Was this Email Forwarded to You?

A U.S. Army Soldier assigned to Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve, conducts a dismounted patrol through a village in Northeast Syria, circa 2024.
(U.S. Army photo by Staff. Sgt. Emma Scearce)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

Iowa Guardsmen Killed in ISIS Ambush in Syria

Two Iowa National Guard soldiers and an American civilian interpreter were killed when an ISIS-linked gunman opened fire during a U.S. patrol in the Syrian town of Palmyra. Three others were wounded in the ambush.

Preliminary reports indicated that the attacker was a member of Syria’s security forces who had been flagged over suspected ISIS ties. He was killed when Syrian troops returned fire.

In response, the U.S. deployed F-16s over central Syria in a show of force as President Donald Trump vowed “very serious retaliation” for what he called a “dangerous ISIS attack.” (Read More)

U.S. Forces Intercept Cargo Ship Carrying Missile Components Bound for Iran

U.S. special operations forces raided a cargo ship in the Indian Ocean last month, intercepting components reportedly linked to Iran’s missile program, the Wall Street Journal reported. The vessel was traveling from China to Iran when boarded several hundred miles off Sri Lanka.

Officials said the cargo contained dual-use materials with both civilian and military applications. The shipment was destroyed, and the ship was later released.

Officials said the operation is part of a broader U.S. effort to disrupt Iran’s covert arms supply chains and prevent the transfer of materials that could bolster its weapons development. (Read More)

IDF Kills Top Hamas Commander in Gaza Strike

Israeli forces killed Raad Saad, a senior Hamas commander and key planner of the October 7, 2023, attack, in an airstrike targeting his vehicle along Gaza’s coastal Rashid Road. Three others were also reported killed, and more than 20 injured.

Saad, who headed Hamas’s weapons manufacturing, was among the last senior members of the group’s military leadership in Gaza. Hamas has confirmed his death.

Israeli officials, including Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and Defense Minister Israel Katz, said the strike was a response to a recent IED attack that lightly wounded two reservists in southern Gaza. (Read More)

Bring Order to Chaos. Join UG Solutions.

At UG Solutions, we are driven by a singular purpose: to bring order to chaos. As a team of elite former SOF and intelligence professionals, we harness our expertise, precision, and unwavering resolve to solve the world’s most complex security challenges.

From securing leading humanitarian missions to protecting critical infrastructure and stabilizing volatile environments, we act decisively to protect, defend, and restore. Our teams operate alongside multinational partners in high-threat and high-impact regions, supporting efforts that safeguard lives and promote global stability.

Every mission we take on reflects our unyielding commitment to shaping a safer, stronger world. Joining UG Solutionsmeans continuing to serve at the highest level, where your skills directly influence outcomes and change lives.

If you’re ready to put your experience to work where it matters most, join us.

Explore Opportunities →

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ The Trump administration will appoint a U.S. general to command Gaza’s International Stabilization Force (ISF), according to Axios. Israeli officials said placing an American general in charge of the ISF should assure Israel that the force will operate according to proper standards. (Read More)

➤ The Rwanda-backed M23 group has seized control of Uvira in eastern Congo, as regional fighting intensifies despite a U.S.-mediated peace agreement. The clashes have displaced approximately 200,000 people and resulted in over 400 deaths. (Read More)

➤ Ukraine faced one of Russia’s biggest air attacks in months, with over 1,500 drones and dozens of missiles launched in a week. Strikes on Odesa and Zaporizhzhia injured civilians and caused widespread power and heating outages. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Two gunmen, a father and son, opened fire at a Hanukkah celebration on Sydney’s Bondi Beach, killing 15 people, including a child. One shooter was fatally shot by police, while the other was arrested and hospitalized. (Read More)

➤ A person of interest was detained in connection with a Brown University shooting that killed two and injured nine. Police said the suspect, a man in his mid-20s from Wisconsin, is not a student at the university. (Read More)

➤ Five men have been arrested in Germany for allegedly plotting an Islamist-motivated Christmas market attack. Authorities said the foiled plot targeted a market in Bavaria and was intended to be carried out using a vehicle. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The U.S. Marine Corps tested a new unmanned amphibious vehicle at Camp Pendleton, California. The tracked craft, designed to move from sea to shore without a crew, features flotation enhancements for stability in rough waters. (Read More)

➤ L3Harris delivered the first Meadowlands anti-satellite electronic warfare system to the U.S. Space Force. The new platform is capable of jamming enemy satellite communications and severing data links between satellites and ground stations. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Air Force is preparing to retake the “Looking Glass” mission from the Navy. The new “Looking Glass – Next” program will restore the Air Force’s role in launching nuclear ICBMs from aircraft if ground command stations are destroyed. (Read More)

Join A Company of Thinkers and Innovators

At Parsons, big ideas become reality. Join a global team of thinkers and innovators working across diverse markets and critical missions worldwide.

We offer unmatched opportunities for growth, internal mobility, and work-life balance. We recognize excellence, celebrate individuality, and support our teammates and communities. Whether you're an engineer, scientist, or problem-solver, Parsons is a place for everyone.

Start Your Journey

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ U.S. Special Forces veteran Bryan Stern led a high-stakes mission to extract Venezuelan opposition leader María Corina Machado from Venezuela. The week-long operation used a maritime route to avoid checkpoints and U.S. military patrols, ensuring her safe passage to Oslo.

➤ A JetBlue flight from Curaçao narrowly avoided a midair collision with a U.S. Air Force refueling tanker near Venezuela. The pilot said the military plane crossed directly into their flight path, forcing the aircraft to halt its ascent.

➤ YouTube CEO Neal Mohan limits his children’s social media use, citing concerns about online harms for young people. The restrictions cover YouTube and other platforms, with stricter rules on weekdays and more relaxed rules on weekends.

On this day in history: On December 15th, 2005 the US Air Force F-22 officially entered service, reaching Initial Operational Capability at Langley Air Force Base, Virginia. The Raptor was a revolutionary moment in aviation history, becoming the first operational fifth-generation fighter jet in the world, known for its stealth, speed, and advanced avionics.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

When will flying cars move from concept to consumer reality?

By 2030

2030-2035

After 2035, but this century

It's not happening

Saturday’s Results:

Are you in favor of significant campaign finance reform in the United States?

Yes (89.2%)
Maybe, depends on changes (10.2%)
No (0.7%)

ASSIGNMENTS

PMC & Security

Cultural Support Operator

Defense Division

Worldwide

Humanitarian Security Officer

Defense Division

Worldwide

Medic

Defense Division

Worldwide

Interpreter

Defense Division

Worldwide

Communications and Command Systems Instructor

Defense Division

Worldwide

VIEW BOARD

Your “free” email is costing you more than you think. It’s not just your inbox, it’s your location, your contacts, your calendar, your identity. Big Tech scans and stores everything, turning your private life into a product for advertisers and a resource for AI.

SOFX is a privacy-first email platform with zero tolerance for tracking. Our infrastructure is built to reject surveillance and protect your right to communicate freely with encrypted email, secure scheduling, and human-run systems that never sell or share your data.

Was this Email Forwarded to You?

Subscribe!

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.

This email was sent to Reader

You've received it because you've subscribed to The SOFX Report.

Unsubscribe or Update to Sunday Only