Interfor International‘s Weekly Security Digest

Global Security And Policy Insights – May 21 2025

Middle East

→ Israel announced the launch of a major ground offensive in Gaza. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) have begun targeting terrorist sites and infrastructure in both the northern and southern regions of Gaza. The IDF anticipates significant displacement of civilians as a result. The operation, amid worsening humanitarian conditions on the ground, has sparked strong condemnation from the international community. Meanwhile, ceasefire negotiations mediated by the US, Qatar, and Egypt have resumed but face major obstacles. Both sides remain skeptical, and ongoing hostilities continue to undermine prospects for a peaceful resolution.

The international response has grown increasingly critical. The UK, France, and Canada issued a joint statement threatening “concrete actions” against Israel unless it halts its new offensive and lifts aid restrictions. Moreover, following Trump’s trip to the Gulf, his team has been pressing Israel to resolve the issue around humanitarian aid for Gaza.

International Affairs

→ Over the weekend, Russia launched a large drone offensive against Ukraine, deploying 273 drones that targeted multiple regions, including Kyiv, Dnipropetrovsk, and Donetsk. The assault resulted in the death of at least one woman and injuries to several others, with significant damage to residential areas. Ukrainian intelligence also reported that Russia planned to test an intercontinental ballistic missile on the same day, interpreting it as a threat to the West.

→ Following a two-hour phone call between U.S. President Donald Trump and Russian President Vladimir Putin, Russia launched another 100 drones into Ukraine. Ukraine’s air force reported intercepting or jamming the majority of these drones, but damage was still inflicted across four regions. President Trump characterized the call as “excellent” and announced that Russia and Ukraine would “immediately” resume peace negotiations. However, Putin did not agree to Ukraine’s proposal for a 30-day unconditional ceasefire, instead emphasizing the need to address the “root causes” of the conflict.

→ On Monday, the UK and the European Union agreed to a major reset in their defense and trade relations—the most significant shift since Brexit. The agreement includes a new defense and security framework, reduced restrictions on British food exports, and a long-term fishing pact. Under the fishing agreement, EU and UK vessels will be allowed to operate in each other’s waters for the next 12 years. However, the deal has drawn criticism from the UK’s Conservative Party, which argues it could negatively impact the domestic fishing industry. Officials have described the series of agreements as the beginning of a “new era” in UK-EU relations.

Cyber

→ On May 15, the FBI issued a public warning about malicious actors leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) to impersonate senior U.S. officials through text messages and AI-generated voice communications. These sophisticated impersonations aim to gain unauthorized access to the personal accounts of current and former federal and state government officials, as well as their contacts. The attackers typically initiate contact to build rapport before redirecting targets to hacker-controlled platforms designed to steal login credentials. The compromised accounts can then be exploited to reach additional officials or obtain sensitive information or funds. The FBI has not specified the number of affected individuals or whether the threat originates from financially motivated cybercriminals or state-linked entities. This warning builds on an earlier advisory from December 2024, which highlighted the growing use of AI in generating deceptive content for fraudulent and extortion schemes.

→ On May 19, President Donald Trump signed the “Take It Down Act” into law, marking a significant federal effort to combat the spread of non-consensual intimate imagery, including AI-generated deepfakes. First Lady Melania Trump, who actively advocated for the legislation, joined the signing ceremony, highlighting the law’s alignment with her “Be Best” initiative focused on children’s online safety.

Resources:
US Department of State Travel Advisories

CISA: nation-state cybersecurity threats and other resources for cybersecurity matters.

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