SOFREP Morning Brief: Houthis Threaten Naval Blockade of Israel’s Haifa Port, Egyptian Military Training Aircraft Crashes, Trump Announces Russia-Ukraine Ceasefire Talks

Good morning! Get your Tuesday started with SOFREP’s morning brief, bringing you the latest updates on defense and global affairs for May 20, 2025. A quick glance at today’s headlines: Houthis threatened to blockade Israel’s Haifa port over the Gaza war, targeting ships. Israel allowed minimal aid into Gaza after global pressure, but allies called it insufficient and warned of sanctions. Egypt reported a deadly military plane crash. South African farmers rejected US claims of White genocide. Denmark arrested a Hamas-linked man over a drone plot. Trump announced Russia-Ukraine ceasefire talks. Pakistan blamed India for a deadly Balochistan bombing. A rare shooting in Wuhan left one dead.

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Houthis Threaten Naval Blockade of Israel’s Haifa Port

Yemen’s Iran-backed Houthi rebels announced Monday they will enforce a “naval blockade” on Israel’s northern port of Haifa in response to what they called Israel’s escalating offensive in Gaza.

Houthi military spokesman Yehya Saree warned that all vessels heading to or already in Haifa are now considered potential targets.

The Houthis said attacks would continue until Israel ends its military campaign and blockade on Gaza.

Yemen’s Houthi rebels announce ‘naval blockade’ on Israel’s Haifa Port #Israel #Houthis #Yemen pic.twitter.com/ITlgsZSHGt

— News18 (@CNNnews18) May 20, 2025

The threat follows Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s declaration that Israel will “take control” of the entire Gaza Strip.

Since the Gaza war began in October 2023, the Houthis have launched missiles and drones at Israel. While they paused during a brief ceasefire earlier this year, they resumed attacks after its collapse.

The US has responded with near-daily airstrikes against Houthi positions to protect shipping in the Red Sea and Gulf of Aden.

Despite a recent US-brokered ceasefire with Washington, the Houthis maintain they will continue targeting Israel in solidarity with Palestinians.

Last week, Israel struck two Houthi-held ports and warned rebel leaders that they would be targeted like Hamas commanders if attacks continue.

First Aid Trucks Enter Gaza Amid Global Pressure, Threats of Sanctions Against Israel

Israel allowed the first few aid trucks into Gaza on Monday after nearly three months of total blockade, under mounting international pressure over the humanitarian crisis.

Five trucks carrying baby food and essential supplies crossed into Gaza via the Kerem Shalom crossing, with four more United Nations (UN) trucks cleared for potential entry Tuesday, according to Israeli and UN officials.

UN humanitarian chief Tom Fletcher called the move a “drop in the ocean,” warning that Gaza’s 2 million residents are facing famine. During the last ceasefire, over 600 aid trucks entered daily—highlighting the scale of current shortfalls.

Israeli authorities have temporarily allowed us to deliver limited aid to Gaza after 11 weeks of blockade.

A drop in the ocean. It must reach the civilians who need it so urgently, and we must be allowed to scale up.

We are determined to save as many lives as we can. pic.twitter.com/Ai5m9cawqt

— Tom Fletcher (@UNReliefChief) May 19, 2025

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu admitted resuming minimal aid under pressure from close allies, including the US, who warned they could not support Israel’s military campaign if images of mass starvation continued to emerge. Netanyahu emphasized that the aid is limited and part of a plan to establish a new, military-secured distribution system intended to prevent Hamas from accessing supplies. However, UN agencies and aid groups have rejected the plan, calling it a violation of humanitarian principles.

Simultaneously, Israel intensified its offensive, launching new ground and air operations and issuing evacuation orders for Khan Younis. Netanyahu reiterated that Israel aims to “take control of all of Gaza” and floated the idea of encouraging mass emigration—something Palestinians have rejected.

Israel clears only nine UN aid trucks to enter Gaza through the Karem Abu Salem crossing on May 20, following 11 weeks of a complete blockade.

The UN says Gaza needs at least 500 aid trucks daily, with WFP saying over 116,000 metric tonnes of food is ready to enter.

It remains… pic.twitter.com/E2kDKpOzVU

— TRT World (@trtworld) May 20, 2025

The United Kingdom, France, and Canada issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s military escalation and the minimal aid, calling it “wholly inadequate” and threatening sanctions. They also criticized Israeli actions in the occupied West Bank, including illegal settlement expansion.

Separately, 20 other countries, including Germany, Italy, and Japan, called on Israel to fully reopen aid access for UN and non-governmental organizations.

The Gaza war began with Hamas’s October 7 attack on Israel, killing 1,200 and abducting 251. In response, Israel’s offensive has killed over 53,000 Palestinians and displaced 90% of Gaza’s population. Around 58 hostages remain in Hamas captivity, about one-third believed to be alive.

Egyptian Military Training Aircraft Crashes, Crew Killed

An Egyptian military training aircraft crashed during an air force exercise on Monday, killing its crew, according to a statement from military spokesman Gharib Abdel Hafez.

The crash was attributed to a technical malfunction.

The military did not disclose the number of personnel killed, the aircraft type, or the location of the incident.

Crew killed in Egyptian military training jet crash https://t.co/a31UONTL0A pic.twitter.com/mEqxgADV6R

— Arab News (@arabnews) May 20, 2025

Egypt’s Air Force operates a mix of aircraft from the US, France, and Russia.

This marks the latest in a series of training accidents. In November 2023, two officers died in a helicopter crash, and in 2022, a fighter jet went down during exercises, though without casualties.

Amid US Refugee Policy Controversy, South African Farmers Push Back on Genocide Claims

Days before South African President Cyril Ramaphosa meets President Donald Trump in Washington, Afrikaner farmers gathered at an agricultural fair in Bothaville, challenging the Trump administration’s claims of genocide and mass land seizures that have fueled a controversial US refugee program for White South Africans.

Trump’s administration recently granted refugee status to at least 49 Afrikaners, citing alleged persecution and land confiscation. However, conservative Afrikaner groups and Black farmers alike at the fair dismissed the narrative, emphasizing that violent crime in South Africa affects both Black and White rural communities.

Government statistics support that view, showing farm attacks do not target race and that farm workers—many of whom are Black—also suffer the brunt of the violence.

South Africa’s crime data from 2024 shows 12 farm-related murders, most of them farm workers. Nationwide, 6,953 homicides were recorded last year, with the majority of victims being poor and Black. Despite this, white South Africans—7% of the population—still own roughly 72% of individually held land, according to government audits, underscoring deep land inequality.

Ramaphosa, himself a cattle farmer, attended the fair, calling on farmers not to flee the country and vowing to present the facts during his meeting with Trump.

President Cyril Ramaphosa arrives in Washington, D.C, ahead of his meeting with US President Donald Trump. pic.twitter.com/I8tRPODpCB

— eNCA (@eNCA) May 19, 2025

Agriculture Minister John Steenhuisen, part of the delegation, also urged a fact-based dialogue in Washington.

While safety remains a real concern for isolated farmers, including small-scale Black and White operations lacking resources for private security, the narrative of targeted genocide remains widely disputed. Critics have also questioned the expedited refugee process, noting that many global asylum seekers wait years for resettlement.

Ramaphosa said South Africans must face the country’s challenges head-on: “When you run away, you’re a coward.”

Danish Authorities Detain Man Accused of Buying Drones for Hamas Terror Plot

Danish intelligence announced Monday that a 28-year-old man has been remanded in custody on suspicion of purchasing drones intended for a Hamas-linked terrorist attack in Denmark or abroad.

The Danish Security and Intelligence Service (PET) stated the suspect, believed to be a prominent gang figure in Copenhagen, was linked to Hamas and criminal networks.

The arrest ties back to a broader December 2023 operation that disrupted a suspected terror plot involving six individuals.

The man was extradited from Lebanon over a separate double homicide case.

PET described him as a leading member of a banned gang with established Hamas ties. Officials warned that ongoing Middle East conflicts continue to raise Denmark’s threat level by inspiring both planned and spontaneous attacks.

The suspect will remain in custody until at least June 11.

Trump Announces Ceasefire Talks Between Russia and Ukraine After Calls With Putin, Zelenskyy

President Donald Trump announced Monday that Russia and Ukraine will “immediately” begin ceasefire negotiations following separate calls with Russian President Vladimir Putin and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

While no breakthrough was reached, Trump said both sides agreed to begin talks, though specifics on timing or location remain unclear.

Trump described his conversation with Putin as “excellent” and said the Russian leader appeared serious about ending the war, which began with Russia’s invasion in February 2022. He also confirmed that Putin and Zelenskyy would negotiate terms directly, stating, “they know the details of a negotiation that nobody else would be aware of.”

US President Trump stated that Russia and Ukraine will immediately begin bilateral negotiations about both a ceasefire and a peace agreement following their phone call today.

Russia must break its pattern of protracting negotiations and failing to offer any meaningful… pic.twitter.com/hxxXkCTYYy

— Critical Threats (@criticalthreats) May 19, 2025

Putin said Russia is ready to draft a memorandum for a possible peace treaty but reiterated that Moscow’s priority remains addressing the “root causes” of the war.

Zelenskyy reaffirmed Ukraine’s readiness for a full, unconditional ceasefire and insisted that any decisions must include Kyiv’s direct participation.

Trump, who has promised to end the war swiftly, warned he would abandon efforts if progress stalls. He hinted at using a mix of incentives and pressure—offering potential trade deals with Russia while threatening further sanctions if Putin does not negotiate in good faith.

Trump also revealed that the Vatican may host the peace talks and that a US-Russia prisoner exchange involving nine detainees from each side is under discussion.

I spoke with @POTUS twice today. First, we had a one-on-one call before his conversation with the head of Russia, and later we spoke together with President Trump and European leaders President @EmmanuelMacron, Prime Minister @GiorgiaMeloni, Federal Chancellor @bundeskanzler,… pic.twitter.com/mm6a0Pro84

— Volodymyr Zelenskyy / Володимир Зеленський (@ZelenskyyUa) May 19, 2025

Meanwhile, Zelenskyy and Trump coordinated with European leaders, including from France, Italy, and Finland, all of whom threatened new sanctions if Russia refuses meaningful negotiations.

The announcement follows recent talks in Istanbul between Russian and Ukrainian delegations, which led to a planned 1,000-person prisoner exchange but no ceasefire agreement.

Car Bomb Kills Four in Balochistan as Pakistan Blames India-Backed Militants for Rising Violence

A car bomb exploded near a market in Qillah Abdullah, Balochistan province, on Sunday night, killing four people and wounding 20 others, Pakistani officials confirmed Monday.

The blast damaged nearby shops and a paramilitary compound wall. No group has claimed responsibility, but authorities suspect Baloch separatists.

The attack comes amid an escalation in violence in the region, where separatist groups like the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA) frequently target security forces. The US designated the BLA a terrorist organization in 2019.

Pakistan’s military announced it killed three Baloch insurgents in operations and accused them of working for an Indian proxy group.

A car bomb blast rocked a market area in Qillah Abdullah, Balochistan. At least 4 people were killed and around 20 others were injured. The explosion occurred Sunday night near the Afghanistan border#pakistanbombblastlive #WIONOriginals pic.twitter.com/FGNoiPEypJ

— WION (@WIONews) May 19, 2025

In separate clashes in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, nine more militants were killed, along with two Pakistani soldiers.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised security forces for eliminating what he called “Indian-backed terrorists.” Pakistan regularly accuses India of supporting the BLA and the Pakistani Taliban, both of which have stepped up attacks in recent months.

Tensions have risen further after the BLA, in a rare move, publicly sought Indian support earlier this month to fight the Pakistani state. India has not responded to the appeal, which followed a series of cross-border strikes between the two nuclear powers.

Rare Shooting in Wuhan Leaves One Dead, Two Injured

One person was killed and two others injured in an apparent shooting at an outdoor restaurant in Wuhan on Sunday night, marking an extremely rare instance of gun violence in China.

Police described the incident as a “deliberate injury” resulting from a dispute but did not specify the weapon used.

Social media posts, later removed, showed victims at the scene and claimed a firearm was involved. The incident occurred in a busy restaurant area known for barbecued meat skewers. Authorities have not released further details, and no arrests were reported.

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May 18: a man fired at least 5 shots, killing one man and seriously wounding two others (according to the local police), at a roadside restaurant on Chongren Road (崇仁路), Qiaokou District (硚口区), Wuhan, at about 9:37pm.

The gunman had been arrested… pic.twitter.com/giqZ55RuBj

— Byron Wan (@Byron_Wan) May 19, 2025

China enforces strict gun control laws, making such incidents uncommon. The Chinese government typically censors reports of domestic violence while highlighting gun violence in countries like the US as part of broader propaganda efforts.

The last known mass shooting in China occurred in 2010, when a man with an automatic weapon killed three judges in a court building before taking his own life.

Sources: News Agencies