Good morning! It’s Tuesday, February 4, 2025, and we’re back with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.
Car Bomb Strikes Syria’s Manbij, Adding to Rising Violence
A deadly car bombing in northern Syria’s Manbij killed 20 people, mostly women farm workers, in the latest surge of violence in the war-torn region.
The explosion reportedly targeted a vehicle transporting agricultural workers, leaving at least 15 others wounded, many critically.
No group has claimed responsibility yet, but the blast follows another deadly car bomb just days earlier.
Manbij has become a battleground between Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and Turkey-backed factions.
Turkey sees the SDF’s main group, the People’s Protection Units (YPG), as linked to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a designated terrorist group in both Turkey and the US.
Despite past American support for the SDF against ISIS, Ankara has ramped up its offensive, seizing Kurdish-controlled areas.
Meanwhile, Syria’s new leadership is pressuring the SDF to disarm, rejecting any form of Kurdish autonomy. As the conflict rages on, civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with no clear end in sight.
Sudan’s Conflict Rages On: Airstrikes, Shelling Kill 65
Sudan’s brutal conflict rages on, with heavy fighting in South Kordofan and Darfur leaving at least 65 dead and over 130 wounded.
In Kadugli, artillery fire on a busy market killed 40 people, with authorities blaming a rebel faction, Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N). Meanwhile, in Nyala, an airstrike hit an RSF-controlled area, killing 25 and injuring 63.
Both sides accuse each other of targeting civilians, while the humanitarian crisis deepens.
Khartoum also remains a battlefield, with the army recently breaking RSF sieges on key positions.
Civilians continue to bear the brunt of the violence, with mass displacement and reports of war crimes piling up. As Sudan’s fragile infrastructure crumbles, international calls for peace remain unanswered, and millions are left struggling to survive.
US Marines Set Up Migrant Detention Center at Guantanamo Bay
American troops, including 170 Marines from 1st Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, arrived at Guantanamo Bay Monday to set up detention facilities as part of US President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown.
The deployment supports the administration’s plan to detain migrants at the naval base, with officials stating that the mission’s scope will depend on how events unfold.
The White House has not provided specifics on who will be detained or what legal rights they will have, but Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem insists due process will be followed.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has suggested using Guantanamo as a maximum-security detention site, but it remains unclear whether migrants will be housed in a new facility or the existing high-security prison holding 9/11 terror suspects.
The Pentagon is reportedly considering sending up to 500 Marines to the base, though final numbers remain uncertain.
For now, troops are focused on logistics—setting up tents, cots, and infrastructure to support the Department of Homeland Security.
Trump Ends US Role in UN Human Rights Council, Cuts UNRWA Funding
US President Donald Trump is expected to pull the US out of the United Nations Human Rights Council and maintain the freeze on funding for the UN Palestinian Relief Agency (UNRWA).
The move aligns with long-standing criticism from Israel, which has accused UNRWA of being linked to Hamas and promoting anti-Israel sentiment.
The announcement comes as Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu visits Washington.
During Trump’s first term, he cut UNRWA funding and withdrew from the Human Rights Council over claims of anti-Israel bias.
Now, with his second term underway, he’s taking similar steps, having already pulled the US from the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Paris climate agreement.
The US was previously UNRWA’s top donor, providing up to $400 million annually. But funding was halted after Israel accused some UNRWA staff of involvement in the October 7, 2023, Hamas attack.
The UN has since fired nine employees but insists on further investigation, while Israel has officially banned UNRWA from operating within its territory.
With this funding cut, humanitarian aid for millions of Palestinians across Gaza, the West Bank, Syria, Lebanon, and Jordan remains uncertain.
Pentagon Uses Military Planes for Deportations, Expands to India
The Trump administration is ramping up its use of the military to enforce immigration policies, with a US military plane now deporting migrants to India—the farthest destination yet for these flights.
A C-17 aircraft carrying migrants left for India and is expected to arrive within 24 hours, according to an unnamed US official.
This is part of a broader effort that has seen military planes used to deport thousands of migrants from detention centers in El Paso and San Diego to countries like Guatemala, Peru, and Honduras.
While effective, these flights come with a hefty price tag—one recent flight to Guatemala reportedly cost around $4,675 per migrant.
With military resources increasingly tied to immigration enforcement, the move signals the administration’s commitment to a hardline approach, even as questions arise over costs and logistics.
Red Sea Shipping Resumes as Tanker Chrysalis Transits Safely
The Liberian-flagged crude oil tanker Chrysalis has successfully sailed through the Red Sea for the first time since being attacked by Yemen’s Houthis last year.
This voyage is seen as a test run for shipping companies that have been rerouting vessels around Africa to avoid attacks.
Following a ceasefire in Gaza, the Houthis announced on January 20 that they would now limit their attacks to Israeli-linked ships.
Since November 2023, the group has launched over 100 attacks on commercial vessels, even sinking two.
The return of Chrysalis to the Suez Canal is being touted by Egyptian officials as a positive sign for stability in the region.
The disruption of Red Sea shipping has been costly—Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi revealed that Suez Canal revenue losses have reached about $7 billion this year.
While this latest development is promising, global shipping companies remain cautious as they assess whether Red Sea routes are truly safe again.
Bomb Kills Russian Battalion Leader in Moscow Apartment Blast
An explosion rocked an upscale Moscow apartment building early Monday, killing two people—including Armen Sarkisyan, a battalion leader who fought in Ukraine—and injuring three others.
Russian investigators released footage of the damaged lobby but did not immediately confirm the cause.
However, Russian state media cited law enforcement sources saying a bomb was planted in the building.
Sarkisyan, who also headed a boxing federation in Russian-controlled Donetsk, had been charged in absentia by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) for recruiting prisoners and leading the ArBAT battalion in combat against Kyiv’s forces.
While Russian authorities have not blamed Ukraine, and Kyiv has yet to comment, the blast raises questions about possible retaliation.
The Russian Investigative Committee has launched a criminal probe into murder, attempted murder, and arms trafficking.
Meanwhile, speculation is swirling about who was behind the attack, as tensions between Moscow and Kyiv remain high.
Ukraine’s Troops Face Crisis in Pokrovsk as Supply Routes Crumble
Ukraine’s troops in Pokrovsk are in a tough spot. They’re running low on infantry, struggling with supply routes constantly targeted by Russian drones, and facing a well-coordinated assault that’s putting them on the defensive.
With Russia ramping up its offensive while the US freezes foreign aid, Ukrainian forces are feeling the pressure—especially as fresh recruits lack the training to hold the front lines effectively.
Russian troops have switched tactics, attacking from the flanks instead of head-on, cutting off key supply routes and making troop movement even harder.
Recent heavy fog has also hampered Ukraine’s ability to use surveillance drones, allowing Russian forces to dig in and push forward.
Meanwhile, Ukrainian commanders warn that logistics are everything, and without steady resupplies, holding ground becomes nearly impossible.
With Russian troops outnumbering them 20 to 1 in some areas, morale is being tested. But despite mounting challenges, Ukrainian troops vow to fight on, holding the line with whatever resources they have left.
Sources: News Agencies, Reuters
