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The SOFX Report

CIA + Special Ops Forces Rescue F15 Pilot

Published 3 days ago • 6 min read

Hi Folks, the Special Forces Chapter 78 Sentinel newsletter April edition is out. This issue features Albert Kittredge's excerpt from My War, recalling a Swift Boat patrol ambush near Tuyen Nhon, plus MSG Chris LaSala's inside look at life as a Special Forces recruiter. You can read the latest edition here.

Sam Havelock  

Sam Havelock
CEO, SOFX

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Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

F-15E Weapons Officer Rescued Deep Inside Iran After 24-Hour Manhunt

U.S. special operations forces rescued an F-15E Strike Eagle crew member deep inside Iran in a high-risk mission that involved dozens of American aircraft and hundreds of special operations troops.

The F‑15E was shot down over southwestern Iran on Friday, forcing both the pilot and weapons systems officer to eject, according to U.S. officials. The pilot was rescued soon after, but the second airman, whom Trump described as a “highly respected Colonel” spent more than 24 hours evading capture in the mountainous region before being recovered by U.S. forces. (Read More)​

Former Navy SEAL Accused of UAE-Backed Assassination Plot Against Yemeni Lawmaker

A Yemeni lawmaker is suing three former U.S. special operators who allegedly tried to kill him in 2015 as part of a UAE-backed assassination program. Anssaf Ali Mayo, a member of Yemen’s parliament, says the team threw an explosive into a building where they believed he was hiding.

Abraham Golan, a mercenary, along with former Navy SEAL Isaac Gilmore and former Army Special Forces member Dale Comstock, allegedly carried out the operation through Golan’s Spear Operations Group. (Read More)​

U.S. Strikes Destroy Iran's Reverse-Engineered Copy of RQ-170 Stealth Drone

CENTCOM released footage showing U.S. forces taking out an Iranian Shahed‑171 Simorgh stealth drone, as well as a tactical vehicle and a surface‑to‑air missile launcher.

The Shahed‑171 is widely believed to be derived from the U.S. RQ‑170 Sentinel, a stealth reconnaissance drone Iran said it captured in 2011. The Shahed-171 is intended for reconnaissance and strike missions. (Read More)​

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The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Iranian drones struck Kuwait's power and water plants overnight, along with oil sites in Bahrain and the UAE. Kuwait said 90% of its drinking water depends on the damaged desalination facilities. No casualties were reported across the three countries. (Read More)​

➤ Ukrainian drones hit Russia's fourth-largest oil refinery in Nizhny Novgorod, sparking fires and damaging a power station. A separate strike on Primorsk port caused a fuel leak. The campaign has idled roughly 40% of Russia's oil export capacity. (Read More)​

➤ An Iranian missile destroyed a residential building in Haifa, leaving four people missing and wounding at least four others, including an infant. An 82-year-old occupant required emergency surgery, and rescue crews worked overnight to reach the trapped. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Planet Labs will stop publishing satellite imagery of Iran at the Trump administration's request, the company said Saturday. The blackout extends back to March 9 and will remain in place until the war ends. (Read More)​

➤ The State Department placed Colombia on a Level 3 travel advisory, citing violent crime, kidnapping, and terrorism. Americans are told to avoid Arauca, Cauca, Valle del Cauca, Norte de Santander, and the area within 5 miles of the Venezuelan border. (Read More)​

➤ Google warns all 3 billion Chrome users of an active security flaw. A memory‑related vulnerability, CVE‑2026‑5281, can crash browsers and expose devices to malware, prompting urgent updates to Chrome version 146.0.7680.177/178 for Windows and Mac. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The Chinese Navy now has at least nine Type‑728 vessels. Each Zubr-class hovercraft can carry up to 500 soldiers, or three tanks, or 10 smaller armored vehicles with 230 soldiers, and travel over 55 knots. (Read More)​

➤ The U.S. Army has started receiving XM8 Carbines. This new, lighter, and shorter rifle will replace the M4A1 in the Close Combat Force, improving soldier mobility and battlefield performance while remaining compatible with existing fire control systems. (Read More)​

➤ New photos released by CENTCOM show F-16CM jets armed with four cluster bombs each during Operation Epic Fury, a week after BLU-91/B anti-tank mines were discovered scattered across southern Iran. (Read More)​

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Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Microsoft updated its terms of service to state that Copilot is "for entertainment purposes only," warning users not to rely on the AI assistant for critical decisions. The disclaimer mirrors similar language from other AI firms quietly limiting their own liability for model outputs.

➤ Hamideh Soleimani Afshar and her daughter, relatives of the late Iranian Guard Major Gen. Qasem Soleimani, had their U.S. permanent resident status revoked and were taken into ICE custody for promoting Iranian regime propaganda and celebrating attacks on U.S. forces.

➤ NASA's Artemis 2 crew has been wrestling with their Orion toilet since launch, battling a frozen urine dump line, and a burning smell that forced astronauts to fall back on plastic collapsible urinals.

On this day in history: On April 6th, 1917, the United States formally declared war on Germany, entering World War I nearly three years after the conflict began. April 6 has since been commemorated as Army Day, honoring the U.S. Army's role in national security.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Saturday’s Results:

Do you think that off-duty service members should be allowed to carry personal firearms on base?

  1. Yes (83.4%)​
  2. No (10.1%)
  3. Unsure / Maybe (6.5%)

Have a question you would like polled? Email us at editor@sofx.com​
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Security and Intelligence
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Armorer Defense Division Remote, US
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Comms & Command Systems Instructor Defense Division Remote, US
Cultural Support Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Emergency Care Medical Provider 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

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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.

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

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