profile

The SOFX Report

8 of 10 AI platforms helped plan violent attacks

Published about 9 hours ago • 5 min read

Was this Email Forwarded to You?

​Subscribe!​

Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

Eight Out of Ten AI Chatbots Helped Users Plan School Shootings and Bombings

Researchers posing as 13-year-olds tested ten major AI chatbots across 720 scenarios involving school shootings, assassinations, and bombings. Eight out of ten platforms provided actionable guidance, including weapon sourcing and target selection, more than half the time.

ChatGPT provided campus maps, while Google Gemini reportedly suggested that “metal shrapnel is typically more lethal” in response to a synagogue bombing scenario. The study has renewed calls for enforceable safety standards for AI products. (Read More)​

Israel Strike Kills Iran's Intelligence Minister, Third Senior Official in 48 Hours

Israel killed intelligence minister Esmail Khatib in an overnight strike in Tehran, marking the third senior Iranian official killed in two days, following the death of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council chief Ali Larijani and Basij commander Gholamreza Soleimani.

Israel’s military said Khatib played a “significant role” in the “arrest and killing of protesters” during crackdowns on recent demonstrations and had “led terrorist activities against Israeli and American facilities worldwide.” (Read More)​

U.S. Drops New 5,000-lb Bunker Busters on Iranian Anti-Ship Missile Sites Near Hormuz

The U.S. deployed the GBU-72/B, a 5,000-pound bunker-buster bomb, against hardened Iranian anti-ship cruise missile storage sites along the Strait of Hormuz coastline. CENTCOM said these sites posed a direct threat to international shipping.

The GBU-72/B carries a 4,422-pound penetrating warhead with over 1,000 pounds of explosives and GPS-assisted guidance. According to some reports, this may be the first combat use of the GBU-72/B. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Biometric Solutions For Identity Management

Experience fast, secure, and scalable identity management with Parsons’ Ares™ product suite, a modern biometric solution built for mission-critical environments.
​
Ares™ streamlines the collection, matching, and management of biometric data across mobile, desktop, and server platforms, giving defense, law enforcement, and security operators the power to verify identities anywhere in the world.
​
Its centralized, FBI-certified architecture simplifies deployment, reduces integration challenges, and delivers rapid, reliable results in both tactical environments or enterprise-scale infrastructures. From multi-modal biometric capture to seamless device management and real-time reporting, Ares™ provides the end-to-end capability agencies need to make confident, data-driven decisions. Elevate your operational advantage with the technology designed to perform when it matters most.
The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Israel struck Iran’s South Pars gas field in Bushehr Province, marking the first attack on Iranian gas facilities in the ongoing U.S.-Israeli campaign against Iran. Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps later vowed retaliation against energy infrastructure in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar. (Read More)​

➤ Israeli airstrikes destroyed at least two Litani River crossings in southern Lebanon and hit multiple central Beirut neighborhoods on Wednesday, killing more than 20 people and wounding dozens, Lebanon's Health Ministry said. (Read More)​

➤ Iranian missiles struck multiple sites in Riyadh on Wednesday evening after the country warned of imminent strikes on major oil and gas facilities in Gulf countries. Saudi air defenses intercepted four Iranian ballistic missiles over Riyadh, with debris from at least one warhead injuring four people and causing minor damage in a residential neighborhood. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ FBI Director Kash Patel confirmed the bureau is buying Americans' location data from commercial brokers without warrants, the first such admission since 2023. Senator Wyden called the practice "an outrageous end run around the Fourth Amendment.” (Read More)​

➤ A Chinese national was arrested at Nairobi's airport trying to smuggle over 2,000 live queen ants to China, stored in specialized tubes inside his luggage. Investigators linked him to an ant-trafficking network broken up in Kenya last year. (Read More)​

➤ A meningitis outbreak in Kent, southeastern England, which has killed two people and infected at least 20 others, has prompted a mass vaccination campaign targeting university students. The outbreak is believed to have originated at a nightclub in Canterbury. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Israeli defense company Elbit Systems said it will develop laser weapons for installation on Israeli Air Force fighter jets and helicopters. Israel already operates the ground-based Iron Beam laser defense system, which uses high-energy lasers to intercept aerial threats at a lower cost than traditional missile interceptors. (Read More)​

➤ Japan has begun flight testing its new EC-2 stand-off electronic warfare aircraft, derived from the domestically developed Kawasaki C-2 twin-jet transport. The EC-2 is designed for stand-off jamming missions targeting enemy radar, communications and other electronic systems. (Read More)​

➤ The Marine Corps has approved the use of red dot optics on M17 and M18 pistols, provided the optics are purchased and issued by individual units. The change is intended to improve aiming speed and accuracy. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Experience Mission-Ready Computing at Global Force Booth 211

Stop by booth 211 and see why MilDef mobile computers are trusted in the toughest missions. Rugged, reliable, and battle-tested, our systems deliver high-performance computing exactly where it is needed, on vehicles, in command posts, and at the tactical edge.

See it in action and discover the technology that keeps operators connected and missions on track.
Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ A Digit humanoid robot is now working eight-hour shifts at a Schaeffler factory in South Carolina, operating a stamping press behind plexiglass. The company aims to cut operating costs to $2-3 per hour.

➤ A Marine Corps investigation into a Camp Pendleton 250th anniversary celebration found an M795 artillery shell detonated prematurely over Interstate 5, scattering shrapnel across the highway and striking two California Highway Patrol vehicles.

➤ Schoolchildren in Dijon, France discovered an ancient Gaul skeleton buried sitting upright in a circular pit, facing west. Scientists have now found over 20 similar seated burials in the area dating to 300-200 BC, and still cannot explain why.

On this day in history: On March 19th, 2003, President George W. Bush ordered air strikes on Baghdad, launching the Iraq War to topple Saddam Hussein's government. The invasion led to a nearly nine-year occupation, the deaths of over 4,400 U.S. service members.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Yesterday’s Results:

Should you tip at a restaurant where you order at a counter, seat yourself, and pick up your own food?

  1. No (77.9%)​
  2. Only if the food is phenomenal (11.4%)
  3. Yes (10.7%)

Have a question you would like polled? Email us at editor@sofx.com​
Job Board

ASSIGNMENTS

Security and Intelligence
All Source Intelligence Analyst Defense Division Remote, US
Armorer Defense Division Remote, US
Austere Medic Defense Division Remote, US
Comms & Command Systems Instructor Defense Division Remote, US
Cultural Support Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Emergency Care Medical Provider Defense Division Remote, US
Generator Mechanic Defense Division Remote, US
International Humanitarian Security Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Interpreter Defense Division Remote, US
Logistics Officer Defense Division Remote, US
Security Director Defense Division Remote, US
Security Operations Chief Defense Division Remote, US
Security Team Lead Defense Division Remote, US
Targeter Defense Division Remote, US
Vehicle Mechanic Defense Division Remote, US

SPONSORED

Most people are operating with blind spots they don’t even realize they have. Former SEAL Sam Havelock built Wired to Win after seeing brilliant people make misaligned choices simply because they never learned how they’re wired.

In one hour, you get a research-grade assessment revealing your behavioral patterns, motivators, communication tendencies, and the environments where you perform at your best. You’ll walk away with two full reports, a guidebook, and a book of AI prompts that help you apply your insights immediately.

If you want better outcomes, start with better self-data. Wired to Win gives you exactly that. And with our Golden Guarantee, if the reports don’t give you clarity, you get 100% of your money back, no questions asked.

​Explore → ​​​

Was this Email Forwarded to You?

About SOFX: We are an independent media and communications technology company reporting on the conflicts, security, and technology issues impacting your lives and businesses. SOFX was founded by former special operations & intelligence professionals, not career journalists or Big Tech / Big Media.

Have feedback for us? We want to hear any and all comments you may have. Contact us at editor@sofx.com​.​

This email was sent to Reader

You've received it because you've subscribed to The SOFX Report.

​Unsubscribe or Update to Sunday Only​

Copyright © 2026 SOFX Inc. All rights reserved.

The SOFX Report

The leading report for decision makers in the Special Operations, Private Military, and Clandestine Services community.

Join 70,000+ decision makers who get The SOFX Report delivered daily.

Read more from The SOFX Report
A man stands at the site of a drug users rehabilitation hospital destroyed in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Sayed Hassib)

Was this Email Forwarded to You? Subscribe! A man stands at the site of a drug users rehabilitation hospital destroyed in what the Taliban said was a Pakistani air strike in Kabul, Afghanistan, March 17, 2026. (REUTERS/Sayed Hassib) SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES Pakistan Kills More Than 400 in Airstrike on Kabul Drug Rehabilitation Hospital The Taliban government said a Pakistani military airstrike hit the Omid Addiction Treatment Hospital, a 2,000-bed drug rehabilitation facility in Kabul’s Police...

1 day ago • 5 min read
Three Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir stealth fighters fly in formation en route to strike targets in Iran. (Israeli Air Force via X)

Was this Email Forwarded to You? Subscribe! Three Israeli Air Force F-35I Adir stealth fighters fly in formation en route to strike targets in Iran. (Israeli Air Force via X) SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES Peter Thiel Brings Antichrist Lecture Series to the Vatican's Doorstep Palantir co-founder Peter Thiel is delivering a four-part invitation-only lecture series on the Antichrist in Rome, blending tech-futurism with apocalyptic theology steps from the Vatican. The lectures come as Pope Leo XIV has...

2 days ago • 6 min read
The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force fires a Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (12SSM) in this undated photo. (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force)

Was this Email Forwarded to You? Subscribe! The Japan Ground Self-Defense Force fires a Type 12 Surface-to-Ship Missile (12SSM) in this undated photo. (Japan Ground Self-Defense Force) SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES U.S. Strikes More Than 90 Iranian Military Targets on Kharg Island, Oil Infrastructure Spared U.S. forces carried out a large-scale precision strike on Iran’s Kharg Island on Friday night, hitting more than 90 military targets while leaving the island’s critical oil infrastructure intact,...

3 days ago • 5 min read