Good morning! It’s Friday, February 7, 2025, and we’re wrapping up the week with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.
Ukraine Gains Prisoners, Loses Ground in Kursk Offensive
Ukraine has launched a new offensive in Russia’s Kursk region, marking six months since its surprise cross-border assault.
While Russia claims to have pushed back the latest attack, Kyiv still controls parts of the area and sees it as a key bargaining chip in any future peace talks.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy praised his troops fighting on Russian soil, emphasizing that “the occupier should be beaten on its territory.”
He also highlighted Ukraine’s capture of 909 Russian soldiers, which he says is boosting prisoner exchanges.
Meanwhile, Russian President Vladimir Putin admitted that the situation in Kursk remains “very difficult,” as local frustrations grow.
Despite Ukraine’s initial gains in Kursk, Russian forces have been steadily reclaiming lost ground. However, Kyiv’s incursion remains a significant embarrassment for Moscow, being the first foreign military push onto Russian soil since World War II.
With both sides continuing to trade prisoners, Kursk has become more than just a battlefield—it’s now a high-stakes leverage point in the wider war.
France Delivers First Mirage Jets to Ukraine’s Air Force
France has officially delivered the first batch of Mirage 2000-5 fighter jets to Ukraine, boosting Kyiv’s air defense against Russian forces.
French Defense Minister Sébastien Lecornu confirmed the arrival but didn’t specify how many jets were included. Ukrainian pilots, who have been training in France for months, are now ready to deploy them in combat.
President Emmanuel Macron first announced the Mirage transfer last June as part of France’s military aid to Ukraine. While reports suggest six jets will be sent from France’s stock of 26, the defense ministry has neither confirmed nor denied the exact number for security reasons.
These aircraft have been modified to counter Russian electronic warfare tactics, adding another layer to Ukraine’s evolving air defense strategy.
The delivery also comes at a pivotal moment, with speculation about potential peace talks growing as US President Donald Trump returns to the White House and Ukraine faces mounting challenges on the battlefield.
Ukraine has also been receiving F-16 fighter jets from the US since August, signaling continued Western support despite ongoing difficulties in the war.
UK Finalizes Chagos Deal, Keeps Lease on Key Military Base
The UK government is moving forward with plans to return the Chagos Islands to Mauritius, arguing that securing a deal is the only way to guarantee continued access to crucial satellite communications at the US-UK military base on Diego Garcia.
Prime Minister Keir Starmer’s administration has faced backlash at home for the decision, but officials insist that without a legal agreement, Britain and the US could lose exclusive control over the base’s electromagnetic spectrum—a key asset for secure communications.
The Chagos Islands have been a long-running point of contention.
Britain retained control after Mauritius gained independence in the 1960s, evicting thousands of islanders in the process.
In 2019, the International Court of Justice ruled that the UK should hand over the territory.
Under the proposed deal, Britain would lease Diego Garcia from Mauritius for 99 years, reportedly at a cost of 90 million UK pounds ($111 million) per year.
Mauritius, however, wants full sovereignty over the islands and has warned that if Washington does not support the deal, it will continue its legal fight to take full control.
War and Hunger: Sudan’s Crisis Worsens as Fighting Spreads
The United Nations has issued a stark warning about the escalating violence in Sudan’s South Kordofan and Blue Nile states, saying the regions are “on the brink of catastrophe.”
At least 80 people were reportedly killed in the state capital of Kadugli as clashes intensified between the Sudanese army and a faction of the Sudan People’s Liberation Movement-North (SPLM-N) led by Abdel Aziz al-Hilu.
The UN condemned the use of women and children as human shields, as well as the obstruction of humanitarian aid.
Sudan’s civil war, which began in April 2023, has already displaced millions and pushed much of the country into severe food insecurity.
The renewed fighting in South Kordofan is making an already dire situation worse, with famine looming for around half a million people.
With access to aid cut off and malnutrition rates skyrocketing, the UN is calling for immediate action to prevent further suffering.
Meanwhile, both the army and SPLM-N accuse each other of targeting civilians and trying to seize territory.
Israel Prepares Plan to Let Gazans Leave Voluntarily
Israeli Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the military to develop a plan allowing Palestinians to voluntarily leave Gaza.
The proposal includes options for Gazans to exit by land, sea, or air, provided other countries are willing to accept them.
Katz’s announcement follows controversial remarks from US President Donald Trump about “taking over” Gaza, a statement his administration later tried to downplay.
Katz, however, welcomed Trump’s stance, saying relocation could help Gazans integrate elsewhere while enabling reconstruction in a demilitarized, secure Gaza.
The move was quickly backed by Israeli far-right Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich, who praised efforts to facilitate migration for those willing to leave. However, the feasibility of the plan—and how many Gazans would actually be allowed to leave—remains unclear.
Trump Sanctions International Court Over Netanyahu Arrest Warrant
US President Donald Trump has signed an executive order imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court (ICC) after it issued arrest warrants for Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his former defense minister over alleged war crimes in Gaza.
The US and Israel have never recognized the ICC’s jurisdiction, and Trump’s order accuses the court of overreach and political bias.
The move comes as Netanyahu visits Washington, where he met with Trump and US lawmakers.
The sanctions could block ICC officials from entering the US, freeze their assets, and cut off access to American technology.
Critics, including human rights groups, argue that the sanctions undermine accountability for war crimes and could make it harder for victims worldwide to seek justice.
However, Trump and his allies, including Senator Lindsey Graham, said the ICC’s actions set a dangerous precedent that could eventually target the US.
The US has had a complicated relationship with the ICC for decades.
While it helped draft the Rome Statute that created the court, it never ratified the treaty.
Trump previously sanctioned ICC officials in 2020 over investigations into US actions in Afghanistan, though those sanctions were lifted under President Joe Biden.
Now, with Trump doubling down, the ICC faces renewed pressure from Washington.
Military Plane Crash in Philippines Kills US Marine, Three Contractors
A US Marine and three defense contractors were killed when their aircraft crashed in the southern Philippines during a routine intelligence mission on Thursday.
The Beech King Air 300, a plane contracted by the US military, went down in a rice field in Ampatuan town, Maguindanao del Sur.
Officials have confirmed there were no survivors.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation, and the identities of those on board are being withheld until their families are notified.
Fortunately, no civilians were harmed in the surrounding area.
The US military has a long-standing presence in the Philippines, supporting local forces in counterterrorism operations and broader Indo-Pacific security efforts.
This crash comes amid ongoing US military activities in the region, including efforts to counter Chinese influence and train Filipino troops.
Sources: News Agencies, Reuters, The Guardian
