Evening Brief: Iran Claims to Have Obtained Sensitive Israeli Intelligence in Covert Operation, Israel Vows to Block Gaza-Bound Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg

Good evening! SOFREP’s Evening Brief is here, wrapping up your Sunday with the latest updates on defense and global affairs for June 8, 2025. Here are tonight’s headlines: Trump imposed a new travel ban on 12 countries, citing security risks, and deployed National Guard troops to LA amid immigration protests, bypassing California’s governor. Iran claimed it stole Israeli nuclear intel, while Israel vowed to stop Greta Thunberg’s Gaza aid boat. Wagner forces left Mali, replaced by Russia’s Africa Corps. Russia and Ukraine blamed each other for a delayed body swap as clashes continued. Thailand and Cambodia pulled back troops after a deadly border skirmish. A Chinese ship ran aground near a Philippine-held island, triggering regional military tensions.

—

Trump Imposes New Travel Ban on 12 Countries, Citing Security Risks

President Donald Trump’s new travel ban targeting citizens from 12 primarily African and Middle Eastern countries is set to take effect Monday, intensifying his administration’s immigration enforcement drive.

The proclamation, signed Wednesday, bars visa issuance to nationals from countries including Afghanistan, Iran, Somalia, and Haiti, while imposing heightened restrictions on travelers from an additional seven countries such as Cuba, Venezuela, and Turkmenistan.

The ban applies only to those outside the US without valid visas and does not revoke existing ones. Visa applications from affected countries will be denied unless they meet narrow exemption criteria.

Trump cited terrorism and public safety risks, as well as poor vetting procedures and high visa overstay rates, as justification for the restrictions.

“We cannot have open migration from any country where we cannot safely and reliably vet and screen… That is why today I am signing a new executive order placing travel restrictions on countries including Yemen, Somalia, Haiti, Libya, and numerous others.” –President Trump pic.twitter.com/ER7nGM4TO2

— The White House (@WhiteHouse) June 4, 2025

The policy also references a recent attack in Colorado by an Egyptian national—not among the targeted countries—as an example of overstay dangers.

The administration says the new policy was carefully crafted to withstand legal challenges, unlike Trump’s earlier travel bans that were struck down or narrowed in court.

Human rights groups and refugee aid organizations have condemned the move, accusing the White House of targeting vulnerable populations and fueling division. Venezuela’s government also denounced the ban as discriminatory.

Trump Deploys National Guard to Los Angeles Without Governor’s Request Amid Immigration Protests

Roughly 300 National Guard troops arrived in Los Angeles early Sunday under direct orders from President Donald Trump, bypassing California Governor Gavin Newsom’s authority in a rare federal move.

The troops, armed and in tactical gear, were stationed outside key federal sites including the Metropolitan Detention Center, following two days of unrest tied to immigration enforcement.

The deployment marked the first time since 1965 that the National Guard was activated without a governor’s request. Trump invoked a legal clause allowing federal troop deployment in the event of “rebellion,” claiming California leaders had failed to contain the protests. He authorized the mobilization of up to 2,000 Guard members.

According to U.S. Northern Command (NORTHCOM), roughly 300 Soldiers with the 79th Infantry Brigade Combat Team of the California National Guard have been federalized and deployed to protect three separate federal facilities across the Greater Los Angeles Metropolitan Area, under… pic.twitter.com/nG56ECZNRL

— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) June 8, 2025

Protests began Friday in downtown LA and spread to Paramount and Compton, where demonstrators clashed with Border Patrol agents using tear gas and flash-bangs. The clashes followed sweeping Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids that resulted in over 100 arrests. Tensions escalated further when federal agents set up operations near a Home Depot in the Latino-heavy suburb of Paramount.

California officials, including Newsom and Rep. Maxine Waters, condemned the deployment as an overreaction. Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth warned that active-duty Marines could be deployed if violence continued. Trump allies like House Speaker Mike Johnson praised the move, while critics such as Sen. Bernie Sanders labeled it a dangerous overreach of presidential power.

The federal government defended the action as essential to public safety, accusing California officials of protecting “illegal alien criminals.” Meanwhile, confusion lingered over the Guard’s exact arrival time, with conflicting statements from Trump and LA Mayor Karen Bass late Saturday.

Iran Claims to Have Obtained Sensitive Israeli Intelligence in Covert Operation

Iranian state television announced Saturday that Tehran had acquired a large cache of sensitive Israeli intelligence, including documents allegedly related to Israel’s nuclear program and defense infrastructure.

The report claimed the data haul included thousands of files, images, and videos concerning Israel’s nuclear facilities and strategic plans, all reportedly obtained through a covert operation and securely transferred to Iran.

While the report did not detail the source or method of acquisition, it described the materials as thoroughly reviewed by Iranian authorities. Neither Iran’s intelligence agencies nor other official media outlets provided further comment.

Iran’s intelligence obtains large trove of sensitive Israeli nuclear, strategic documents

Follow Press TV on Telegram: https://t.co/mLGcUTS2ei pic.twitter.com/OMxdcSY7gU

— Press TV 🔻 (@PressTV) June 8, 2025

The revelation comes amid heightened tensions between Iran and Israel, two regional adversaries engaged in years of shadow warfare involving cyberattacks, assassinations, and proxy strikes.

Israel has accused Iran of supporting militant groups and targeting its interests abroad, while Tehran blames Israel for the assassinations of several Iranian nuclear scientists.

The timing of the report coincides with renewed friction over Iran’s nuclear ambitions, which Israeli leaders regard as an existential threat.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has reiterated support for preemptive strikes on Iranian nuclear infrastructure.

The announcement also follows last year’s unprecedented direct military exchanges between the two nations during Israel’s ongoing conflict in Gaza. Iran, a staunch backer of the Palestinian cause, does not recognize Israel’s statehood.

Israel Vows to Block Gaza-Bound Aid Boat Carrying Greta Thunberg

Israel’s government announced Sunday it will prevent an aid vessel carrying climate activist Greta Thunberg and 11 others from reaching Gaza, warning it will enforce its naval blockade.

Defense Minister Israel Katz labeled Thunberg and fellow activists as “antisemitic” and “Hamas propagandists,” declaring, “You will not make it to Gaza.”

The vessel Madleen, operated by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, departed Sicily last week with plans to breach the Israeli blockade and deliver humanitarian aid. The group aims to spotlight the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza, now 20 months into the Israel-Hamas war.

Among the passengers is Rima Hassan, a French-Palestinian European Union parliamentarian banned from entering Israel for her stance on Israeli policies.

“We are 12 peaceful volunteers carrying humanitarian aid…If Israel or its allies attack us, it would be a violation of international law and human rights.”

Activist Greta Thunberg spoke about her humanitarian aid journey to Gaza.

Full interview ➡️ https://t.co/3UwRgQxbRk pic.twitter.com/0nQFyQw2eZ

— Al Jazeera English (@AJEnglish) June 8, 2025

Brazilian activist Thiago Ávila posted Sunday that the boat’s communications appeared to be jammed about 160 nautical miles from Gaza. The attempt follows a similar failed mission last month, when another flotilla vessel was damaged in a drone strike off Malta. The group blamed Israel for the attack.

Israel and Egypt have maintained a blockade on Gaza since Hamas took power in 2007. Israel says the blockade is essential to prevent arms smuggling; critics call it collective punishment. While Israel began allowing limited aid last month, humanitarian organizations warn of looming famine due to ongoing restrictions and heavy military operations.

The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 7 assault that killed 1,200 and led to the abduction of 251 hostages, has since left more than 54,000 Palestinians dead, according to Gaza’s health ministry.

Nearly 90 percent of Gaza’s population is now displaced and reliant on international aid.

Wagner Leaves Mali, Russia’s Africa Corps Takes Over

Russia’s Wagner Group has officially withdrawn from Mali, with its forces now replaced by the Kremlin-controlled Africa Corps, diplomatic and security sources confirmed Sunday.

A Telegram channel linked to Wagner declared, “Mission accomplished. PMC Wagner is going home.”

The move comes as Mali’s military junta continues its strategic shift from France to Russia for security cooperation. Though Mali never formally acknowledged Wagner’s presence, it claimed to work only with Russian “instructors.”

Western and regional observers, however, had long identified Wagner personnel operating in the country.

❗️ Russia’s Wagner Group Says Its Mission in Mali Complete

The statement says that the group has completed its main task, returning all regional capitals to the control of legitimate authorities.

“For 3.5 years, the [fighters] fought shoulder to shoulder with the people of Mali… pic.twitter.com/DUd2HXYLUH

— Sputnik Africa (@sputnik_africa) June 6, 2025

After Wagner’s leader Yevgeny Prigozhin died in a suspicious plane crash in August 2023 following a brief mutiny, the group was disbanded and restructured.

The Africa Corps, a new paramilitary organization aligned with the Kremlin, has since absorbed Wagner’s operations in Mali and other African nations.

Most of Wagner’s Russian operatives in Mali have been integrated into Africa Corps, which now holds positions in the capital Bamako and key northern cities. The transition underscores Russia’s continued push for influence in the Sahel under a new operational banner.

Russia Awaits Ukraine Confirmation on Soldier Body Swap Amid Frontline Push

Russia said Sunday it is still waiting for Ukraine to confirm a planned exchange of 6,000 fallen soldiers, alleging that Kyiv postponed the operation agreed to in recent Istanbul talks.

Russian Lt. Gen. Alexander Zorin said Moscow had delivered an initial batch of 1,212 Ukrainian bodies to a border site and claimed there were signs of delays.

Kremlin spokeswoman Maria Zakharova questioned whether Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy or NATO halted the swap.

Ukraine’s intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov denied any delay and accused Russia of manipulating the situation. He said the repatriation is scheduled for next week and preparations are moving forward as planned under the Istanbul agreement. Both sides have traded blame for disrupting the exchange.

The Russian Defense Ministry also announced Sunday that its forces had reached the western edge of the Donetsk region and launched an offensive into neighboring Dnipropetrovsk—potentially marking their first confirmed entry into the region since the war began in 2022.

Ukraine has not commented, and the claim remains unverified by independent sources.

NEW: A senior Ukrainian official reported that the Russian military intends to seize half of Ukraine by the end of 2026. Russian forces are highly unlikely to be able to make such large advances in such a narrow time frame, given Russia’s current offensive capabilities and… pic.twitter.com/HoSK7PunN9

— Institute for the Study of War (@TheStudyofWar) June 7, 2025

Russia and Ukraine exchanged drone and missile strikes overnight. In Ukraine’s Kharkiv region, Russian strikes killed one person Sunday, following Saturday’s attacks that left six dead and over two dozen wounded.

Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting 40 of 49 Russian drones and missiles launched overnight.

In Russia, Ukrainian drone attacks wounded several people in Belgorod and Tula regions and briefly shut down three major Moscow airports—Vnukovo, Domodedovo, and Zhukovsky. Russia claimed to have shot down 61 Ukrainian drones across various regions.

The aerial exchanges highlight the ongoing intensity of the conflict as both sides press on with limited progress in peace negotiations.

Thailand and Cambodia De-escalate Border Tensions After Deadly Clash

Thailand and Cambodia agreed to return troops to their previously agreed-upon positions along the disputed border following a deadly skirmish that killed a Cambodian soldier.

The announcement came after heightened military deployments by both nations near the contentious area between Cambodia’s Preah Vihear and Thailand’s Ubon Ratchathani provinces.

Thai Defense Minister Phumtham Wechayachai expressed hope that a meeting of the Joint Boundary Committee would help resolve the long-running dispute. However, Cambodia’s Foreign Minister Prak Sokhonn reiterated Phnom Penh’s call for the International Court of Justice (ICJ) to intervene, citing the issue’s complexity.

Thailand has rejected ICJ jurisdiction and favors bilateral talks.

Breaking: The Royal Thai Army, under jurisdiction from the National Security Council, is taking over all opening and closing of Thai Cambodian borders. Those traveling should check in advance and the situation could change at any time in regards to openings or closings. pic.twitter.com/XadBB5RDU0

— The Pattaya News Thailand (@The_PattayaNews) June 7, 2025

The border dispute dates back to 1907, when colonial France drew Cambodia’s map. Tensions have flared sporadically since 2008, particularly around the 11th-century Hindu temple of Preah Vihear, with at least 28 deaths recorded.

Despite the de-escalation, Cambodia maintains its right to keep troops in the area, while Thailand insists on full military withdrawal. On Saturday, the Thai army assumed control of all border crossings, citing threats to national sovereignty. On Sunday, Thailand reduced operating hours at 10 of the 17 official border checkpoints along the 817-kilometer (508-mile) frontier.

Chinese Ship Runs Aground Near Philippine-Held Island, Triggers Military Alert

A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground Saturday in stormy conditions near Thitu Island, a Philippine-occupied territory in the disputed South China Sea, prompting Filipino forces to go on alert.

The ship became stuck in shallow waters about 1.5 nautical miles from a Filipino fishing village but was later pulled free by accompanying Chinese vessels, according to Philippine military officials.

Philippine troops and coast guard personnel initially deployed to offer assistance in accordance with international maritime law but stood down once it was clear the vessel had been extricated. No injuries or damage have been confirmed.

The grounded ship resembled vessels that Manila has previously identified as suspected Chinese maritime militia, often involved in aggressive actions supporting the Chinese coast guard against Philippine patrols. The incident raised concerns among local residents and highlights ongoing tensions in the region.

WATCH: A Chinese fishing vessel ran aground in Philippine waters east of Pag-asa Island on Saturday, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) said.

Details about the Chinese vessel were few, as the Philippine Coast Guard responding to local fishermen reports found the Chinese… pic.twitter.com/roeQHJe97r

— NewsWatch Plus PH (@newswatchplusph) June 8, 2025

Thitu Island, known locally as Pagasa, is the largest Philippine-held island in the Spratly chain and lies just 26 kilometers (16 miles) from China’s militarized Subi Reef. The broader South China Sea dispute involves overlapping territorial claims by China, the Philippines, Vietnam, Malaysia, Brunei, and Taiwan.

While the US does not claim territory in the region, it has reaffirmed its mutual defense treaty with the Philippines and warned it will respond if Filipino forces or assets are attacked in the South China Sea.

Sources: AFP, News Agencies, The Associated Press