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Wrap up the week with SOFREP’s Evening Brief, October 10, 2025.
Explosion at Tennessee Military Explosives Plant Leaves 19 Missing, Feared Dead
An explosion on Friday at Accurate Energetic Systems (AES), a military explosives manufacturer in rural Tennessee, destroyed part of its facility and left 19 people missing and presumed dead, authorities said.
Humphreys County Sheriff Chris Davis described the site as completely leveled and called it the most devastating scene of his career.
The blast, felt and heard for miles, occurred at the company’s eight-building complex in the Bucksnort area, about 60 miles southwest of Nashville.
Emergency crews initially could not enter due to ongoing detonations, but officials later said the area was secure. The cause of the explosion remains under investigation.
Footage filmed by a local news helicopter showing the devastation caused by today’s explosion at the munitions plant run by Accurate Energetic Systems (AES) in Humphreys County, Tennessee. pic.twitter.com/CbpZch1y0k
— OSINTdefender (@sentdefender) October 10, 2025
Local leaders called the incident a tragedy for the small community, where the plant is a major employer.
Speaker Mike Johnson Faces Backlash as House Stays Out of Session During Government Shutdown
House Speaker Mike Johnson is under growing pressure as the House remains out of session for a fourth week during a federal government shutdown.
Lawmakers were sent home after passing a funding bill that stalled in the Senate, leaving government operations frozen and federal workers unpaid.
Johnson blames Senate Democrats for refusing to pass the House bill, while critics accuse him of abandoning his duties amid the crisis.
The standoff centers on funding for health care subsidies, with bipartisan negotiations ongoing in the Senate but no deal reached.
.@SpeakerJohnson: “This is the last paycheck that 700,000 federal workers will see until Washington Democrats decide to do their job and open the government.” pic.twitter.com/eYMnBqIVgh
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 10, 2025
Meanwhile, Arizona Democrat Adelita Grijalva, who won a special election to replace her late father, has yet to be sworn in, further tightening Johnson’s fragile Republican majority.
The speaker’s refusal to recall the House or seat Grijalva has fueled frustration across party lines, highlighting the political and logistical paralysis gripping Congress.
Retired Army Officer Sentenced to Nearly Six Years for Leaking Classified Ukraine War Info via Dating Site
A retired US Army lieutenant colonel who later worked as a civilian for the Air Force was sentenced Wednesday to 70 months in prison for conspiring to share classified information about Russia’s war in Ukraine through an online dating platform.
David Slater, 64, pleaded guilty in July to one count of conspiracy to disclose national defense information and was fined $25,000.
Prosecutors said that while working at US Strategic Command (USSTRATCOM) at Offutt Air Force Base in Nebraska, Slater shared secret details about Russian military targets and capabilities with a person he believed was a woman in Ukraine.
The messages, exchanged between 2021 and 2022, included romantic language and repeated requests for military intelligence.
David Slater, a former civilian @usairforce employee, was sentenced to nearly 6 years in prison after admitting to passing – via a dating app – classified info on the Ukraine war to a woman he thought was Ukrainian. Per the original 2024 FBI affidavit, their chats are amusing. pic.twitter.com/aY07Y2BAn1
— Mike Eckel (@Mike_Eckel) October 10, 2025
Authorities have not identified the recipient or clarified whether she was linked to any foreign government.
National Guard Patrols Memphis as Judge Blocks Trump’s Troop Deployment in Chicago
National Guard troops began patrolling Memphis on Friday as a federal judge blocked the Trump administration’s plan to deploy soldiers in the Chicago area.
At least nine armed Guard members were seen near downtown Memphis landmarks, including the Bass Pro Pyramid and the Mississippi River welcome center. City officials said they were not consulted about the deployment, which they hope will target violent crime without intimidating residents.
Tennessee’s governor authorized the deployment, though troops will not make arrests or operate checkpoints.
NEW: National Guard troops patrol Memphis, escorted by a local police officer. pic.twitter.com/n78B54agL4
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 10, 2025
Meanwhile, US District Judge April Perry halted Trump’s deployment of 500 troops to Illinois for at least two weeks, ruling there was no evidence of rebellion to justify federal intervention under the Insurrection Act. The ruling was praised by Illinois officials, who called the move unlawful.
Federal appeals courts are also reviewing similar cases in Oregon and California as Trump continues efforts to send National Guard forces into Democratic-led cities.
Congress Moves to Officially End Iraq War with Bipartisan Repeal of 2002 Authorization
Congress is poised to formally end the Iraq War after the Senate voted this week to repeal the 2002 authorization that allowed the US invasion, following a similar House vote last month.
The bipartisan measure, sponsored by Senator Tim Kaine (D-Va.) and Senator Todd Young (R-Ind.), was added unanimously to the annual defense bill, marking the strongest congressional step yet toward closing a conflict that claimed nearly 5,000 American lives and hundreds of thousands of Iraqi deaths.
Lawmakers said the repeal reaffirms that war powers rest with Congress and reflects Iraq’s current status as a US partner.
The 1991 Gulf War authorization would also be repealed, but the broader 2001 authorization for military force against global terrorism remains in place.
US Senate Unanimously Endorses Repeal of 2002 Iraq War Resolution https://t.co/9VcAOtD9oV
— Military.com (@Militarydotcom) October 10, 2025
It is unclear whether President Donald Trump will sign the repeal; his administration previously cited the 2002 law to justify the 2020 drone strike that killed Iranian General Qassem Soleimani.
Qatar to Build Air Force Facility at Idaho Base to Train Pilots on US Soil
Qatar will construct an Air Force facility at Mountain Home Airbase in Idaho to host its F-15 jets and train pilots, US and Qatari officials announced Friday.
The facility, to be built under US jurisdiction, marks a rare arrangement in which a foreign partner establishes military infrastructure on American soil.
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth made the announcement with his Qatari counterpart, calling it a step forward in US-Qatar defense cooperation.
.@SecWar Pete Hegseth: “Today we’re signing a letter of acceptance to build a Qatari Emiri Air Force Facility at the Mountain Home Air Base in Idaho.” pic.twitter.com/5TOihNlQRz
— CSPAN (@cspan) October 10, 2025
Discussions for the project began during the Biden administration and follow the Trump administration’s recent extension of a security guarantee to Qatar. While the US already trains pilots from several countries at Mountain Home, Qatar’s plan to construct a dedicated complex is unprecedented.
The project stems from Qatar’s need for more diverse training environments, given its limited airspace and flat desert terrain. The country previously purchased 36 advanced F-15 fighter jets in a $12 billion deal with the US.
Trump Threatens New Tariffs on China After Rare Earth Export Curbs, Says Meeting with Xi ‘Unnecessary’
President Donald Trump said Friday there was “no reason” to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping during his upcoming Asia trip and threatened a “massive increase” in tariffs after China restricted exports of rare earth minerals vital to US industries.
The move, announced a day earlier by Beijing, imposed new licensing rules and bans on technologies used in mining and refining rare earths.
Trump accused China of becoming “hostile” and using its dominance over the global rare earth supply chain as leverage, prompting sharp declines on Wall Street as trade tensions reignited.
🇺🇸 | 🇨🇳 Trump rules out Xi meeting amid China’s rare earth export curbs ⤵️
•Trump says there’s ‘no reason’ to meet President Xi Jinping at the upcoming APEC summit
•He accuses Beijing of becoming ‘very hostile’ after it restricted rare earth exports
•The new Chinese rules… pic.twitter.com/CGHrgecVo3
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 10, 2025
The White House did not confirm whether the Trump-Xi meeting at the APEC summit in South Korea would proceed.
Analysts said Beijing’s move was a retaliatory response to recent US sanctions and port fees targeting Chinese shipping, while also giving China leverage in ongoing trade talks.
Trump’s tariff warning raised fears of a renewed trade war that could destabilize the global economy, ending months of relative calm between the world’s two largest economies.
Venezuelan Activist María Corina Machado Wins Nobel Peace Prize, Trump Passed Over Despite Support
The Norwegian Nobel Committee awarded the 2025 Nobel Peace Prize to Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado on Friday for her efforts to promote democracy and human rights in Venezuela.
The decision came despite lobbying from President Donald Trump and his allies, who argued he deserved the prize for brokering the recent Gaza ceasefire.
Machado, who was nominated by a group including now-State Secretary Marco Rubio, dedicated the award to Trump and the Venezuelan people, praising his support for her cause.
“Oh my god… I have no words.”
Listen to the emotional moment this year’s laureate Maria Corina Machado finds out she has been awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.
Kristian Berg Harpviken, Director of the Norwegian Nobel Institute, shared the news with her directly before it was… pic.twitter.com/OCUpNz752k
— The Nobel Prize (@NobelPrize) October 10, 2025
The White House criticized the Nobel Committee for “placing politics over peace,” while Trump shared Machado’s post thanking him. Trump has long sought the honor, citing his role in peace initiatives like the Abraham Accords, though most of his nominations missed this year’s deadline.
Past recipients include US presidents Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, and Barack Obama.
The decision drew praise from democracy advocates and criticism from Trump’s supporters, including Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko, who said Trump deserved the prize.
Macron Reappoints Lecornu as Prime Minister in Last-Ditch Bid to End France’s Political Crisis
French President Emmanuel Macron on Friday reappointed Sébastien Lecornu as prime minister, just four days after his resignation, tasking him with forming a new government and delivering a budget to break France’s deepening political deadlock.
Lecornu, 38, said he accepted the post “out of duty” and pledged to restore stability and address economic challenges, including rising debt and poverty.
The move comes after Lecornu’s abrupt resignation earlier in the week, which followed coalition infighting that derailed Macron’s previous Cabinet.
Macron, whose centrist bloc lacks a parliamentary majority, faces mounting criticism as France struggles with record debt of 3.3 trillion euros ($3.9 trillion) and a 15.4 percent poverty rate.
BREAKING: President Emmanuel Macron has re-appointed Sebastien Lecornu as prime minister, days after the French politician resigned from the role.https://t.co/G8gDzyqv3Q
📺 Sky 501, Virgin 602, Freeview 233 and YouTube pic.twitter.com/HXFy7ijAFL
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 10, 2025
Lecornu’s new government will bar members from seeking the presidency in 2027, a move meant to project unity, though opposition leaders warn it could fail without broader support.
Russian Strikes Hit Kyiv and Zaporizhzhia as Ukraine Faces New Power Outages
Russian drone and missile attacks early Friday wounded at least 20 people in Kyiv, killed a child in southeastern Ukraine, and caused widespread power outages across multiple regions, Ukrainian officials said.
A 17-story apartment building in central Kyiv caught fire after being struck, and rescue teams evacuated more than 20 residents.
President Volodymyr Zelenskyy accused Moscow of targeting civilians and Ukraine’s energy infrastructure following battlefield losses in the east.
The barrage, described as one of the largest against Ukraine’s power sector, included 465 drones and 32 missiles, with air defenses intercepting most of them.
Power was disrupted across Kyiv, Sumy, Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, and other regions, though repair work began immediately. Russia’s Defense Ministry said it targeted energy sites supplying Ukraine’s military.
⚡️Russia unleashed a massive overnight missile and drone attack on Ukraine.
A seven-year-old boy was killed in Zaporizhzhia, at least 12 people were injured, and parts of Kyiv were left without power after strikes on homes and energy sites. pic.twitter.com/WJ0R1n9eZs
— UNITED24 Media (@United24media) October 10, 2025
Zelenskyy urged US President Donald Trump to strengthen Ukraine’s air defenses and apply diplomatic and economic pressure on Russia similar to US efforts that helped secure the Gaza ceasefire.
Ceasefire Takes Hold in Gaza as Palestinians Return Home and Hostage Releases Begin
A US-brokered ceasefire between Israel and Hamas began Friday, allowing tens of thousands of displaced Palestinians to return to northern Gaza after two years of devastating war.
The truce, part of President Donald Trump’s peace plan, includes the release of the remaining 48 hostages by Monday in exchange for about 2,000 Palestinian prisoners.
Israel confirmed it would begin pulling back troops but warned it would resume fighting if Hamas fails to disarm.
The United Nations said Israel has approved expanded humanitarian deliveries starting Sunday, including 170,000 metric tons of food and medical aid to address famine conditions.
Returning residents found widespread destruction across Gaza’s cities, with many homes reduced to rubble.
🏚️ Israel’s initial withdrawal from parts of Gaza City exposed the vast scale of destruction across residential neighborhoods
📹 The footage depicts harrowing scenes of flattened homes, shattered facilities, and bulldozed streets pic.twitter.com/ch1yJaOiNI
— Anadolu English (@anadoluagency) October 10, 2025
The war, triggered by Hamas’s October 2023 attack that killed 1,200 Israelis, has left more than 67,000 Palestinians dead and 170,000 wounded.
The ceasefire raises questions over Gaza’s future governance and security, as the US plan calls for an international peacekeeping force and an eventual role for a reformed Palestinian Authority.
North Korea Holds Massive Military Parade Marking 80th Anniversary of Ruling Party
North Korea began a large-scale military parade in Pyongyang on Friday night to celebrate the 80th founding anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party, according to South Korea’s Yonhap News Agency.
The event is the first major parade in two years, following a 2023 paramilitary display.
Details about the participants, weaponry, and whether leader Kim Jong Un delivered a speech were not immediately available.
High-level foreign guests, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Russian official Dmitry Medvedev, and Vietnamese leader To Lam, were expected to attend.
North Korea celebrates 80th anniversary of its ruling Workers’ Party. pic.twitter.com/HofGaefUTw
— The Associated Press (@AP) October 10, 2025
Analysts believe North Korea may use the occasion to unveil or test its new Hwasong-20 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM), underscoring its growing military cooperation with China and Russia after Kim’s joint appearance with Presidents Vladimir Putin and Xi Jinping at Beijing’s military parade last month.
Sources: News Agencies
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English (US) ·