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Nigerian Navy Special Boat Service operators maneuver through dense vegetation to execute a maritime insertion ground raid during exercise Flintlock 26 in Côte d’Ivoire, April 29, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Austin Baker)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

U.S., Nigerian Forces Carry Out Additional Airstrikes Against ISIS Fighters in Northeastern Nigeria

U.S. and Nigerian forces carried out additional strikes against ISIS fighters in northeastern Nigeria on Saturday, two days after a joint operation killed Abu-Bilal al-Minuki, the global second-in-command of ISIS, U.S. Africa Command (AFRICOM) said Monday.

The follow-on operations targeted fighters linked to the Islamic State West Africa Province network that al-Minuki previously directed. The Nigerian military said more than 20 ISWAP fighters were killed. No U.S. or Nigerian forces were harmed in the operation. (Read More)

Cuban President Warns of ‘Bloodbath’ If U.S. Takes Military Action Against Cuba

Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel warned that any U.S. military action would trigger a “bloodbath with incalculable consequences.”

The warning follows an Axios report citing intelligence alleging Cuba acquired over 300 drones for potential strikes on U.S. assets. Havana denied the claims and accused the U.S. of fabricating a “fraudulent case” to justify sanctions and possible military action against Cuba. (Read More)

Belarus and Russia Launched Joint Drills to Practice Deploying Tactical Nuclear Weapons

Belarus and Russia began joint exercises on Monday focused on practicing the deployment of tactical nuclear weapons, the first such drills since Moscow deployed its Oreshnik hypersonic missile system to Belarus.

Belarus said the drills involve missile units and warplanes and focus on nuclear weapons delivery and preparation for use, including operations from “unprepared areas” across Belarus. Ukraine condemned the exercises, accusing the Kremlin of “de facto legitimizing the proliferation of nuclear weapons worldwide.” (Read More)

StreamCaster NEXUS Tactical Networking System: Advanced Networking At Mission Speed

Purpose-built for the dismounted operator, StreamCaster NEXUS seamlessly pairs the ultra-slim SM5200 MANET radio with Samsung's mission-ready EUD to deliver mission-critical connectivity and real-time situational awareness at the tactical edge. Custom designed Juggernaut chest-mount features streamlined, snag-free cable routing that minimizes weight and maximizes operator freedom.

With access to ATAK and other mission apps, operators gain geospatial intelligence, mission planning tools and can manage radio and network configurations through the StreamScape ATAK plug-in. Available access to Spectrum Dominance 2.0 – Silvus' ever-expanding suite of LPI/LPD, Anti-Jam and Advanced Threat Protection capabilities – ensures secure and protected communications in EW contested environments.

Multiple I/O connectors, Dual PTT, dedicated RoIP interface and Nett Warrior unified power options combine to make StreamCaster NEXUS an operator-focused, next-generation tactical networking system, engineered for today's dynamically changing battlespace.

Experience next-generation tactical networking with StreamCaster NEXUS.

Learn More →

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ President Donald Trump said Monday he has paused a planned U.S. attack on Iran after Tehran submitted a new peace proposal through Pakistani intermediaries. Trump said there was optimism a deal could be reached that would prevent Iran from obtaining a nuclear weapon and ease tensions in the region. (Read More)

➤ Pakistan deployed a full squadron of JF-17 fighter jets, 8,000 troops, and a Chinese-made HQ-9 air defense system to Saudi Arabia under a mutual defense pact during the Iran war, three security officials told Reuters. The combat-capable force is intended to defend the kingdom if attacked. (Read More)

➤ Lebanon’s death toll from fighting between Israel and Hezbollah, which began in March, has reached 3,020, according to the country’s health ministry. Despite a ceasefire declared on April 17, both sides have continued to exchange attacks. The ministry says more than 400 of the deaths have occurred since the ceasefire took effect. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has announced a 30-day suspension of entry for travelers who have recently been in areas affected by ongoing Ebola outbreaks. The decision follows the agency’s confirmation that an American tested positive for Ebola after being exposed while working in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. (Read More)

➤ A former University of Michigan visiting scholar has been charged with making false statements after allegedly lying to U.S. Customs about ties to a Chinese military drone firm during a 2023 airport interview in Detroit. An FBI probe later found he co-founded Tianxun, which supplied drones to China’s military. (Read More)

➤ Austin police arrested three juveniles, ages 15 to 17, linked to at least 12 random shootings across the city that wounded four people, authorities said. The suspects fired at fire stations, apartments, and houses from stolen vehicles over a 15-hour period from Saturday afternoon to Sunday morning. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Ukraine has unveiled its first domestically produced guided glide bomb, capable of carrying a 250-kilogram warhead, with a range of up to 60 kilometers (37 miles). According to Brave1, the weapon is now ready for combat use after completing “all required trials.” (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Army has issued a request for proposals for a new Patriot interceptor costing under $1 million, about one-fifth the price of current PAC-3 Missile Segment Enhancement rounds, which cost roughly $5.3 million each. (Read More)

➤ Northrop Grumman's YFQ-48A Talon Blue completed autonomous taxi tests, advancing the Collaborative Combat Aircraft prototype toward its first flight projected later this year. The autonomous wingman is designed to fly alongside F-35s and future crewed fighters. (Read More)

Meet Parsons At SOF Week In Tampa

Parsons is proud to participate in SOF Week in Tampa, where leaders from across the special operations community gather to advance mission success.

As a trusted provider of national security solutions, we deliver innovative engineering, logistics support, and advanced technologies that empower today’s warfighter. From all-domain awareness to automated, data-driven decision tools, our capabilities are designed to meet evolving operational challenges.

Visit us at Booth 323 to connect with our experts, explore our latest solutions, and learn how we continue to support special operations forces with precision, agility, and unmatched technical excellence.

Explore Our National Security Solutions →

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Chinese ecommerce platform Alibaba is selling handheld laser devices marketed as “obstacle removers” with power levels of up to 1,000 watts, according to Futurism. The devices, priced between $885 and $1,600, are reportedly powerful enough to cut through 6mm of steel and cause permanent blindness within fractions of a second.

➤ Pope Leo XIV will launch his first encyclical on May 25 focused on protecting human dignity in the age of artificial intelligence, with Anthropic co-founder Christopher Olah set to attend. The announcement comes as Anthropic is engaged in a legal dispute with the Trump administration over limits on military applications of its AI technology.

➤ National Geographic reports that researchers are decoding how acupuncture triggers measurable physiological responses, including immune cell activation, release of pain-modulating chemicals, and changes in brain activity. One randomized trial found acupuncture relieved acute pain faster than morphine, with fewer side effects.

On this day in history: On May 19th, 1919, Ottoman General Mustafa Kemal landed at Samsun on the Black Sea coast and launched the Turkish War of Independence against Allied occupation forces that had partitioned the Ottoman Empire. The four-year campaign created the Republic of Turkey.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Will the U.S. strike Iran again, or does the current delay signal a diplomatic resolution?

More strikes

Diplomatic resolution

Unsure

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you know how to remove your personal information from data broker websites?

No (79.3%)
Yes (12.6%)
Unsure (8.1%)

n=629

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

HALO: Fielded, Resilient Communications for Drone Dominance

Elsight’s HALO multilink connectivity platform enables resilient, beyond-line-of-sight (BLOS) operations in GNSS-denied and electronically contested environments by fusing diverse communication paths into a single, self-healing network.

This ensures uninterrupted command, control, and real-time data flow for ISR, targeting, and autonomous swarm coordination, capabilities central to the Drone Dominance program. Halo’s low SWaP profile supports Group 1–3 UAS as well as larger platforms, extending mission endurance without sacrificing payload capacity. By delivering consistent connectivity where traditional links fail, HALO enhances operational tempo, survivability, and mission success across distributed, multi-domain operations.

HALO is TRL 9, BlueUAS-listed, cybersecure, and NDAA-compliant, with over 500,000 contested operational hours across active U.S. and allied military programs, including demonstrated success with DIU and SOCOM initiatives.

Learn more about Halo →

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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.

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