SOFREP Evening Brief: Israel Strikes Near Syrian Presidential Palace, Greece Arrests Suspected Russian Spy for Tracking Ukraine-bound Convoys

Evening! Stay on top of the latest in defense and global affairs with SOFREP’s evening brief, wrapping up Friday, May 2, 2025. Here’s a quick glance at tonight’s headlines: Israel hit near Syria’s presidential palace amid Druze clashes. Activists say Israel struck a Gaza aid ship in international waters. Nigerian governors demand new counterterror strategy after 100+ killed. The US Army plans a major overhaul to cut costs and boost readiness. Greece arrested a suspected Russian spy tracking Ukraine-bound convoys. The European Union fined TikTok $600M for exposing user data to China.

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Israel Strikes Near Syrian Presidential Palace Amid Sectarian Clashes and Rising Tensions

Israel’s Air Force conducted a targeted strike near Syria’s presidential palace early Friday in what officials described as a warning to Damascus not to escalate tensions with the Druze minority community in southern Syria.

The Israeli military confirmed its fighter jets struck adjacent to President Ahmad al-Sharaa’s residence in Damascus but did not release further operational details.

The airstrike followed days of violent clashes between Syrian government-aligned gunmen and Druze fighters near the capital. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR), at least 99 people have been killed over four days, including 51 in the Druze-majority suburbs of Sahnaya and Jaramana.

The Syrian Information Ministry reported the deaths of 11 government security personnel in two separate incidents.

#Israel on Friday said it launched air strikes near the #presidential palace in #Damascus and threatened further military action to force #Syrian authorities to protect its minority #Druze people.

📹 @lottie_lam pic.twitter.com/E2wPhXiMIo

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 2, 2025

The unrest was reportedly triggered by a controversial audio recording allegedly insulting Islam’s Prophet Muhammad, attributed to a Druze cleric—though the cleric, Marwan Kiwan, publicly denied involvement.

In a joint statement, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz said the airstrike sent a “clear message” to Syria’s leadership.

“We will not allow the deployment of forces south of Damascus or any threat to the Druze community,” they declared.

Pro-government Syrian media confirmed the strike hit near the People’s Palace, located on a hill overlooking Damascus.

Syria’s presidency condemned the action as a “dangerous escalation” and called for international condemnation, accusing Israel of violating national sovereignty.

Meanwhile, Druze religious leaders called for unity, reaffirming their community’s loyalty to the Syrian state and rejecting separatism. Sheikh Hikmat Al-Hijri criticized the Assad regime’s “unjustified genocidal attack” on Druze communities.

Despite the ongoing violence, Druze leadership urged a return to state control in the Sweida province and along the Sweida-Damascus highway.

Security forces and Druze local fighters reportedly deployed jointly in Jaramana, with an agreement for the Syrian defense ministry to eventually take control of the surrounding area, while heavy weapons are to be handed over by local factions.

Israel has long expressed concern about Iranian-backed militias and other hostile elements operating near its border with Syria, particularly in areas populated by Druze.

The Israel Defense Forces also confirmed Friday that it had evacuated wounded Syrian Druze from the recent fighting for medical care.

Some key Druze powerbrokers are negotiating with the government to end the ongoing violence, as Government Security Services (GSS) and Druze forces have cooperated on the ground.

A decision by Damascus to rely on joint Druze-government units could successfully de-escalate the… pic.twitter.com/UAGO2qsm9Z

— Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) May 2, 2025

Separately, the IDF reported that a soldier was killed and three others injured in a non-combat incident in the Golan Heights. The Army is investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident.

The Druze sect, which emerged as an offshoot of Ismaili Shiism in the 10th century, has significant populations in Syria, Lebanon, and Israel—including in the Golan Heights, which Israel captured from Syria in 1967 and later annexed.

Activists Accuse Israel of Drone Strike on Gaza Aid Ship in International Waters

A humanitarian aid vessel headed for Gaza was reportedly attacked by drones early Friday in international waters off the coast of Malta, according to the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, the group organizing the mission.

The activists blamed Israel for the strike, which they said caused a fire and substantial damage to the hull.

The vessel, Conscience, was part of a flotilla aiming to challenge what the group described as Israel’s “illegal and deadly siege” of Gaza and deliver essential humanitarian aid.

The activists claimed the attack specifically targeted the ship’s generator.

“At 00:23 Maltese time, the Conscience came under direct attack in international waters,” the coalition stated. “Armed drones attacked the front of an unarmed civilian vessel twice.” They called for Israeli ambassadors to be held accountable for what they labeled a violation of international law.

The Maltese government confirmed it responded to a distress call and dispatched a tugboat, which extinguished the fire by 01:28 local time. All crew members were reported safe. However, Malta made no mention of an attack or the alleged involvement of Israeli forces.

The Israeli military has not issued a comment in response to the accusations as of the time of reporting.

The Freedom Flotilla Coalition said a second support vessel had been sent from Cyprus, but Cypriot officials have not confirmed this deployment.

BREAKING: At 00:23 Maltese time, a #FreedomFlotilla ship was subjected to a drone attack. The front of the vessel was targeted twice, resulting in a fire and a breach in the hull. The ship is currently located in international waters near #Malta. An #SOS distress signal was sent. pic.twitter.com/J6oEQafuOb

— Freedom Flotilla Coalition (@GazaFFlotilla) May 2, 2025

The incident comes as Israel maintains a complete blockade on Gaza, halting all aid deliveries since March 2 and resuming intensive military operations after a failed ceasefire.

The International Committee of the Red Cross warned Friday that Gaza’s humanitarian response is on the verge of collapse.

This latest flotilla mission recalls the deadly 2010 Mavi Marmara incident, in which Israeli commandos boarded an aid ship off Gaza, killing 10 activists and injuring dozens.

Northeast Nigerian Governors Urge Strategic Shift After Deadly Jihadist Attacks

State governors in northeast Nigeria on Thursday urged national security forces to overhaul their counter-insurgency strategy following a surge in jihadist violence that claimed over 100 lives last month.

The renewed violence marks an escalation in the 16-year Islamist insurgency that has killed more than 40,000 people and displaced over two million.

At the 11th North-East Governors Forum held in Damaturu, Yobe State, governors from Borno, Adamawa, Yobe, Gombe, Taraba, and Bauchi states voiced alarm over the recent spike in attacks.

Taraba State Governor Agbu Kefas, delivering the closing statement, called on the military, law enforcement, and local leaders to reassess their approach to the security crisis.

“The forum… calls for the armed forces, other security agencies and community leaders to reappraise their strategy in the counter-insurgency onslaught in the region,” Kefas said.

He emphasized the need for a “multidimensional approach” that targets the root causes of unrest through youth employment, infrastructure development, education, and poverty reduction.

The Islamist militant groups Boko Haram and its offshoot, Islamic State West Africa Province (ISWAP), have intensified their operations despite previous losses to Nigerian forces. The two groups, once divided by internal rivalries, have reportedly reconciled to coordinate attacks against government and military targets. Their tactics now include the use of drones, improvised explosive devices, and coordinated raids.

NEGF Meetung: We Must Intensify Synergy To Halt Resurgence of Security Challenge-Gov. Buni

Yobe state Governor and host of the 11th North East Governors Forum meeting, Hon. Mai Mala Buni CON COMN, has charged Governors of Borno, Adamawa, Taraba, Gombe and Bauchi pic.twitter.com/2rmqeRhqAZ

— Mamman Mohammed (@mammanMmohammed) May 1, 2025

The region’s security posture has been further compromised by recent developments within the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF), a regional military coalition established in 2013 to combat extremism in the Lake Chad basin. Niger’s withdrawal from the force in March weakened joint patrols and intelligence sharing. Chad has also threatened to exit, raising concerns over the coalition’s future operational capacity.

The governors’ call for strategic recalibration comes amid mounting public pressure and a deteriorating humanitarian situation in the region.

US Army Plans Major Overhaul to Cut Costs, Consolidate Commands, and Refocus Force

The US Army is preparing a significant restructuring aimed at streamlining operations, cutting outdated programs, and reallocating personnel to frontline units, according to a newly released memo and senior US officials familiar with the plan.

The sweeping reforms, ordered by Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, are intended to build “a leaner, more lethal force” and are expected to save nearly $40 billion over five years.

The changes will include merging or eliminating Army commands, consolidating logistics operations, reducing up to 1,000 headquarters staff positions in the Pentagon, and cutting as many as 40 general officer billets. Despite the reduction in command-level staff, the Army’s overall troop strength will remain unchanged, with personnel reassigned to field units.

Key organizational changes include the merger of Army Futures Command with Training and Doctrine Command, as well as the consolidation of Forces Command, Army North, and Army South into a unified headquarters focused on homeland defense and Western Hemisphere partnerships. Other consolidations will involve Joint Munitions Command, Sustainment Command, and multiple depots and arsenals.

On the equipment side, the Army plans to eliminate legacy weapons systems, including the Humvee, certain helicopter formations, and a range of armor and aviation units across the Active Duty, National Guard, and Reserve components. Specific units targeted for cuts have not been identified publicly.

The restructuring comes amid increasing pressure from the Trump administration to slash federal spending. The effort aligns with broader government efficiency initiatives led by the newly established Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), under Elon Musk’s leadership.

The Army will also shift resources toward modernization priorities such as air and missile defense, long-range fires, cyber warfare, electronic warfare, and counter-space operations, according to Hegseth’s directive.

However, congressional resistance remains a key obstacle. Lawmakers have historically rejected attempts to shutter military programs that impact their districts, and it’s unclear whether Congress will approve the proposed cuts or reinsert funding for programs on the chopping block.

Army spokesman Col. Dave Butler emphasized that the reallocation of resources is designed to strengthen operational readiness and combat capabilities without reducing total force size.

Greece Arrests Suspected Russian Spy for Photographing Ukraine-Bound Military Convoys

Greek authorities arrested a 59-year-old man in the strategic port city of Alexandroupolis on suspicion of spying for Russia, the Hellenic Police confirmed this week.

The man, a Greek citizen of Georgian descent, allegedly photographed military convoys carrying supplies—reportedly en route to Ukraine—and sent the footage to a third party via an encrypted messaging app.

According to a police statement, the suspect admitted to taking photos and videos of military equipment at the request of another individual. A police source told AFP the man had targeted Ukraine-bound supply convoys and previously served in the Russian military. Evidence from his cellphone revealed multiple images and videos of military assets in transit.

Investigators believe Russia’s GRU military intelligence agency recruited the suspect through an intermediary—reportedly a Georgian national with organized crime connections residing in Lithuania, according to Greek media.

A 59-year-old Georgian-born house painter has been arrested in Greece for spying on NATO ops in Alexandroupoli. For 6+ months, he filmed military shipments—especially to Ukraine—for a suspected GRU contact in Lithuania. Recruited in 2024, he claimed he’d help the “motherland” for… pic.twitter.com/6eCbzybq3r

— NOELREPORTS 🇪🇺 🇺🇦 (@NOELreports) May 2, 2025

The arrest underscores Russia’s continued interest in monitoring Western military logistics networks in support of Ukraine. Alexandroupolis, located near NATO’s southeastern flank, has become a critical logistics hub for the US military under a mutual defense agreement with Greece. The port has facilitated the movement of American military assets and supplies deeper into Eastern Europe since the start of Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

Despite longstanding cultural and religious ties with Russia, Greece has firmly supported Ukraine in the conflict and strengthened military cooperation with the United States.

The suspect was brought before a magistrate on Friday and faces charges related to espionage and national security violations.

EU Fines TikTok $600 Million for Data Transfers to China, Citing Privacy Risks

The European Union fined TikTok 530 million euros ($600 million) on Friday following a four-year investigation that concluded the social media platform violated the bloc’s data protection laws by exposing user data to potential surveillance by Chinese authorities.

Ireland’s Data Protection Commission (DPC), which leads data privacy enforcement for TikTok in the EU due to the company’s European headquarters in Dublin, issued the fine and ordered TikTok to bring its operations into full compliance within six months.

Deputy Commissioner Graham Doyle stated that TikTok failed to “verify, guarantee, and demonstrate” that personal data accessed remotely by staff in China was protected to EU standards. The investigation also found the platform’s previous privacy policies lacked transparency about transfers of user data to non-EU countries, including China.

TikTok, owned by Beijing-based ByteDance, rejected the decision and announced plans to appeal. The company claims the investigation focused on a timeframe prior to May 2023, before it launched its data localization initiative, Project Clover. This initiative includes building three data centers in Europe and implementing oversight from cybersecurity firm NCC Group.

TikTok’s European public policy chief Christine Grahn said the company had never received, nor complied with, any request from Chinese authorities for European user data. She defended TikTok’s legal framework for international data transfers and accused regulators of unfairly singling the company out, despite similar practices by other firms.

The DPC investigation also revealed that TikTok provided inaccurate information during the inquiry. Although the company previously claimed it did not store EU user data on Chinese servers, it later admitted that some data had in fact been stored there as of February—a detail only disclosed to regulators in April.

The watchdog emphasized that under the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), personal data can only be transferred outside the EU if strong safeguards ensure equivalent protection. The DPC concluded that China’s legal environment, particularly under national security and counterespionage laws, does not meet these standards.

The fine adds to previous penalties TikTok faced in Europe, including hundreds of millions of euros over child privacy violations. Irish authorities indicated they are considering additional regulatory action following the discovery of the Chinese data storage issue.

The ruling marks another major step in the EU’s broader push to rein in foreign tech companies over privacy and data security concerns.

Sources: News Agencies