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Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones positioned on the tarmac at a base in the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) operating area, Nov. 23. The LUCAS platforms are part of a one-way attack drone squadron CENTCOM recently deployed to the Middle East.
(US CENTCOM PUBLIC AFFAIRS)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

CENTCOM Deploys First One-Way Drone Squadron to Middle East

The U.S. military has fielded its first squadron of one-way attack drones to the Middle East under Task Force Scorpion Strike. The unit operates Low-cost Unmanned Combat Attack System (LUCAS) drones, reverse-engineered from Iran’s Shahed models used by Tehran and Moscow.

Each drone, designed for long-range autonomous operations, costs about $35,000 and can be launched from multiple platforms.

A U.S. defense official declined to specify the number of drones, saying only that “many” are already deployed, with additional units expected as production expands. (Read More)

Israel Launches Airstrike in Southern Gaza After Tunnel Attack Wounds Five Soldiers

The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) carried out airstrikes in southern Gaza Wednesday, targeting Hamas positions in retaliation for a tunnel assault that wounded five Israeli soldiers.

The strikes hit tents for displaced people west of Khan Younis, killing five Palestinians and injuring several others, according to medics at the Kuwait Field Hospital.

The IDF said the operation followed an attack in Rafah where Hamas militants emerged from an underground shaft, fired an anti-tank missile, and planted an explosive on an armored vehicle. Israeli forces killed two of the attackers on site. (Read More)

Suspected Ukrainian Drones Strike Russian Security Facility in Chechen Republic

A building belonging to Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) in the Achkhoy-Martan district of Russia’s Chechen Republic reportedly caught fire following a suspected Ukrainian drone strike early Tuesday.

Local Telegram outlets said drones also struck the location of the Akhmat Regiment, a Chechen National Guard unit. Russia’s Ministry of Defense reported that its air defenses intercepted 45 drones, including four over Chechnya.

Russian officials suggested the drones may have been launched from Kazakhstan. Ukraine has not commented on the reports. (Read More)

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QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ The UAE-backed Southern Transitional Council claims to have seized Seiyun, the largest city in Wadi Hadhramaut, eastern Yemen. The reported takeover followed clashes with Saudi-UAE-backed government forces at the Presidential Palace and Seiyun International Airport. (Read More)

➤ The British man accused of spying for Russia in Ukraine has been identified as Ross David Cutmore. Ukrainian authorities say Cutmore, a former British Army cadet and military instructor, allegedly passed information to Russia’s FSB in exchange for money. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Air Force is scrapping key China-focused restructuring plans from the Biden era. Air Development Command will not be established, and Air Education and Training Command will keep its current name and responsibilities. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Deepfake pornography is increasingly appearing in schools. Pupils are using AI “nudify” apps to create sexualized images of classmates or teachers, with hundreds of teachers reporting incidents and the practice spreading rapidly. (Read More)

➤ A University of Delaware student allegedly plotted an attack on campus police. Luqmaan Khan, 25, was arrested after authorities found multiple firearms, ammunition, and a notebook detailing assault plans and building layouts targeting the university police department. (Read More)

➤ France is increasing security at Christmas markets amid a “very high” terror threat. Interior Minister Laurent Nunez instructed regional officials to mobilize intelligence services and implement measures to manage pedestrian traffic, aiming to detect, prevent, and, if needed, thwart potential attacks. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ A Thunderbirds F-16C Fighting Falcon crashed during a training mission near Trona Airport in California, on the outskirts of Death Valley National Park. The pilot safely ejected and was hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries. (Read More)

➤ DJI could be barred from U.S. markets unless federal agencies complete required security audits. Despite formal requests since June, federal agencies have not carried out the evaluations required to prevent the automatic exclusion of the Chinese drone company. (Read More)

➤ China has unveiled a low-cost hypersonic missile capable of threatening major warships. The YKJ-1000, nicknamed the “cement-coated missile,” can reach Mach 7, strike targets up to 1,300 kilometers away, and costs approximately $99,000 per unit. (Read More)

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ A viral video shows a Waymo driverless car driving through a police standoff in Los Angeles, raising concerns online about whether robotaxi technology is ready for complex urban environments. SOFX’s October survey found 83% of respondents preferred human drivers, while roughly 10% trusted robotaxis more than humans.

➤ ARMR Sciences has launched the first human trial of a fentanyl vaccine. The New York biotech is testing whether the experimental shot can block fentanyl from reaching the brain, potentially preventing overdose deaths.

➤ The deep-sea search for Malaysia Airlines Flight MH370, which disappeared from radar shortly after taking off on March 8, 2014, will resume on December 30. U.S.-based marine robotics firm Ocean Infinity will conduct a 55-day search in areas believed most likely to locate the missing aircraft.

On this day in history: On December 4, 1992, President George H.W. Bush ordered U.S. troops to Somalia to lead "Operation Restore Hope," a humanitarian mission to secure aid delivery amid a severe famine and clan-civil war. The initial deployment aimed to create a secure environment for relief workers to distribute food, but the mission later expanded and became more controversial, with the U.S. withdrawing its forces in 1994.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Should Chinese drone companies like DJI and Autel be banned in the US?

Yes, they're national security threats

No, they're valuable commercial tools

Ban government/military use only

Yesterday’s Results:

How much time do you think you spend on social media each day?

Under 30 minutes (18.4%)
30 minutes to 1 hour (28.7%)
1 to 3 hours (38.6%)
Over 3 hours (14.3%)

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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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