeli policies, whose deportation status remains unclear.

Swedish activist Greta Thunberg has been pictured on a plane after Israel’s Foreign Ministry said they had deported her.

Thunberg was one of 12 people on board the Madleen aid ship, which was seized by the military while attempting to breach Israel’s blockade of Gaza. pic.twitter.com/1Oco9YXnRr

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 10, 2025

Amnesty International and Adalah condemned Israel’s actions as illegal, stating the activists posed no threat and sought only to deliver aid.

Israel dismissed the voyage as a “publicity stunt,” noting the aid onboard was minimal.

Israel’s blockade on Gaza, imposed with Egypt since Hamas took control in 2007, has tightened during the current war, fueling a humanitarian crisis.

The conflict began with Hamas’s October 7 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis. Israel’s retaliatory campaign has killed over 54,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza health officials, and displaced the vast majority of Gaza’s population.

South Sudan Army to Disarm Youths Amid Surge in Deadly Cattle Raids

South Sudan’s military announced Monday it will begin a phased disarmament of armed youth in Warrap State and Mayom County, where President Salva Kiir recently declared a six-month state of emergency following a spike in deadly inter-communal cattle raids.

South Sudan People’s Defence Forces (SSPDF) spokesperson Lul Ruai Koang said the disarmament would begin with a one-week voluntary phase, after which the army will launch coordinated forceful operations to confiscate weapons. He warned that those who resist will face punitive measures.

Disarm or Face Force in Warrap and Mayom

The SSPDF has announced the commencement of disarmament in Warrap State and Mayom County in Unity State, following the declaration of a state of emergency by the President.

The army has given armed youths seven days to voluntarily… pic.twitter.com/JFz1GVWeLU

— South Sudan Eagles Media (@ssemtv) June 9, 2025

The campaign follows weeks of violence that have forced residents to flee, burned homes, and disrupted food supplies and schooling. Locals, including a resident from Tonj North, reported growing fear that military actions could harm civilians.

The UN recently reported that cattle raids and revenge killings have claimed hundreds of lives since December, including more than 200 deaths in March alone.

The unrest exacerbates South Sudan’s ongoing challenges with ethnic violence, political instability, and poverty, despite the country’s oil wealth and independence in 2011.

Russia Launches Massive Drone and Missile Assault on Ukrainian Cities, Killing Two

Russia fired more than 315 drones and seven missiles at Ukraine overnight in one of the largest attacks of the war, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said Tuesday.

The barrage killed at least two people and wounded 13 others, striking the cities of Odesa and Kyiv.

The southern port city of Odesa saw the most severe casualties, with two dead and nine injured after a maternity hospital and residential buildings were damaged, regional authorities confirmed.

In Kyiv, four people were injured and fires erupted across multiple districts from falling debris. Residents sought shelter in metro stations as drones and explosions echoed for hours.

Russian missile and Shahed strikes drown out the efforts of the United States and others around the world to force Russia into peace. For yet another night, instead of a ceasefire, there were massive strikes with Shahed drones, cruise and ballistic missiles. Today was one of the… pic.twitter.com/t3uEzzoCsL

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) June 10, 2025

The attack came just a day after Russia launched nearly 500 drones, a response to Ukraine’s June 1 strike on Russian air bases. Kyiv officials labeled the strike as a continuation of Moscow’s escalating retaliation campaign.

Zelenskyy criticized Western inaction, urging “concrete action” from the US and Europe to stop Russia’s aggression. Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko reported 19 fires across Ukraine linked to the attacks and demanded accountability for Russia’s “crimes.”

NEW: Russian forces recently advanced to the Dnipropetrovsk-Donetsk administrative border as Kremlin officials continued to demonstrate that Russia has wider territorial ambitions in Ukraine beyond Luhansk, Donetsk, Zaporizhia, and Kherson oblasts and Crimea.

The Kremlin appears… pic.twitter.com/aZZ3rLVyUi

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) June 10, 2025

Meanwhile, Russia claimed to have shot down 102 Ukrainian drones across various regions, including central Moscow and St. Petersburg. The drone threat forced temporary airport closures in several major Russian cities, disrupting flights and air traffic.

Despite recent prisoner swaps from peace talks in Istanbul, a ceasefire remains out of reach as both sides intensify air operations.

Russia Expands Military Reach in Africa with Major Arms Shipments, Strengthening Africa Corps

Russia is rapidly expanding its military presence in sub-Saharan Africa by supplying tanks, howitzers, armored vehicles, and advanced jamming systems to conflict zones, primarily in Mali.

According to an Associated Press (AP) investigation, Russian-flagged cargo ships — including the Baltic Leader and Patria — delivered high-value military equipment to Conakry, Guinea, in late May.

Satellite imagery confirmed the shipments, which were then transported overland to Mali.

The arms deliveries are bolstering Russia’s Africa Corps, a Kremlin-controlled paramilitary force positioned to replace the Wagner Group across the continent. Russia appears to be using this new unit to solidify influence amid US and European withdrawals from the region. Mali, Burkina Faso, and Niger — all grappling with jihadist insurgencies — have turned to Moscow for security support following recent military coups.

The AP identified Russian-made artillery, BTR-80 troop carriers with radio-jamming capabilities, and Spartak armored vehicles among the cargo. European military officials believe this equipment is earmarked for Africa Corps rather than local forces. A Su-24 fighter-bomber was also reportedly seen at a Bamako air base, indicating Moscow’s growing air power in the region.

Russia’s Africa Corps now operates under Maj. Gen. Andrey Averyanov, head of the GRU’s covert Unit 29155, a group long accused of sabotage and assassinations in the West. The European Union (EU) has sanctioned Averyanov, citing Russia’s exploitation of Africa’s resources to fund these operations and support authoritarian regimes.

Wagner’s influence is waning. The group announced its withdrawal from Mali shortly after the latest arms shipment, while Africa Corps stated it would remain. Russian military recruitment for Africa Corps is in full swing, with offers of significant cash incentives and land for contract service.

Russian Mi-24 Helicopters Rain Fire on JNIM Camps in Mali

In their first major operation, Russia’s Africa Corps unleashed a powerful airstrike on terrorist hideouts in Tessit. Fleeing fighters were hunted down with precision, marking JNIM’s biggest defeat in the region to date. pic.twitter.com/iSBGVw8zy5

— Martin Okorowu (@martinokorowu) June 10, 2025

Notably, a Russian Navy warship, the Boykiy, escorted the convoy from Kaliningrad, raising red flags among Western officials. The Siyanie Severa, another sanctioned vessel, later docked in Equatorial Guinea — a region with a known Wagner footprint — suggesting Moscow’s broader ambitions in Central Africa.

Analysts say the transition from Wagner to Africa Corps marks a strategic shift, with Russia moving from deniable operations to direct military engagement across Africa, signaling a new phase in the Kremlin’s global power projection.

Canada to Hit NATO Defense Spending Target, Carney Says

Prime Minister Mark Carney announced Monday that Canada will meet NATO’s two percent defense spending target this year—five years ahead of schedule—as the country revamps its military to counter evolving threats from Russia, China, cyberattacks, and climate change.

Speaking at the University of Toronto, Carney warned that Canada’s reliance on US protection is no longer viable and called for strengthened transatlantic security ties, particularly with Europe.

Carney criticized US President Donald Trump for weakening the post-war global order and monetizing American hegemony by demanding NATO allies pay more for defense while scaling back American commitments. He said Canada must adjust to a future where the US is no longer the sole guarantor of its security.

Canada’s Liberal government will pour extra billions into its armed forces and hit NATO’s 2% military spending target this fiscal year, five years earlier than promised, Prime Minister Mark Carney said https://t.co/IfI0DM85lW pic.twitter.com/BkorAmoNxl

— Reuters (@Reuters) June 9, 2025

The Prime Minister also emphasized the strategic importance of Canada’s Arctic, calling it increasingly “accessible and vulnerable” due to climate change. He pledged a substantial military buildup in the region, citing threats from Russia and China.

Canada’s military readiness has deteriorated, Carney noted, with only one of four submarines operational and less than half of its maritime and land fleets functional. He said the spending boost is aimed at defending Canadian sovereignty, not merely fulfilling NATO obligations.

Carney also confirmed that Canada will pursue deeper defense partnerships with like-minded countries and highlighted an upcoming Canada-EU summit as critical to strengthening transatlantic security.

Philippines Reinforces South China Sea Presence Amid Rising Tensions with China

A Filipino military delegation visited West York Island in the contested South China Sea, signaling Manila’s firm stance against Chinese maritime encroachment.

Philippine military spokesperson Col. Francel Margareth Padilla described the remote island as “beautiful” and emphasized its strategic and symbolic importance to national sovereignty. The island, also known as Likas, is one of nine features occupied by Filipino forces in the region.

The visit is part of a broader campaign by the Philippines under President Ferdinand Marcos Jr. to document and expose China’s increasingly aggressive actions in disputed waters.

China claims nearly the entire South China Sea, a position contested by the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan. Beijing’s expansive maritime claims have led to a steady increase in confrontations involving its coast guard and maritime militia.

The Philippines hosted journalists aboard the BRP Andres Bonifacio during a naval patrol of Manila-claimed territories. The crew issued warnings to Chinese ships nearby, which responded with sovereignty claims but did not provoke.

Filipino marines stationed on West York Island maintain constant vigilance, living in austere conditions with limited communication and supply lines.

Further west on Thitu Island—Manila’s largest outpost in the region—civilian and military life coexist. Infrastructure there has significantly improved in recent years, including the addition of a wharf, airstrip, roads, and a nearly completed high school. Yet, local fishermen report increasing harassment by Chinese vessels, especially those operating from nearby artificial islands like Subi Reef, only 16 miles away.

The Philippine Coast Guard to assess damaged caused by grounded Chinese ship off Thitu Island. @inquirerdotnet https://t.co/qiCJRGMkfa pic.twitter.com/8KMwShujw2

— AMTI (@AsiaMTI) June 10, 2025

Residents and military personnel alike describe the psychological and logistical toll of living under constant surveillance and the looming presence of China’s Navy. Nonetheless, officials reaffirmed their commitment to defending Philippine-held territory, hoping international attention will help curb Beijing’s growing assertiveness.

Sources: AFP, News Agencies, The Associated Press