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Sudanese Army Reclaims Presidential Palace After Nearly Two Years of War

The Sudanese military announced Friday that it had regained full control of the Republican Palace in Khartoum, ending nearly two years of control by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). The palace has been one of the RSF’s last major strongholds in the capital. Videos shared on social media showed Sudanese soldiers inside the palace compound, some praying and celebrating after the victory. The capture follows months of gains by the Sudanese military, which has been advancing against RSF positions. (Read More)​

Coast Guard Offloads $517.5 Million in Seized Drugs in Florida

The U.S. Coast Guard offloaded approximately 46,000 pounds of seized illegal drugs Thursday at Port Everglades, following a series of 14 interdictions in the Eastern Pacific Ocean. The contraband, valued at over $517.5 million, was seized by crews aboard Coast Guard cutters Stone and Mohawk during a four-month deployment. The interdictions occurred in international waters off the coasts of Mexico, Central, and South America. Authorities reported that 35 suspected smugglers were detained and transferred to the United States for federal prosecution. (Read More)​​

Second Navy Destroyer to Patrol U.S. Waters Near Southern Border

The U.S. Navy is deploying a second warship to patrol waters off the U.S. southern border as part of the Trump administration's immigration and border security crackdown. Military.com was the first to report that a second warship was to be deployed, citing an anonymous U.S. official. USNI News later reported that the exact warship to be deployed was USS Spruance (DDG-111), an Arleigh Burke-class guided-missile destroyer, deploying from Naval Station San Diego. (Read More)​

Boeing to Build New F-47 Fighter Jet Under Air Force Contract

Boeing has been awarded a U.S. Air Force contract to develop the F-47, the country’s first sixth-generation fighter jet. The F-47 is part of the Air Force’s Next Generation Air Dominance program, or NGAD. It will replace older fighters like the F-22 and is designed to fly with drones, use advanced stealth, and carry long-range weapons. The Air Force says a prototype has already been flying in secret for several years. (Read More)​

Trump Weighs Lifting Sanctions, Resuming Fighter Jet Sales to Turkey Amid S-400 Talks

President Donald Trump is considering lifting sanctions on Turkey and advancing the sale of F-16 fighter jets following a recent phone conversation with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, according to two sources cited by Fox News Digital. Trump also indicated he is open to revisiting Turkey’s participation in the F-35 fighter jet program, contingent on Ankara disabling its Russian-made S-400 air defense system. (Read More)​

Anduril’s Ohio Factory Blueprint Heads to UK Amid Global Drone Defense Expansion | Scioto Valley Guardian

U.S. defense tech company Anduril Industries is planning to open a new factory and research center in the United Kingdom. The move marks Anduril’s first major expansion into Europe. The company aims to make the UK its European base as defense spending increases across the region due to rising global tensions. (Read More)​

Semper Paratus and Special Forces: Why the Coast Guard Should be Part of the SOCOM Enterprise | Small Wars Journal

The U.S. Coast Guard has a long history of supporting special operations, from covert missions in World War II to counter-drug and maritime security operations in recent decades. Today, its Deployable Specialized Forces (DSF)—Maritime Security Response Teams (MSRTs), Law Enforcement Detachments (LEDETs), and Port Security Units (PSUs)—offer valuable capabilities that could enhance U.S. Special Operations Command (SOCOM) missions. (Read More)​

Freed Israeli Hostage Urges United Nations to Take Immediate Action to Free Remaining Captives in Gaza

Former Hamas hostage Eli Sharabi spoke at the United Nations Security Council this week, urging world leaders to take immediate action to free the remaining hostages still held in Gaza. Sharabi was released on February 8 after 491 days in captivity. He spoke about being beaten, starved, and held in chains. When released, he weighed just 97 pounds. He said Hamas fighters regularly ate food stolen from United Nations aid shipments while the hostages were left with almost nothing. (Read More)​

Somali-American Received Millions in U.S. Taxpayer Dollars, MaineCare Funding While Claiming to Bankroll Jubaland Militia | The Maine Wire

Somali-American Abdullahi Ali, a Maine-based nonprofit leader, is under scrutiny for allegedly using U.S. taxpayer dollars to help fund a Somali paramilitary force while campaigning for the presidency of Somalia’s Jubaland state. Ali’s agency, which received millions in MaineCare payments and COVID-era grants, faces questions about whether public funds supported his foreign political and militia activities. (Read More)​