Good morning! It’s Thursday, February 13, 2025, and we’re back with your daily briefing on defense and global affairs. Here’s what’s making headlines today.
Trump, Putin Plan Negotiations to End Ukraine War
In a surprising turn, US President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin had a “lengthy and highly productive” call on Wednesday, agreeing to immediately start negotiations to end the war in Ukraine.
Trump shared on Truth Social that both leaders even discussed visiting each other’s countries, and he planned to call Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky right away to update him.
The Kremlin confirmed the 90-minute call, stating that both sides agreed “the time has come to work together” on a long-term settlement.
Putin reportedly invited Trump to Moscow and expressed optimism about ending the war sparked by Russia’s 2022 invasion.
This major diplomatic move follows a prisoner swap earlier this week, in which the US secured the release of American teacher Marc Fogel while Russia got cryptocurrency tycoon Alexander Vinnik.
Trump, never shy about his admiration for Putin, praised the Russian leader for using his “COMMON SENSE” campaign slogan.
Trump has tasked key officials, including Secretary of State Marco Rubio and CIA Director John Ratcliffe, with leading the negotiations, saying he is “strongly confident” they will succeed.
Whether this marks real progress or just political posturing remains to be seen, but one thing’s clear—Washington and Moscow just took a big step toward the negotiating table.
Israel Strikes Gaza Drone Smugglers in Air Raid
Israel carried out an airstrike in southern Gaza on Wednesday, targeting two people trying to recover a drone that had crossed into Palestinian territory from Israel.
According to the Israeli military, the drone was destroyed by a warplane, along with the two suspects retrieving it—though their condition wasn’t specified.
Israel has been on high alert for drone-based weapons smuggling, saying several attempts have been intercepted recently.
Just days ago, a drone carrying weapons entered Israeli airspace from Egypt, but security forces shut it down before it could deliver its cargo.
The timing of this strike is significant. Gaza has been under a ceasefire for the past 42 days, following an Israel-Hamas truce brokered by Qatar, Egypt, and the US Since then, both sides have exchanged hostages and prisoners five times, with Hamas releasing 16 Israeli hostages in return for hundreds of Palestinian prisoners.
However, tensions are escalating fast. Israel has warned that if Hamas doesn’t release more hostages by this weekend, fighting could resume. Hamas, meanwhile, insists it’s committed to the truce but accuses Israel of violating it.
Sudan Clears Path for Russian Naval Base on Red Sea
Russia just got a major boost in its bid to set up a naval base on Sudan’s Red Sea coast.
Sudan’s foreign minister, Ali Youssef, announced during a visit to Moscow on Wednesday that there are “no obstacles whatsoever” to the deal. However, he didn’t go into details, and Russia’s Foreign Minister, Sergei Lavrov, stayed silent on the matter.
Moscow has had its eyes on Port Sudan for years, striking a deal under former Sudanese leader Omar al-Bashir, who was ousted in 2019.
After his fall, Sudan’s military put the agreement on hold, and the country’s ongoing civil war since 2023 has only added to the uncertainty.
But Youssef’s comments suggest Sudan is now ready to move forward, signaling yet another move by Russia to expand its influence in Africa.
Somali Troops Kill Dozens of IS Militants in Heavy Clashes
Security forces in Somalia’s Puntland region just dealt a major blow to ISIS-linked militants after a brutal 24-hour battle in the Cal Miskaad mountains.
The regional military reported killing up to 65 fighters after repelling a two-pronged attack on one of their bases.
The battle was intense—fighters armed with explosives and suicide vests stormed the base, while two attackers tried (and failed) to breach it with a car bomb.
Puntland’s forces held their ground and continued pushing back the militants hiding in nearby caves. However, the fight came at a cost, with more than 20 Puntland soldiers reportedly killed.
Puntland has been cracking down on IS-linked militias since launching an offensive in December, sometimes with US military support.
Earlier this month, President Donald Trump confirmed that US airstrikes had taken out key IS figures in the region. While Al-Shabaab remains Somalia’s dominant extremist group, experts warn that IS’s growing footprint in Puntland is something to watch.
Malian Rebels Claim Drone Strike Took Down Army Helicopter
Mali’s Tuareg rebel group, the Front for the Liberation of Azawad (FLA), said Wednesday that it used a drone to take down a Malian Army helicopter in the Kidal region.
The country’s military, however, is reportedly not having it. Officials confirmed they intercepted a “terrorist” drone near an airport in Tessalit but insisted their helicopter refueled and safely returned to base.
FLA spokesman Mohamed Elmaouloud Ramadane doubled down on the claim, calling the army’s version “false” and stating, “We did shoot down the army helicopter with our drones.”
No independent confirmation of the claim.
This latest clash is part of a bigger fight between Mali’s ruling military junta—backed by Russian Wagner mercenaries—and separatist rebels.
The FLA, a coalition of Tuareg groups, formed last year and has been carrying out attacks from bases near the Algerian border.
Last July, the FLA ambushed Malian forces, killing dozens of soldiers and Wagner fighters. That attack stirred speculation that Ukraine provided intelligence or even drones to the rebels—something Kyiv has denied.
Mali’s government has shifted its alliances away from France and Europe, instead turning to Russia for military and political support—a move that has reshaped the country’s long-running conflict.
Sources: News Agencies
