SOFREP Daily: Israel Pounds Lebanon After Rocket Attack, Germany Approves Billions in Ukraine Aid

Sunday, March 23, 2025—stay informed as the weekend winds down with today’s key developments in defense and global affairs.

Israel Pounds Lebanon After Rocket Attack

Israel launched its most intense strikes on Lebanon since a November ceasefire, following a rocket attack from across the border on Saturday.

Although six rockets were fired into northern Israel, Hezbollah denied responsibility, calling the accusations a pretext for further Israeli aggression.

In response, Israeli forces carried out two waves of airstrikes targeting Hezbollah positions, killing at least eight people, including civilians and reportedly a Hamas official.

Lebanese officials warned the escalation could drag the country into a wider war, while international actors like the United Nations, France, and Jordan expressed alarm.

The violence comes amid Israel’s resumed offensive in Gaza, where airstrikes also killed senior Hamas figure Salah al-Bardawil. Israel insists its campaign is essential to pressuring Hamas for hostage release, while Hamas accuses Israel of endangering the captives with continued bombardments.

Israel Kills Senior Hamas Leader in Airstrike

Israeli airstrikes across southern Gaza overnight into Sunday killed at least 19 Palestinians, including women, children, and senior Hamas political leader Salah al-Bardawil and his wife.

Hospitals in Khan Younis and other areas reported receiving numerous civilian casualties.

Bardawil, a longtime figure in Hamas’ political wing and a member of the Palestinian parliament, was not included in the initial hospital death tolls.

🚨BREAKING: The Israeli army has killed Senior Hamas political bureau member and parliamentarian Salah Al-Bardawil and his wife in an airstrike targeting tents sheltering displaced families west of Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip. pic.twitter.com/4EplR2hvC7

— Gaza Notifications (@gazanotice) March 22, 2025

Meanwhile, Iran-backed Houthi rebels in Yemen launched a missile toward Israel, which was intercepted without causing damage. The renewed hostilities follow Israel’s exit from a ceasefire agreement with Hamas, citing the group’s refusal to release more hostages as a precondition for further negotiations.

The truce, which began in January, had briefly halted the 15-month conflict and led to limited prisoner exchanges and humanitarian aid.

Since the October 7, 2023 Hamas-led attack that killed 1,200 Israelis and resulted in the capture of 251 hostages, Israel’s ongoing offensive has killed over 49,000 Palestinians, according to Gaza’s Health Ministry.

Israel claims approximately 20,000 of the dead were militants, though it has not provided evidence. The war has displaced most of Gaza’s population and devastated the territory’s infrastructure.

Trump Blocks Musk From Viewing China War Plans

President Donald Trump stated Friday that Elon Musk should not be allowed access to top-secret US war plans involving China, acknowledging for the first time that Musk’s extensive business ties to the country could pose a conflict of interest.

Trump denied reports that Musk was scheduled for a classified Pentagon briefing on China strategy, calling the story “false” and attacking the media.

Musk, who now leads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), has massive US defense contracts through SpaceX and a major manufacturing presence in China via Tesla.

Although Trump praised Musk as a “patriot” and key reformer, critics, especially Democrats, warned of Musk’s unchecked influence and lack of security vetting while shaping US policy.

The Pentagon visit by Musk drew backlash amid concerns about national security and corporate influence.

Defense Officials Reassess Posts on Military Firsts

The Pentagon is facing backlash over a sweeping purge of online military content that mistakenly removed historical mentions of women, minorities, and decorated veterans in the name of scrubbing “DEI” (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) content.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools flagged thousands of posts for deletion based on keywords like “female,” “gay,” and “bias,” leading to the removal of stories honoring figures such as Jackie Robinson, the Tuskegee Airmen, and the Navajo Code Talkers.

Officials say the process, driven by a vague directive and fear of discipline for noncompliance, has been chaotic, demoralizing, and often emotional for staff involved. Some historically significant posts may be lost forever.

The Pentagon has since restored a few high-profile pages and acknowledged errors, but much content remains missing, and clarity on restoration guidelines is lacking.

The policy was implemented under the leadership of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, who has publicly rejected DEI as a military priority. Critics, including veterans and lawmakers, argue the move has erased vital parts of American military history.

French Court Jails ISIS Jihadist for Life

A French court sentenced jihadist Mehdi Nemmouche to life in prison on Friday for his role in the kidnapping and torture of four French journalists held hostage by ISIS in Syria from 2013 to 2014.

The journalists testified that Nemmouche, using the alias “Abu Omar,” subjected them to psychological and physical abuse.

Nemmouche denied being their jailer but admitted to being a fighter for both Al-Qaeda and ISIS. Already serving a life sentence in Belgium for a deadly 2014 attack on a Jewish museum, he delivered a defiant, unapologetic statement in court.

“Il a poursuivi son djihad à la barre, il compte le poursuivre en détention”

L’ex-otage Nicolas Hénin s’exprime après l’annonce de la prison à perpétuité pour Mehdi Nemmouche pic.twitter.com/JXJvV50fHm

— BFMTV (@BFMTV) March 21, 2025

Three other jihadists were also sentenced: two tried in absentia (believed dead) received life terms, and two more were sentenced to 22 and 20 years for assisting in the hostage operations. The case shed light on the brutal tactics used by ISIS against Western hostages and marked a rare moment of justice for survivors of the group’s Syrian captivity network.

Sudan Army Seizes Central Bank from Militias

Sudan’s military announced Saturday that it had seized several major buildings in central Khartoum — including the central bank — from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), following its recapture of the presidential palace a day earlier.

The army claimed it eliminated hundreds of RSF fighters during the operation and pushed back militants who had taken positions in high-rises overlooking key government zones.

The RSF responded with a deadly drone strike that killed several soldiers and three journalists.

The latest gains could give the military strategic control over Khartoum’s financial and government districts, a crucial advantage in the ongoing war.

The conflict between army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF leader Mohamed Hamdan Daglo has ravaged the country since April 2023, killing tens of thousands and displacing over 12 million people.

Germany Approves Billions in Ukraine Aid

Germany has approved three billion euros ($3.25 billion) in new military aid to Ukraine, just days ahead of US-mediated talks with Russia and Ukraine on a potential limited ceasefire.

The aid package includes munitions, drones, armored vehicles, and advanced air-defense systems, with some equipment like Iris-T systems to be delivered over the next two years.

This funding, delayed for months due to coalition government disputes, was passed alongside a broader defense spending package that relaxed Germany’s traditional debt restrictions.

President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the aid, calling it a critical step for Ukraine’s current defense and post-war security.

Germany, already the second-largest supplier of aid to Ukraine after the US, now commits further support through 2029.

The announcement comes amid ongoing mutual accusations between Russia and Ukraine of violating a proposed pause in attacks, as peace talks near.

Iran Deploys Missiles on Disputed Gulf Islands

Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) unveiled new missile systems on three disputed islands in the Gulf — Greater Tunb, Lesser Tunb, and Abu Musa — asserting they can target enemy bases, ships, and assets within a 600-kilometer (about 373-mile) range.

The strategic deployment near the Strait of Hormuz follows recent military drills and comes as Tehran weighs a response to a letter from US President Donald Trump proposing renewed nuclear talks but warning of military consequences if Iran refuses.

BREAKING – 🇮🇷 Iran’s Revolutionary Guards have introduced new missile systems on three strategic Gulf islands, with the capability to target nearby bases, vessels, and assets, according to state media reports. pic.twitter.com/4EpfxZPzB2

— Technopolitik (@Technopolitik_) March 23, 2025

Iranian officials described the letter as a veiled threat but hinted at potential diplomatic engagement.

Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei warned the US against hostile action, promising a “hard slap” in return. Iran’s long-standing control of the islands remains contested by the United Arab Emirates (UAE).

Russia Rejects Ceasefire, Enters Talks Anyway

Ahead of US-brokered peace talks in Saudi Arabia on Monday, Russia expressed hope for “some progress,” though it rejected a US-Ukraine proposal for a full 30-day ceasefire, suggesting instead a limited halt to airstrikes on energy infrastructure.

Both sides have continued attacks, with deadly Russian drone strikes on Zaporizhzhia and Kyiv killing civilians, including a family of three.

Ukraine, which is sending its defense minister to the talks, hopes to negotiate a partial ceasefire covering energy sites, infrastructure, and maritime targets.

NEW: US Special Envoy to the Middle East Steve Witkoff uncritically amplified a number of Russian demands, claims, and justifications regarding the war in Ukraine during an interview on March 21.

Witkoff stated that Russia “reclaimed” five regions in Ukraine — Crimea and… pic.twitter.com/81Qt41F2G9

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) March 22, 2025

US negotiators will meet the Russian and Ukrainian delegations separately in what they call “shuttle diplomacy.”

The choice of Russian delegates — including an FSB advisor involved in Ukraine during the 2014 uprising — has raised eyebrows, while US envoy Steve Witkoff has drawn controversy for praising Putin as a “great” leader.

Both Ukraine and Russia launched drone attacks over the weekend, with escalating violence casting doubt over the potential for a breakthrough.

Sources: News Agencies