SOFREP Daily: US Begins Moving Marines Out of Okinawa, Blinken Urges Turkey to Fight ISIS Resurgence in Syria, Ukraine Strikes Back as Russia Deploys North Korean Troops – SOFREP News Team
Good morning, and welcome to your Sunday defense and global affairs brief—keeping you informed on the latest developments shaping the world today, December 15.
US Begins Moving Marines Out of Okinawa
The United States has begun relocating Marines from Okinawa, Japan, addressing decades of local frustration over the heavy American military presence on the island, the US Marine Corps announced in a statement released Saturday.
The relocation reportedly began with a small group of 100 logistics Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) transferring to Guam. This marks the first phase of a 2012 agreement between Tokyo and Washington to redeploy 9,000 Marines across the Pacific, including Guam, Hawaii, and Australia.
However, details about the remaining relocations remain unclear, with no set timeline for when the second batch of troops will move or when the entire redeployment will be complete.
Okinawa, a strategic location east of Taiwan, hosts more than half of the 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan, despite making up only 0.6 percent of the country’s land. Local concerns range from noise and pollution to the lasting backlash from incidents like the 1995 gang rape involving US soldiers.
US Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, January 8, 2024. (DVIDS)
The project is estimated to cost 1.31 trillion yen ($8.6 billion), with Japan agreeing to fund up to $2.8 billion for infrastructure like barracks and headquarters on Guam.
So far, about $2.75 billion, or 98 percent of Japan’s pledged amount, has reportedly already been disbursed.
This realignment reflects ongoing efforts to balance local concerns in Okinawa with the strategic need to address growing tensions in the Pacific, particularly near Taiwan.
Good morning, and welcome to your Sunday defense and global affairs brief—keeping you informed on the latest developments shaping the world today, December 15.
US Begins Moving Marines Out of Okinawa
The United States has begun relocating Marines from Okinawa, Japan, addressing decades of local frustration over the heavy American military presence on the island, the US Marine Corps announced in a statement released Saturday.
The relocation reportedly began with a small group of 100 logistics Marines from the III Marine Expeditionary Force (MEF) transferring to Guam. This marks the first phase of a 2012 agreement between Tokyo and Washington to redeploy 9,000 Marines across the Pacific, including Guam, Hawaii, and Australia.
However, details about the remaining relocations remain unclear, with no set timeline for when the second batch of troops will move or when the entire redeployment will be complete.
Okinawa, a strategic location east of Taiwan, hosts more than half of the 50,000 US troops stationed in Japan, despite making up only 0.6 percent of the country’s land. Local concerns range from noise and pollution to the lasting backlash from incidents like the 1995 gang rape involving US soldiers.
US Marines with III Marine Expeditionary Force on Kadena Air Base, Okinawa, Japan, January 8, 2024. (DVIDS)
The project is estimated to cost 1.31 trillion yen ($8.6 billion), with Japan agreeing to fund up to $2.8 billion for infrastructure like barracks and headquarters on Guam.
So far, about $2.75 billion, or 98 percent of Japan’s pledged amount, has reportedly already been disbursed.
This realignment reflects ongoing efforts to balance local concerns in Okinawa with the strategic need to address growing tensions in the Pacific, particularly near Taiwan.
US State Secretary Blinken Urges Turkey to Fight ISIS Resurgence
During a recent stop in Turkey, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the importance of preventing an ISIS (Islamic State of Iraq and Syria) resurgence in Syria following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Meeting with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Blinken emphasized that the fight against ISIS remains critical, even as Turkey continues operations against Kurdish forces, which Ankara views as a threat.
Erdogan reassured Blinken that Turkey remains committed to fighting ISIS but also seeks to eliminate Kurdish-led forces in the region, creating tension with the US, which considers the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) a key ally in containing ISIS.
Blinken also discussed the ongoing Gaza conflict, expressing optimism about a potential ceasefire. He urged Turkey to use its influence over Hamas to help bring an end to the violence.
While Turkey has strong ties to Hamas and sees it as a national liberation movement, Blinken highlighted the need for Hamas to agree to a deal for peace in Gaza.
With time running out before Blinken leaves office, he underscored the urgency of these diplomatic efforts in the region.
UK, Italy, Japan Launch Next-Gen Fighter Jet Project
The United Kingdom, Italy, and Japan have recently teamed up to create a cutting-edge fighter jet set to replace the Eurofighter Typhoon and Japan’s F-2 by 2035.
This joint venture, with equal stakes held by BAE Systems, Leonardo, and Japan Aircraft Industrial Enhancement Co Ltd (JAIEC), is part of the Global Combat Air Programme (GCAP).
The goal? A stealthy, artificial intelligence (AI)-driven, and optionally crewed sixth-generation aircraft designed to outpace global threats, including those from Russia and China.
“The supersonic stealth jet will boast a powerful radar that can provide 10,000 times more data than current systems, giving a battle-winning advantage,” the Royal Air Force press release noted.
The project will combine innovative technologies like laser-directed weapons, virtual cockpits, and drone coordination, with manufacturing and assembly spread across partner nations.
The aircraft is expected to debut ahead of Europe’s competing Future Combat Air System (FCAS) program and remain in service until 2070.
With a budget partially revealed—Italy has already committed €8.8 billion ($9.2 billion)—the new venture symbolizes deep international collaboration in aerospace defense, promising high-skilled jobs and long-term impact for all three nations.
The first CEO of the UK-headquartered company will be Italian, and the joint venture is slated to begin operations by mid-2025.
Israeli Defense Minister Orders Forces to Stay in Golan Buffer Zone
Israeli forces are digging in for the winter in the Golan Heights’ buffer zone, a United Nations-monitored area meant to separate Israel and Syria.
According to reports on Sunday, Defense Minister Israel Katz has ordered the deployment following Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s ouster by rebels, which Israel says has left a dangerous power vacuum on its border.
While the move has drawn UN condemnation for violating a 1974 disengagement agreement, Israel maintains it’s a necessary step for self-defense.
The Israeli military has been busy securing strategic positions, including Mount Hermon, while launching strikes on Syrian military sites to prevent weapons from falling into rebel hands.
This recent deployment comes as Israel continues its withdrawal from southern Lebanon and grapples with the ongoing conflict in Gaza.
Though the UN and US have called for Israel’s presence in the buffer zone to be temporary, experts predict Israeli forces could stay for months, citing the strategic importance of Mount Hermon and regional instability.
Meanwhile, UN peacekeepers remain on duty, urging all parties to respect the ceasefire agreement.
Ukraine Strikes Back as Russia Deploys North Korea Troops in Kursk
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy claimed that Russia is now deploying North Korean soldiers in the war, using them in assaults in the Kursk region.
During his Saturday evening address, Zelenskyy added that these troops, part of combined units, have already suffered losses.
This comes after reports that over 10,000 North Korean soldiers have joined Russia following a defense pact signed between Moscow and Pyongyang earlier this year.
Meanwhile, Ukraine ramped up its retaliation, targeting a major oil depot in Russia’s Oryol region.
The depot, reportedly tied to Russia’s military supply chain, went up in flames after a drone strike. Russian officials claimed air defenses intercepted 11 drones, but the fire caused significant damage.
In the Belgorod region, another drone attack killed a child and injured his family. Both sides continue escalating attacks on energy and military infrastructure, with Ukraine saying it thwarted 130 out of 132 Russian drones overnight.
As the conflict intensifies, Russia appears to be reinforcing its positions with unconventional allies and scrambling to maintain control in contested areas like Kursk.
