Good morning — here’s your Thursday, August 21, 2025 SOFREP Morning Brief. Overnight, a fire aboard the USS New Orleans near Okinawa injured two sailors but was contained with allied help. At Microsoft HQ, 18 protesters were arrested over claims the company enabled Israeli military surveillance. A California man was sentenced to eight years for smuggling weapons to North Korea, while a US Navy Super Hornet crashed off Virginia, the pilot safely rescued. Meanwhile, Russia unleashed massive strikes on Ukraine as Zelenskyy pressed for NATO-style guarantees, and North Korea advanced trials of its nuclear-capable destroyer.

—Fire Erupts on USS New Orleans Near Okinawa, Two Sailors Injured

A fire broke out late Wednesday aboard the USS New Orleans (LPD-18)off the coast of Okinawa, Japan, i

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