SOFREP Evening Brief: Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria, Pope Leo XIV Offers Vatican as Mediator in Global Conflicts

Good evening! Here’s your SOFREP evening brief, covering the latest in defense and global affairs for Wednesday, May 14, 2025: Israeli strikes killed 70 in Gaza as Netanyahu vowed no ceasefire before Hamas is defeated. Gaza’s hospitals were hit, and famine risks are growing. Trump lifted Syria sanctions and urged ties with Israel. Amnesty International accused Uganda of violating South Sudan’s arms embargo. Mali banned French TV over protest coverage. Brazil urged Putin to attend the peace talks in Turkey. Macron proposed French nukes in Europe; Russia condemned it. Pope Leo XIV offered Vatican mediation. Japan grounded T-4 jets after a crash. A grenade attack in Pakistan killed one. The US sanctioned 20+ firms over Iran-China oil trade.

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Israeli Airstrikes Kill 70 in Gaza as Netanyahu Vows No Halt Before Hamas Defeat

Israeli airstrikes on Wednesday killed at least 70 people across northern and southern Gaza, including 22 children in Jabaliya, according to Gaza health officials.

The strikes followed Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that Israel would not stop its military campaign until Hamas is defeated.

Rescue efforts in Jabaliya continued overnight amid extensive devastation.

Israel’s military declined to comment but said it had warned civilians to evacuate Jabaliya due to militant infrastructure. One reported target was Mohammed Sinwar, Hamas’ top commander in Gaza and brother of slain leader Yahya Sinwar.

The strike severely damaged the European Hospital in Khan Younis, suspending surgical operations and cutting off ambulance access.

The attacks come days after Hamas released an Israeli-American hostage and as US President Donald Trump visits Saudi Arabia. Hopes for a ceasefire and renewed humanitarian aid have faded. Netanyahu said Israel would soon escalate its campaign “with great strength.”

The ongoing war has killed over 52,900 Palestinians, displaced 90% of Gaza’s population, and devastated infrastructure.

France’s President Emmanuel Macron condemned Israel’s blockade as a “disgrace,” urging humanitarian access and a political solution. Netanyahu accused Macron of parroting Hamas propaganda.

The blockade has pushed Gaza toward famine. The United Nations (UN) reports show nearly half a million Palestinians face starvation, with 60% of charity kitchens shut down and critical shortages in food and medical supplies. The World Health Organization (WHO) said it can treat only 500 children for acute malnutrition despite thousands in need. Israel insists the blockade is necessary to pressure Hamas to release hostages and disarm.

Trump Lifts Sanctions on Syria, Urges Ties With Israel

President Donald Trump announced the lifting of US sanctions on Syria during a historic meeting with the country’s new interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, urging him to normalize ties with Israel and join the Abraham Accords.

The meeting, held in Riyadh alongside Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan via video, marked the first US-Syria presidential encounter in 25 years.

Trump also pressed Sharaa to expel Palestinian militants, control ISIS detainee camps, and support reconstruction and counterterrorism cooperation.

Sharaa, a former Islamist fighter who led the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December, received no public commitment on normalization with Israel from Syria, though the Syrian foreign ministry praised the sanctions decision as “historic.”

Celebrations erupted in Damascus following the announcement, though Syria remains on the US terror sponsor list.

Meanwhile, controversy brewed as Trump prepared to visit Qatar, which offered a $400 million luxury jet as a potential Air Force One replacement that may later be gifted to Trump personally, prompting Democratic backlash over constitutional and security concerns.

Amnesty Accuses Uganda of Violating South Sudan Arms Embargo

Amnesty International called on the UN Security Council to enforce and renew the arms embargo on South Sudan, citing a breach involving the deployment of Ugandan troops and military equipment.

The Uganda People’s Defence Force (UPDF) entered South Sudan in March at President Salva Kiir’s request, but Amnesty claims the move—captured in verified footage showing tanks and armored vehicles—violates the 2018 embargo terms.

The embargo, set to expire May 31, was imposed after a peace deal ended South Sudan’s five-year civil war.

Amnesty said neither Uganda nor South Sudan notified the UN, as required under the exemption rules. It also accused South Sudan of violating restrictions by using previously grounded attack helicopters. One such helicopter allegedly attacked a Doctors Without Borders hospital in early May, killing seven.

Amnesty urged the Security Council to extend and enforce the embargo to prevent further civilian harm amid escalating tensions between Kiir and Vice President Riek Machar.

The UPDF has not yet responded to the allegations.

Mali Bans French TV Channel Over Protest Coverage

Mali’s media regulator has banned French broadcaster TV5MONDE, accusing it of making “defamatory remarks” about a May 3 pro-democracy protest in Bamako.

The High Authority for Communication said the channel falsely claimed security forces blocked demonstrators from entering the Palais de la Culture, asserting instead that the forces were there to protect the protesters.

TV5MONDE has not responded publicly to the ban. The move adds to a broader crackdown on media in Mali, where authorities have already blocked France 24 and Radio France Internationale for three years. Last December, local station Djoliba TV News was suspended for six months after airing content questioning the official account of a failed coup in Burkina Faso.

Mali, alongside Burkina Faso and Niger, is governed by a military regime and part of the Alliance of Sahel States. These governments have imposed tight restrictions on press freedom and civil liberties, frequently targeting journalists and opposition voices.

Brazilian President Presses Putin to Join Turkey Peace Talks as Russia Prepares New Offensive

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva urged Russian President Vladimir Putin to attend proposed peace talks with Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Turkey, following Putin’s offer to resume negotiations “without preconditions” in Istanbul.

Zelenskyy agreed only to meet in person with Putin. Lula, who has maintained ties with Moscow despite the invasion, spoke to Putin by phone during a stop in Russia after visiting China.

The Kremlin confirmed Lula’s support for the talks but did not say whether Putin would travel to Turkey. Ukraine insists Zelenskyy will only engage directly with the Russian leader. US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot are expected in Turkey for the talks.

France and US Senator Lindsey Graham are preparing a new sanctions package targeting Russian oil exports, with proposed 500% tariffs aimed at crippling Russia’s economy. Existing sanctions have failed to halt Moscow’s military campaign.

Meanwhile, Ukrainian officials report Russian forces are preparing a new offensive to gain battlefield leverage and strengthen their negotiating position. The Institute for the Study of War says Russia aims to prolong talks to extract concessions while continuing its military push.

2/ Ukrainian forces recently advanced near Toretsk, and Russian forces recently advanced in Sumy Oblast and near Lyman, Toretsk, Pokrovsk, and Velyka Novosilka.

Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 13, 2025 | Institute for the Study of Warhttps://t.co/xtY3GIfBv6 pic.twitter.com/KhbxQ9Nj6m

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) May 14, 2025

Kremlin Slams Macron’s Offer to Deploy French Nuclear Jets in Europe

The Kremlin condemned French President Emmanuel Macron’s statement that France is open to stationing nuclear-armed warplanes in other European countries, calling it destabilizing.

Macron made the remarks Tuesday on TF1, citing existing US nuclear deployments in Belgium, Germany, Italy, and Turkey, and said he would define a framework for potential French deployments in the coming months.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov warned that expanding nuclear weapon presence in Europe would not improve security or stability, stating, “The entire system of strategic stability is in a deplorable state.”

The Kremlin previously criticized Macron’s March proposal to extend France’s nuclear umbrella to European allies as a bid for “nuclear leadership in Europe” and labeled it “very confrontational.”

Pope Leo XIV Offers Vatican as Mediator in Global Conflicts, Prioritizes Peace

Pope Leo XIV, the first American elected to lead the Catholic Church, pledged Wednesday to make “every effort” toward peace and offered the Vatican as a mediator in global conflicts.

Speaking to Eastern Catholic leaders, he emphasized that “war is never inevitable” and called on nations to silence weapons and pursue dialogue.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, who became the first foreign leader to speak with Pope Leo after his election, welcomed the Pontiff’s support for mediation and reiterated Kyiv’s readiness for a ceasefire and high-level talks with Russia. Zelenskyy praised Leo’s “insightful” call for diplomacy and said the Vatican’s involvement could support global peace efforts.

Pope Leo also urged an end to simplistic narratives dividing the world into good and evil, calling instead for recognition of shared humanity.

On Sunday, he called for a ceasefire in Gaza, the release of Israeli hostages, and welcomed the fragile peace between India and Pakistan. Zelenskyy is expected to attend Pope Leo’s inauguration mass in St. Peter’s Square on May 18.

Japan Grounds T-4 Training Fleet After Crash, Two Crew Missing

Japan’s Air Self-Defense Force (JASDF) grounded nearly 200 T-4 training jets on Wednesday after one crashed shortly after takeoff from Komaki Air Base in Aichi Prefecture. The aircraft disappeared from radar two minutes into flight. Authorities are searching for the missing plane and its two crew near Iruka pond in Inuyama, about 10 kilometers (6 miles) from the base.

The 36-year-old T-4 was returning to Nyutabaru Air Base after delivering an F-15 fighter for maintenance. It lacked flight data and voice recorders. Debris, fuel, and crew equipment, including helmets, were recovered at the crash site.

A captain with over 1,000 flight hours and a first lieutenant were aboard. The crash follows a string of recent military aviation accidents, including the fatal 2024 crash of two SH-60K Navy helicopters and a 2023 Black Hawk crash that killed 10 soldiers.

Military officials say the T-4 fleet will remain grounded until the cause is determined and safety inspections are completed.

Grenade Attack Hits Pro-Army Rally in Pakistan’s Balochistan, One Dead

A suspected militant threw a hand grenade at a pro-army rally in Quetta, Balochistan on Wednesday, killing one person and injuring 10 others, including two critically, according to police and hospital officials.

The attacker, riding a motorcycle, targeted participants en route to a government-organized event celebrating Pakistan’s recent retaliatory strikes inside India.

Police suspect the Baloch Liberation Army may be behind the attack, though no group has claimed responsibility. The rally was part of a nationwide wave of pro-military demonstrations following a US-brokered ceasefire between Pakistan and India, which had been on the brink of conflict.

US Sanctions Over 20 Companies in Crackdown on Iranian Oil Shipments to China

The US Treasury Department sanctioned more than 20 companies on Tuesday for facilitating Iranian oil exports to China, targeting a network tied to Iran’s Armed Forces General Staff and front company Sepehr Energy.

The sanctions come just days after the conclusion of a fourth round of nuclear talks between Iran and the U.S.

Among the firms sanctioned are CCIC Singapore PTE, Huangdao Inspection and Certification Co. Ltd, and Qingdao Linkrich International Shipping Agency Co. Ltd. These companies allegedly helped conceal the origin of Iranian oil and supported the transfer of billions of dollars’ worth of crude to China. The oil sales reportedly funded Iran’s ballistic missile and drone programs, nuclear proliferation, and attacks by the Houthis on Red Sea shipping.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent reaffirmed the US commitment to cutting off revenue sources fueling Iranian military and terrorist activities. The sanctions freeze US assets of the listed entities and prohibit American business with them.

Today, the Department of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control is sanctioning nearly two dozen firms operating in multiple jurisdictions in virtually every aspect of Iran’s illicit international oil trade.

The Iranian government allocates billions of dollars’ worth of…

— Treasury Department (@USTreasury) May 13, 2025

This latest action follows the Trump administration’s reinstatement of its “maximum pressure” campaign on Iran in February, including previous sanctions on China’s independent oil refineries.

Analysts believe broader impact would require sanctions on major Chinese banks. Treasury imposed the new sanctions under a counterterrorism authority, potentially paving the way for pressure on larger financial institutions.

Tehran and Washington continue to signal preference for a diplomatic resolution to the nuclear standoff but remain divided on key issues, particularly uranium enrichment.

Sources: News Agencies