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Lebanon Army Kills Three Top Drug Lords
Published 5 days ago • 5 min read
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Photo showing Lebanese army soldiers during the demonstration marking the 5th anniversary of the assassination of the late Prime Minister Rafiq Hariri(Mohannad Khatib / Shutterstock.com)
Five soldiers were injured Wednesday morning when a U.S. Army sergeant opened fire on his fellow troops at Fort Stewart in southeast Georgia. Authorities identified the suspect as Sgt. Quornelius Radford, 28. Law enforcement responded to the shooting at 10:56 a.m. local time and placed the fort on lockdown by 11:04 a.m. Shortly before 2 p.m. authorities announced on social media that the installation was “all clear.” (Read More)
Lebanese Army Says Troops Killed 3 of Nation’s Most Wanted Drug Dealers
The Lebanese army announced it killed three of the country’s most wanted drug traffickers during a security operation in Baalbek’s Sharawneh neighborhood on Wednesday. In a statement, the army said it was pursuing a vehicle carrying three wanted men, identified by their initials as A.M.Z., known as Abu Salleh; A.A.Z., known as Sultan; and F.Z., in the Sharawneh neighborhood of Baalbek when an exchange of gunfire erupted, resulting in the deaths of all three. (Read More)
Russia’s General Staff: The Search for Lessons Learned in Ukraine | Saratoga Foundation
A new Saratoga Foundation report by Roger N. McDermott analyzes how Russia’s military is learning from the Ukraine war. While tactical innovations like drone use and modular units are emerging, deep reform is blocked by centralized command and rigid doctrine. The study finds that without real structural change, Russia risks repeating past mistakes. (Read More)
Japan Secures First Major Arms Export With $6.5 Billion Australian Frigate Deal
Japan has secured its first major arms export with the selection of Mitsubishi Heavy Industries’ (MHI) upgraded Mogami-class frigate for Australia’s future fleet. Valued at up to $6.5 billion, the contract includes 11 general-purpose warships to replace the Royal Australian Navy’s aging ANZAC-class frigates. (Read More)
HD Hyundai Secures First-Ever Maintenance Deal with US Navy
HD Hyundai Heavy Industries has secured its first maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) contract for a U.S. Navy vessel, marking a milestone for the South Korean shipbuilder. The company announced Wednesday that it will service the USNS Alan Shepard, a 41,000-ton Lewis and Clark-class dry cargo ship assigned to the U.S. Seventh Fleet. (Read More)
U-2 Pilot On What It Took To Make Record-Setting 14-Hour Flight A Reality | TWZ
On July 31, pilot Cory “Ultralord” Bartholomew and Air Force Lt. Col. “Jethro” completed a 14-hour, 6,000-mile U-2 Dragon Lady flight from Beale AFB, marking the jet’s 70th anniversary. The high-altitude mission honored the spy plane’s Cold War legacy as it nears planned retirement in FY2026. Bartholomew, 64, called it the longest flight of his career. (Read More)
Three Evacuated After Medical Emergency at US Antarctic Research Base | Independent
The Royal New Zealand Air Force evacuated three people from the U.S. McMurdo Station in Antarctica during a high-risk, 20-hour mission in total darkness and -24°C temperatures. One person needed urgent medical care. The RNZAF landed on an ice runway using night vision gear. U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Melissa Sweeney praised the operation as flawless. It’s the RNZAF’s third mid-winter Antarctic rescue in recent years. (Read More)
Ghana’s Defense, Environment Ministers Killed in Helicopter Crash
A military helicopter crash Wednesday in Ghana’s Ashanti region killed all eight on board, including Defense Minister Edward Omane Boamah and Environment Minister Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, government officials confirmed. The Z-9 aircraft departed Accra at 09:12 GMT en route to Obuasi for an event on illegal mining but lost contact shortly after takeoff. Authorities have yet to determine the cause of the crash. (Read More)
Navy to Name New Arleigh Burke-Class Destroyer After Medal of Honor Recipient Kyle Carpenter
The Navy will name a new Arleigh Burke-class destroyer after Marine Cpl. Kyle Carpenter, a Medal of Honor recipient who shielded a fellow Marine from a grenade blast in Afghanistan, Navy Secretary John Phelan announced Monday. “Cpl. Carpenter went above and beyond the call of duty to shield a fellow Marine from a grenade blast in Afghanistan,” Phelan wrote on X. “May this warship represent his valor, resilience and devotion to our nation.” (Read More)
Alert Line The Gatorz & SOFX Giveaway is now live. Enter today for your chance to win one of six pairs of Gatorz’ newest frame, the Wraith, made from aluminum and finished in Cerakote for durability, comfort, and all-day use. Enter the giveaway and share your referral code to boost your chances. Every friend or family member who signs up earns you another entry. Reader Perk: SOFX readers get 20% off any Gatorz eyewear with code SOFX. Shop Gatorz Eyewear → Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a...
Alert Line Hi everyone, some of you may have received an incomplete email last night. While preparing today’s edition, an unfinished version was sent in error. Apologies for the mix-up. Todays edition is below. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. A Master-at-Arms observes a Gunner’s Mate firing an M18 during a weapons qualification, May 10, 2022. (U.S. Navy photo by Master-at-Arms 2nd Class Le McNeill) Armed Conflict Open-Source Reporting on Global Conflict Airman...
Alert Line NSTR. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. A U.S. Army soldier assigned to Charlie Company, 1st Battalion, 41st Infantry Regiment, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division, stands beside a Stryker to observe the Rio Grande River near Roma, Texas, June 12, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Pfc. Sean Hoch) Armed Conflict Open-Source Reporting on Global Conflict POTUS Secretly OK’d Military Force Against Latin American Drug Cartels President Donald...