Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth views a static display of equipment at Kāne’ohe Bay, Hawaii, March 25, 2025. (DOD photo by U.S. Air Force Senior Airman Madelyn Keech)
Israel Launches “Massive” Wave of Airstrikes After Strike Near Syrian Presidential Palace
Israeli fighter jets struck near the Syrian presidential palace in Damascus early Friday, delivering what officials described as a pointed warning to Syria’s new leadership following deadly clashes involving the Druze community. Regional media also reported a new wave of Israeli airstrikes late Friday, describing it as a ‘massive’ bombing campaign targeting multiple locations across the country. (Read More)
Drone Strike Hits Gaza-Bound Aid Ship in International Waters Near Malta
A ship carrying international activists to Gaza was damaged by an aerial strike in international waters off the coast of Malta early Friday morning, according to its organizers. The incident prompted a distress call and firefighting response, though no injuries were reported. The Freedom Flotilla Coalition, an international NGO, blamed Israel for the strike. (Read More)
Ukrainian activist and prominent military volunteer Serhii Sternenko was wounded in a shooting on May 1 in what the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) described as an attempted assassination. Sternenko, a vocal critic of Russian aggression and widely followed public figure, confirmed the attack and his survival in a message on Telegram. (Read More)
Hegseth Orders Massive Overhaul of U.S. Army to Focus on China, Cut Obsolete Systems
Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth has directed the U.S. Army to undertake its most significant structural overhaul in decades, ordering a broad transformation aimed at enhancing warfighting capabilities, divesting outdated systems, and streamlining acquisition practices. “The Army must transform at an accelerated pace by divesting outdated, redundant, and inefficient programs,” Hegseth wrote in the directive. (Read More)
U.S. Navy Conducts First Successful Cold-Gas Launch of Sea-Based Hypersonic Missile
The U.S. Navy has successfully completed an end-to-end test of its Conventional Prompt Strike hypersonic missile, marking a milestone toward shipboard deployment. The test, conducted April 25 at Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida, was the first to demonstrate the missile’s cold-gas launch capability. (Read More)
Video Games Help U.S. Veterans Manage Stress and Stay Connected, New Survey Shows
A new survey by the Entertainment Software Association (ESA) has found that video games play a significant role in helping U.S. military veterans manage stress, maintain mental well-being, and stay socially connected during and after their service. Among the 1,096 veteran video game players surveyed, 85 percent said they played video games while on active duty to escape the stress of military life. The majority also reported that gaming had a positive effect on their mental and emotional health. (Read More)
SOFX founder Sam Havelock sat down with journalist Simon Owens to share the full origin story of SOFX—from early combat reporting in Iraq to what it’s grown into today. He also discusses the future of the network, including a new membership program in development. You can read the full transcript or watch the interview at the link below. (Read More)
Army Soldier Charged with Cocaine Distribution After Colorado Springs Nightclub Raid
A U.S. Army soldier stationed at Fort Carson has been charged with distributing cocaine following a federal drug raid at an illegal nightclub in Colorado Springs. A criminal complaint alleges that Orona-Rodriguez sold cocaine to an undercover agent with the Drug Enforcement Administration during the week of April 21. Investigators later reviewed his phone and uncovered messages dating back to September 2024 that indicated a pattern of purchasing and reselling cocaine. (Read More)
SFA Chapter 78 Sentinel newsletter | May Issue
The May 2025 issue of The Sentinel honors the life and service of Major Clyde J. Sincere Jr., an original Green Beret and Distinguished Service Cross recipient, while covering topics such as the Agent Orange Legacy Project, local recovery efforts from the Pacific Palisades fire, and historical military profiles. It also includes book reviews, a feature on WWII correspondent Ernie Pyle, and updates on Special Forces Association events. (Read More)
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Alert Line Hi Team, our enterprise sponsor UG Solutions took a moment to provide me with their most urgent recruiting priorities, listed right here. Currently certified 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeants and/or Pararescue Jumpers (PJs) Reconnaissance, Exploration, Command, Control, and Exploitation (RECCE) Operators Drone Operators holding FAA Part 107 certification Special Operations Forces (SOF) Intelligence Analysts Personnel with 2+ years of PSD/EP experience Apply Here And please...
Alert Line NSTR. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. North Korea's new "Choe Hyon" class ship conducting an alleged test firing (Photo Source: KCNA / North Korean State-Run Broadcaster) Armed Conflict Open-Source Reporting on Global Conflict South Korea Says 4,700 North Korean Troops Killed or Injured Fighting for Russia South Korea’s intelligence agency reported that approximately 4,700 North Korean soldiers have been killed or wounded while fighting alongside...
Alert Line Hi Team, our enterprise sponsor UG Solutions took a moment to provide me with their most urgent recruiting priorities, listed right here. Currently certified 18D Special Forces Medical Sergeants and/or Pararescue Jumpers (PJs) Reconnaissance, Exploration, Command, Control, and Exploitation (RECCE) Operators Drone Operators holding FAA Part 107 certification Special Operations Forces (SOF) Intelligence Analysts Personnel with 2+ years of PSD/EP experience Apply Here And please...