SOFREP Evening Brief: Britain and European Union Impose New Sanctions on Russia, Taiwan’s President Lai Vows Defense Buildup

Good evening! End your Tuesday informed with SOFREP’s evening brief, covering the top defense and global affairs stories for May 20, 2025. Israeli strikes killed 60 in Gaza; global backlash grows. A suicide bomber killed 13 in Somalia. Spain wants Israel banned from cultural events. Biden diagnosed with terminal cancer. The European Union and the United Kingdom hit Russia with new sanctions. Taiwan vows defense, offers talks with China. Cambodia marks 50 years since the Khmer Rouge. Pakistan promotes Army chief after India ceasefire.

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Israeli Strikes Kill 60 in Gaza Amid Mounting International Condemnation

Israeli airstrikes killed at least 60 Palestinians overnight and into Tuesday, targeting a family home and a school shelter, according to Gaza health officials.

The attacks are part of Israel’s intensified campaign against Hamas, which has killed over 300 people in recent days and more than 53,000 since the war began. Many of the dead are women and children.

Despite international outrage, Israel says the offensive aims to eliminate Hamas and recover remaining hostages. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, facing criticism from allies and rare domestic dissent, allowed limited aid into Gaza under pressure but defended the military campaign.

At least 60 people have been killed in strikes in Gaza overnight. It comes as the UK, France and Canada issued a joint statement condemning Israel’s expanded military operations and threatening concrete action if aid was not allowed in. pic.twitter.com/kNGX1MZeev

— Channel 4 News (@Channel4News) May 20, 2025

Canada, France, and the United Kingdom have threatened sanctions over what they called “egregious” actions.

The United Nations reported only five aid trucks entered Gaza since Monday, calling the flow “a drop in the ocean” compared to the 600 trucks per day during earlier ceasefires. Meanwhile, Israeli opposition leader and former General Yair Golan accused the government of war crimes, stating Israel is becoming “an outcast among nations.”

Israeli strikes hit multiple locations, including Khan Younis, Deir al-Balah, and the Nuseirat refugee camp, killing civilians sheltering in homes and schools.

The Israeli military has not commented on the latest strikes but insists it targets militants and blames Hamas for operating in densely populated areas.

Approximately 58 hostages remain in captivity, with about a third believed to be alive.

Suicide Bomber Kills 13 at Somali Military Camp Registration Site

A suicide bomber struck a military camp in Mogadishu over the weekend, killing at least 13 people and wounding 21 others as young recruits waited to register, according to witnesses.

According to Sunday reports, the attacker reportedly disguised himself as a recruit before detonating the bomb.

The blast occurred amid a crowd of hopeful enlistees, with civilians among the casualties. Witnesses described a chaotic scene with bodies scattered across the area.

Al Shabaab terrorist group kill at least 11 people and wound 20 more when suicide bomber blew himself up outside military camp in Somali capital, Mogadishu pic.twitter.com/9tw6oF7Llt

— TRT World Now (@TRTWorldNow) May 18, 2025

No group has claimed responsibility, but the al-Qaeda-linked al-Shabab extremist group, which frequently targets military and government facilities in Somalia, is suspected.

This attack follows a similar bombing in July 2023 at the Jaalle Siyaad Military Academy that killed 25 soldiers and wounded 70. Al-Shabab claimed responsibility for that assault. The group continues its insurgency to impose strict Islamic rule across Somalia.

Spanish PM Calls for Israel’s Ban from Cultural Events Over Gaza Offensive

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez on Monday urged the international community to exclude Israel from cultural events like the Eurovision Song Contest due to its military campaign in Gaza.

Drawing parallels to Russia’s ban from global competitions following its invasion of Ukraine, Sanchez said, “We cannot allow double standards, not even in culture.”

Speaking in Madrid, Sanchez criticized the cultural sector’s silence on global injustices and called on artists to defend democracy and peace. His remarks come amid growing controversy over Israel’s participation in this year’s Eurovision, which saw pro-Palestinian groups demanding its removal.

🇪🇸 İspanya Başbakanı Pedro Sanchez, İsrail’in tıpkı Rusya gibi uluslararası kültürel etkinliklerden men edilmesi çağrısında bulundu.

“Çifte standartlara kültürde bile izin veremeyiz.” pic.twitter.com/GMyADNpTjE

— Mahfil (@mahfildijital) May 20, 2025

Since Hamas’ October 2023 attack that killed around 1,200 people in Israel, the Israeli military has launched a wide-scale offensive in Gaza, killing more than 53,000 Palestinians, according to local health officials. Despite mounting international pressure, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu vowed on Monday to seize full control of Gaza.

Spain, alongside Norway and Ireland, recognized a Palestinian state last year.

Sanchez also previously urged the EU to halt arms sales to Israel, a policy his government enacted in 2023. Israel has condemned Spain’s stance, accusing it of emboldening Hamas.

Biden Diagnosed With Incurable Prostate Cancer, Faces Final Battle Shaped by Personal Loss

Former US President Joe Biden has been diagnosed with advanced prostate cancer that has spread to his bones, his office confirmed over the weekend.

The cancer is treatable but no longer curable.

The diagnosis marks a deeply personal turn in a life long shadowed by the disease—his son Beau died of brain cancer in 2015, and First Lady Jill Biden survived skin cancer in 2023.

Biden, 82, abandoned his 2024 re-election bid amid mounting health concerns, clearing the path for Donald Trump’s return to the presidency. Now focused on preserving his legacy, Biden faces a terminal illness that has defined much of his public and private life. He often tied Beau’s death to toxic exposure during military service in Iraq and championed the PACT Act to expand veteran healthcare. He also revived the “Cancer Moonshot” initiative during his presidency, aiming to accelerate research and treatment access.

His cancer disclosure follows decades of health scares, including a near-fatal brain aneurysm in 1988.

Close aides say Biden remains determined to fight the disease head-on, true to the mantra he applied to public service: move forward, no matter the personal cost.

Britain and European Union Impose New Sanctions on Russia, Press Trump to Join

The European Union and Britain imposed new sanctions on Russia Tuesday, targeting its shadow oil tanker fleet and financial networks used to bypass existing restrictions.

The move came one day after President Donald Trump’s phone call with Vladimir Putin failed to produce a ceasefire commitment from Moscow.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy welcomed the measures and reiterated Kyiv’s readiness for an immediate ceasefire. Russia, however, insisted on pre-talk conditions deemed unacceptable by Ukrainian negotiators.

German and French officials warned the lack of US sanctions weakens the West’s pressure campaign.

Brussels and London proceeded without waiting for Washington, though they continue to push Trump to align with the sanctions. European leaders coordinated calls with Trump before his Putin call, urging US action should Russia reject a truce.

❗️🇬🇧UK announces 100 new sanctions against 🇷🇺Russia – UK government

The sanctions target Russia’s military, energy, financial sectors and those waging Putin’s information war against Ukraine.

The UK and partners are also working to tighten the cap on oil prices, further… pic.twitter.com/ZiNJs6eXOz

— 🪖MilitaryNewsUA🇺🇦 (@front_ukrainian) May 20, 2025

Trump has claimed both sides are ready to negotiate, but Putin’s offer remains vague and slow-moving.

The new EU-UK sanctions focus on vessels used to evade the G7’s $60-per-barrel Russian oil price cap and on reducing that cap further due to declining global prices. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said additional sanctions are coming, emphasizing the need to intensify pressure on Moscow.

Russia’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the measures and said it won’t submit to ultimatums. Putin maintains negotiations will take time, while Ukraine and European leaders argue Russia is stalling to prolong its invasion.

Taiwan’s President Lai Vows Defense Buildup, Offers Talks With China Amid Rising Tensions

Taiwan President Lai Ching-te marked his first year in office Tuesday by reaffirming the island’s readiness to talk with China on equal terms while pledging to strengthen national defense and economic resilience.

Lai, seen by Beijing as a staunch pro-sovereignty figure, said Taiwan must “prepare for war to avoid war” and work with international allies to deter aggression.

Lai reiterated that peace is preferable but warned against illusions, citing China’s repeated military drills around Taiwan and its use of “cognitive warfare” to disrupt public morale. He offered to engage with China based on “parity and dignity,” though Beijing has consistently rejected such overtures.

🇹🇼 #Taiwan’s President Lai Ching-te said Tuesday he seeks peace and dialogue with 🇨🇳 #China—but stressed the need to boost defences and prepare for war.

Beijing has stepped up military drills around the island over the past year.

More ➡️ https://t.co/jSjuFplqj6 pic.twitter.com/KlHfKpOX8a

— FRANCE 24 English (@France24_en) May 20, 2025

Facing pressure from the US to reduce trade imbalances and relocate factories, Lai said Taiwan would diversify its markets, boost domestic demand, and launch a sovereign wealth fund, though no details were disclosed. He also promised bipartisan cooperation and national security briefings for opposition lawmakers.

Domestically, Lai’s administration is battling a political crisis. His approval rating has dropped to 45.9% amid clashes with the opposition-controlled parliament.

The Kuomintang (KMT) has accused Lai of pushing Taiwan toward conflict, while the ruling Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) has launched a recall campaign targeting 30 KMT legislators. The KMT has threatened to recall Lai in response, intensifying Taiwan’s polarized political climate.

Cambodia Marks 50 Years Since Khmer Rouge’s Deadly Reign

Around 2,000 people gathered Tuesday at Choeung Ek Killing Fields to mark the 50th anniversary of the Khmer Rouge’s rise to power, which led to the deaths of 1.7 million Cambodians from 1975 to 1979.

The annual Day of Remembrance included a somber re-enactment by student actors portraying the brutal executions, torture, and forced labor that characterized the regime.

The ceremony honored victims of what a UN-backed tribunal has classified as genocide. Attendees, including Buddhist monks and survivors, witnessed performances near mass graves and a memorial of victims’ skulls.

The National Day of Remembrance is an important date which recalls the pain that people suffered under the Khmer Rouge regime.
Russia understands the importance of preserving the memory about the past, which unites peoples of our countries. pic.twitter.com/mxApSzUNvM

— Anatoly Borovik (@RusAmbCambodia) May 20, 2025

The Khmer Rouge emptied cities, enslaved citizens in forced agricultural labor, and carried out mass killings until they were ousted by a Vietnamese invasion in 1979.

Originally declared a “National Day of Hatred” in 1984, May 20 was renamed the National Day of Remembrance in 2018 to honor victims and educate future generations. Prime Minister Hun Manet urged citizens to remember the past while safeguarding Cambodia’s current peace and stability.

Pakistan Army Chief Promoted to Field Marshal After Ceasefire with India

Pakistan’s Army Chief General Asim Munir, has been promoted to field marshal following a US-brokered ceasefire with India after one of the most intense military confrontations between the two nuclear-armed neighbors in decades.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved the promotion and praised Munir and other military leaders for their “befitting response” to an Indian airstrike on Pakistani air bases on May 7.

Munir becomes only the second officer in Pakistan’s history to receive the rank of field marshal, following Gen. Ayub Khan during the 1965 war with India. He expressed gratitude for the honor in a public statement.

Pakistan promotes its army chief General Asim Munir to the rank of field marshal in recognition of his leadership during the recent military conflict with India
🔗 https://t.co/0Y1dohIIf2 pic.twitter.com/EkbLWcOxQf

— TRT World (@trtworld) May 20, 2025

The recent ceasefire was reached after weeks of escalating cross-border attacks, including missile and drone strikes, sparked by a mass shooting of tourists in India. New Delhi blamed Pakistan for the attack, an accusation Islamabad denies.

The government also extended the tenure of Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu in recognition of his service.

Sources: News Agencies, Reuters