Stay informed with SOFREP’s Evening Brief, covering the top defense and global affairs stories for Thursday, June 19, 2025. Iran hit an Israeli hospital and central towns, injuring 47; Israel vowed harsh retaliation. The EU prepares for 10% US tariffs as talks stall. A UK warship transited the Taiwan Strait, drawing China’s attention. South Korea’s spy chief nominee said the US would nuke North Korea if attacked. Russia killed 28 in a Kyiv missile strike, prompting Zelenskyy to call for global action. SpaceX’s Starship exploded during a test, adding to its Mars program setbacks.
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Iran Strikes Israeli Hospital and Central Towns, Injures 47 as Israel Vows Retaliation
Iran launched a fresh barrage of missiles at Israel early Thursday, striking Soroka Hospital in Beersheba and damaging buildings in the central towns of Ramat Gan and Holon, near Tel Aviv.
The Magen David Adom rescue service reported at least 47 injuries, including three in serious condition, and 18 people hurt while fleeing to shelters.
Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu condemned the attack, vowing Iran would “pay a heavy price,” while Defense Minister Israel Katz called it a “war crime” and ordered intensified Israeli strikes on Iranian strategic and power infrastructure.
Missile sirens sounded across Tel Aviv and Jerusalem as Israel’s military confirmed dozens of ballistic missiles were fired. On the ground reporters described the blasts in Jerusalem as the loudest since the conflict began last Friday. Smoke was seen rising from the hospital, which also treats soldiers wounded in Gaza.
Israel continues to respond with escalating military operations against Iran as both nations edge closer to all-out war.
EU Braces for 10% Tariff Baseline in US Trade Deal as Trump Ramps Up Pressure
European Union officials are increasingly accepting a 10% baseline tariff rate as the likely foundation of any trade agreement with the United States, despite ongoing efforts to negotiate a lower figure, sources familiar with the talks said Thursday.
The push comes as President Donald Trump intensifies his tariff strategy to reduce the U.S. goods trade deficit with the EU and generate revenue.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick has ruled out going below 10% for reciprocal tariffs, which would cover most EU exports to the US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said Trump’s aggressive tariff stance had pushed EU leaders toward negotiations, but the White House remains firm on maintaining higher tariff levels.
The EU is pushing to avoid a double-digit baseline but faces an uphill battle, especially as the US collects growing customs revenue—more than doubling year-over-year in April. Without a deal by July 9, reciprocal tariffs could spike to as much as 50%.
Trump’s broader trade policy includes sector-specific levies, with new tariffs on pharmaceuticals expected soon. European officials have resisted these measures, but insiders suggest that accepting a 10% general tariff may give Brussels leverage to prevent harsher, targeted duties.
The tariff standoff is already impacting European industry. Automakers like Mercedes, Stellantis, and Volvo have withdrawn earnings guidance due to uncertainty, while other sectors—such as wine, spirits, and aluminium—warn of severe disruption if no deal is reached. Some business leaders say a mutual 10% tariff is manageable compared to prolonged negotiations or higher, uneven rates.
The EU runs a $236 billion trade surplus with the US, giving it more to lose than Britain, which recently signed a limited trade deal retaining 10% tariffs. Trump aims to use tariff revenues to help fund his tax and spending plans, further solidifying his hardline trade stance ahead of upcoming economic decisions.
UK Warship Transits Taiwan Strait Amid Renewed Tensions with China
The British Royal Navy patrol vessel HMS Spey (P234) has conducted a passage through the Taiwan Strait, a Royal Navy spokesperson confirmed Thursday.
The transit was described as routine and fully compliant with international law, though the Ministry of Defence did not disclose the exact timing.
The passage marks the first known British naval transit of the strait since HMS Richmond (F239) sailed through in 2021. China, which claims Taiwan and the strait as part of its territory, strongly opposes such moves and previously shadowed and warned off foreign warships.
The transit comes as the UK seeks to repair strained relations with Beijing, with Prime Minister Keir Starmer planning a visit to China later this year, potentially the first by a British leader since 2018.
The move underscores London’s ongoing commitment to freedom of navigation in contested international waters despite diplomatic sensitivities.
South Korea Spy Chief Nominee Says US Would Retaliate with Nukes if North Korea Attacked
South Korea’s nominee to lead its National Intelligence Service, Lee Jong-seok, stated Thursday that he believes the United States would launch a nuclear strike on North Korea if Pyongyang used nuclear weapons against the South.
Speaking during a nomination hearing, Lee affirmed his confidence in the US-South Korea security alliance, asserting that Washington would act even at the risk of retaliatory threats from North Korean intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs).
Lee’s remarks come as he prepares to assume the role under newly inaugurated liberal President Lee Jae-myung.
North Korea has yet to deploy a nuclear-armed missile but is widely believed to possess enough fissile material to build several nuclear weapons.
Russian Missile Levels Kyiv Apartment, Killing 28; Ukraine Calls for Action
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy called for increased international pressure on Russia Thursday after a Russian missile destroyed a nine-story apartment building in Kyiv, killing 28 people and wounding 142.
The missile struck the Solomianskyi district early Tuesday as part of Russia’s largest assault on the capital this year.
Zelenskyy condemned the attack as proof that Moscow is rejecting ceasefire efforts and escalating its aggression. He visited the site with senior officials, laying flowers for the 23 victims killed in the collapsed building.
Russia launched over 440 drones and 32 missiles in the attack, part of a broader summer offensive along Ukraine’s 1,000-kilometer front line. Despite a US-backed proposal for a 30-day ceasefire, Russian President Vladimir Putin dismissed the plan, demanding a halt to Ukrainian mobilization and Western arms supplies as conditions for talks.
Meanwhile, both sides carried out a new prisoner exchange Thursday. Ukraine repatriated severely injured prisoners, many held since the 2022 fall of Mariupol, while Russia confirmed the return of its own personnel via Belarus.
Putin claimed Russia only targets military facilities, not civilians, a claim Kyiv and its allies reject. Ukrainian officials insist they accepted the US peace proposal unconditionally 100 days ago and accuse Moscow of escalating violence instead of negotiating in good faith.
Overnight Wednesday, Russia fired 104 drones across Ukraine; 88 were intercepted or lost, with no immediate reports of casualties. The war, now in its third year, shows no signs of resolution as diplomatic efforts continue to stall.
SpaceX Starship Explodes During Ground Test in Texas, Marking Another Setback for Mars Program
SpaceX’s Starship spacecraft exploded late Wednesday during a ground test at the company’s Starbase facility in Brownsville, Texas.
The incident occurred around 11 p.m. local time while preparing for the rocket’s tenth test flight. No injuries were reported.
SpaceX cited a “major anomaly” and Elon Musk stated preliminary data points to a failure in a nitrogen Composite Overwrapped Pressure Vessel (COPV) in the payload bay, marking a first for this specific design.
Video footage showed at least two explosions lighting up the night sky and scattering debris. The 400-foot Starship is central to Musk’s long-term goal of human missions to Mars, but the program has faced multiple setbacks this year.
In May, Starship spun out of control mid-flight and failed to meet key test objectives. Earlier explosions in January and March led to debris falling over the Caribbean and prompted Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) investigations. Despite implementing corrective actions, issues persist.
This latest incident adds to the mounting technical challenges confronting the ambitious Mars program as SpaceX continues to push the limits of reusable spaceflight technology.
Sources: News Agencies
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