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SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

AI Chatbot Recovers $400,000 in Bitcoin From Wallet Locked for 11 Years

A Bitcoin holder regained access to roughly $400,000 in cryptocurrency after being locked out of an old wallet for 11 years, saying he lost access after forgetting a password created while intoxicated.

The user, “Cprkrn,” said Anthropic’s Claude AI helped analyze old files to unlock the wallet. The Bitcoin had been purchased when it traded near $250 and is now worth roughly $400,000. (Read More)

Iran Seizes Chinese-Operated 'Floating Armory' Near Strait of Hormuz, Says Reports

A floating armory vessel was seized by unauthorized personnel near the Strait of Hormuz on Thursday and diverted toward Iranian waters, according to British maritime authorities.

Maritime security firm Vanguard Tech identified the Honduras-flagged vessel as Hui Chuan, saying it was “taken by Iranian personnel while at anchor.” Open-source reports suggest the ship was operated by Chinese private military contractors providing anti-piracy protection, though this remains unconfirmed. Iran has not confirmed the incident. (Read More)

IED Found Underwater at Alabama Dam Supplying Drinking Water to 350,000 People

An improvised explosive device (IED) was discovered underwater at the Converse Reservoir dam in Alabama during routine maintenance work, the Mobile Area Water and Sewer System said Tuesday.

The Gulf Coast Regional Maritime Response and Render-Safe Team retrieved and detonated the grenade-type device. The reservoir supplies drinking water to more than 350,000 people and is known for producing some of the “cleanest and best-tasting” water in the country. Officials said the water supply was not compromised. (Read More)

Empowering The Mission For America’s Special Forces.

Parsons stands alongside America’s special forces, delivering the advanced capabilities and unwavering support required to succeed in the world’s most complex and high-risk environments. As a trusted provider of national security solutions, we integrate engineering excellence, mission-critical logistics, and cutting-edge cyber technologies to ensure operational readiness at every level.

From missile defense system integration to all-domain spectrum dominance, we develop highly automated and cognitive tools that transform data into decisive action. These capabilities enable warfighters to anticipate threats, accelerate decision-making, and maintain superiority across land, air, sea, space, and cyber domains.

With a deep understanding of evolving mission demands, we remain committed to equipping special operations forces with the innovative solutions they need to protect national interests, enhance global stability, and execute their missions with precision and confidence—anytime, anywhere.

Power Your All-Domain Operations →

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Adm. Brad Cooper, CENTCOM commander, told lawmakers that Operation Epic Fury destroyed 90 percent of Iran's defense industrial base and an equal share of its naval mine inventory, adding that Iran's navy will require five to ten years to rebuild. (Read More)

➤ Russia launched more than 1,560 drones at Ukraine in its largest aerial assault over a two-day period since the start of the war. Officials said at least 27 civilians were killed. (Read More)

➤ North Korea has earned an estimated $7 billion to $14 billion from arms shipments to Russia since 2023, according to South Korean intelligence. The upper estimate is nearly equivalent to North Korea’s annual gross domestic product. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ A federal jury in Brooklyn convicted Lu Jianwang of acting as an illegal Chinese foreign agent for operating a covert police station in Manhattan's Chinatown on behalf of China's Ministry of Public Security. Lu faces up to 20 years in prison. (Read More)

➤ Cuba's energy minister declared the island has "absolutely no fuel" as blackouts exceeding 20 hours per day triggered street protests in Havana. The crisis deepened after U.S. sanctions restricted fuel shipments and a Russian oil donation ran out in early May. (Read More)

➤ Chinese security officials reportedly blocked an armed U.S. Secret Service agent from entering Beijing’s Temple of Heaven during President Donald Trump’s bilateral meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday. The incident reportedly led to a tense standoff and delayed access to the venue for more than 30 minutes. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Israel’s Defense Ministry has signed a $34 million contract with Elbit Systems’ Cyclone subsidiary to develop external fuel tanks for the F-35I “Adir,” aiming to extend the stealth fighter’s operational range and reduce its reliance on aerial refueling. (Read More)

➤ The UAE is reportedly constructing large metal cage-like structures around key energy infrastructure to protect them from Iranian one-way attack drones. An image shared on X by Israel’s i24 News appears to show protective caging installed around oil storage tanks near Dubai International Airport. (Read More)

➤ Army Secretary Dan Driscoll praised Ukraine’s “Delta” command-and-control system for its ability to link drones, sensors, and weapons into a unified network, a capability he said the Pentagon has yet to achieve. He contrasted this with more fragmented U.S. systems, which he said still struggle with interoperability and real-time data sharing across platforms. (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

➤ Former Acting U.S. Defense Secretary Christopher Miller said the U.S. Special Operations Command is significantly underfunded, forcing it to deny operational requests. He argues funding should rise to about $24 billion by FY2031 to restore purchasing power and meet growing demand.

➤ A study published in Nature found that hippocampal neurons continue processing language under general anesthesia. When a podcast was played to seven patients undergoing brain surgery, the neurons appeared to predict upcoming words and recognize parts of speech, even while the patients were fully unconscious.

➤ SpaceX said it is targeting as soon as May 19 for the first launch of its Starship Version 3 from Starbase in South Texas, with liftoff planned for 6:30 p.m. The variant is intended for orbital missions, including deploying next-generation Starlink satellites and serving as a lunar lander for NASA’s Artemis program.

On this day in history: On May 15th, 1988, the Soviet Union formally began withdrawing its troops from Afghanistan under the Geneva Accords, ending a nine-year occupation that cost over 15,000 Soviet soldiers killed and an estimated one million Afghan civilians dead. The withdrawal reshaped Central Asian geopolitics for decades.

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 think the Abraham Accords expand to include Saudi Arabia?

Yes (70.9%)
Unsure (17.7%)
No (11.5%)

n=549

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

Parsons delivers operationally ready CUAS solutions for the world's most critical missions. Our AI-powered platform integrates multi-modal technologies to detect, track, and neutralize drone threats with unmatched precision and speed. From safeguarding bases to securing events and critical infrastructure, stay ahead of emerging threats with a proven partner in counter-drone innovation.

Secure your airspace with proven CUAS technology→

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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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