Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe.

5 Israeli Soldiers Killed in Gaza Blast

Five Israeli soldiers were killed and 14 wounded Monday night by roadside bombs during a ground operation in Beit Hanoun in northern Gaza, the military announced Tuesday. According to an Israel Defense Forces (IDF) investigation, three explosive devices were remotely detonated in sequence as troops patrolled on foot. As soldiers moved to assist the wounded, a third device exploded. After the blast, a nearby Hamas cell opened fire on the Israeli troops. (Read More)​

4 Dead, 2 Injured in Suspected Houthi Attack on Liberian-Flagged Cargo Ship in Red Sea

Four sailors were killed and two were injured when the Liberian-flagged cargo ship Eternity C came under attack late Monday in the Red Sea. The U.K. Maritime Trade Operations (UKMTO) agency reported that the Greek-operated ship, carrying 22 crew members – 21 Filipinos and one Russian, sustained “significant damage and lost all propulsion” after being struck by rocket-propelled grenades launched from small boats, approximately 51 nautical miles west of Hudaydah, Yemen. (Read More)​

3 Men Found Guilty in Wagner-Linked Arson Attack on London Warehouse Storing Starlink for Ukraine

Three men were found guilty on Tuesday in connection with an arson attack on an east London warehouse that stored aid and Starlink satellite equipment bound for Ukraine. Nii Mensah, 23, Jakeem Rose, 23, and Ugnius Asmena, 20, were found guilty of aggravated arson with intent to endanger life following a trial at the Old Bailey. Paul English, 61 was cleared of the same charges. (Read More)

US Patriot Missile Stockpile at Just 25% of Levels Needed for Military Plans, Says Report

The United States has only 25% of the Patriot missile interceptors needed to meet Pentagon operational plans, according to multiple U.S. officials cited by The Guardian. The news outlet reported that the shortfall was the key reason the Trump administration halted shipments of Patriot missile defense systems and other weapons to Ukraine which includes Sparrows, Guided Multiple Launch Rocket Systems and anti-tank weapons. (Read More)​​

Germany Summons Chinese Ambassador After Laser Incident in Red Sea

Germany summoned China’s ambassador on Tuesday after a Chinese warship allegedly directed a laser at a German reconnaissance aircraft during an EU mission over the Red Sea, the German defense ministry said. According to the ministry, the aircraft, a civilian-piloted multi-sensor surveillance platform with military personnel onboard, was on a routine flight on July 2 when it was targeted by a Chinese vessel near the Yemeni coast “without reason or prior contact.” (Read More)​

I Fought in Ukraine and Here’s Why FPV Drones Kind of Suck | War on the Rocks

Over six months operating FPV attack drones with Ukraine’s Armed Forces in Donbas, I found that the technology rarely lived up to its hype. Though praised for precision and low cost, most missions repeated what mortars or other drones already achieved. Frequent technical failures, operator challenges, and electronic interference meant fewer than 10% of sorties delivered unique, effective strikes—raising serious questions about the drones’ current tactical value. (Read More)​

Canadian Soldiers Charged in Alleged Militia Plot in Quebec

Four men, including two active Canadian Armed Forces members, face charges related to an alleged plot to form an anti-government militia and forcibly seize land near Quebec City, the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) said Monday. The accused have been identified as Marc-Aurèle Chabot, 24, and Raphaël Lagacé, 25, both of Quebec City; Simon Angers-Audet, 24, of Neuville; and Matthew Forbes, 33, of Pont-Rouge. (Read More)​

US Revokes Terrorist Designation for Syria’s HTS

The Trump administration has removed Syria’s Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) from its list of foreign terrorist organizations. The decision comes as Washington deepens engagement with Syria’s interim government, led by President Ahmed al-Sharaa, former leader of HTS. Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed the revocation on June 23, and a formal notice appeared in the Federal Register on Monday. (Read More)​

Tiny Pet Dog Credited With Helping to Save Hiker Trapped in Swiss Glacier | The Guardian

A hiker who fell into an 8-meter-deep crevasse on the Fee glacier near Saas-Fee, Switzerland, was rescued thanks to his small dog, possibly a chihuahua or papillon. While the man was trapped in the ice, the dog stayed at the crevasse’s edge, barking and drawing the attention of Air Zermatt rescuers. The team used the dog’s position to locate and extract the man, crediting the pet as a “four-legged hero” who helped save his owner's life. (Read More)​