Join 31,064 decision makers who get The SOFX Report delivered daily.
Share
Three US Soldiers Missing in Lithuania Confirmed Dead, One Remains Missing
Published 2 days ago • 4 min read
Alert Line
The CTC Sentinel March 2025 edition is out now. It features an in-depth look at the evolving terrorist drone threat, with Don Rassler and Yannick Veilleux-Lepage analyzing trends shaped by the Russo-Ukrainian War. Read it here.
Lithuanian Armed Forces and emergency services personnel with excavators during recovery efforts for a U.S. Army M88 Hercules recovery vehicle near a training area in Pabradė, Lithuania, March 28, 2025. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Joseph Novak)
Three US Soldiers Missing in Lithuania Confirmed Dead, One Remains Missing
Three American soldiers who went missing in Lithuania were found dead on Monday following a six-day search involving U.S., Lithuanian, and Polish forces. A fourth soldier remains missing. "Three U.S. Army soldiers assigned to 1st Armored Brigade Combat Team, 3rd Infantry Division were found deceased in Lithuania today, March 31,” U.S. Army Europe and Africa (USAREUR-AF) said in a statement. The identities of the soldiers were not disclosed. (Read More)
Suspected US Airstrikes Hit Rebel-Held Areas in Yemen, Killing 3
Suspected U.S. airstrikes hit areas around Yemen’s rebel-held capital overnight into Monday, killing at least three people and wounding 12 others, according to the Iranian-backed Houthi movement. The strikes hit locations in Sanaa and Hajjah governorate. The Houthis said one person died in Sanaa, where four others were injured. In Hajjah, a strike on a pickup truck killed two people and wounded a child, according to an Associated Press report. (Read More)
Sudan’s RSF Admits Withdrawal from Khartoum as Army Consolidates Control
The leader of Sudan’s Rapid Support Forces (RSF) said Sunday that his fighters have withdrawn from Khartoum, ending nearly two years of control over the capital during the ongoing civil war. Mohamed Hamdan Dagalo, known as Hemedti, confirmed in a voice message on Telegram that RSF troops pulled back last week. “It’s true that in the past few days there was a withdrawal by forces [from Khartoum] to reposition in Omdurman,” he said. “This was a tactical decision made by the leadership.” (Read More)
Latvia Signs $210 Million Deal for Saab’s RBS 70 NG Air Defense System
Latvia has secured a 2.1 billion Swedish kronor ($210 million) defense deal with Swedish arms manufacturer Saab for the RBS 70 NG short-range air defense system. According to a statement released by the company, the order includes firing units, missiles, and training systems. (Read More)
FBI Seizes $200,000 from Cryptocurrency Wallets Linked to Hamas
The U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) said Thursday it seized more than $200,000 in cryptocurrency from wallets and exchange accounts linked to Hamas. According to a DOJ press release, about $201,400 in USDT — a stablecoin issued by Tether — was taken from wallets “intended to benefit” Hamas. The funds were traced back to cryptocurrency addresses promoted in encrypted group chats by people claiming to represent the group. (Read More)
US Army Awards Contract to Develop High-Energy Laser System for Countering Drones
The U.S. Army is advancing its efforts to develop a cutting-edge laser weapon to counter enemy drones. Virginia-based defense contractor Huntington Ingalls Industries (HII) announced recently that it has been awarded a contract by the Army’s Rapid Capabilities and Critical Technologies Office (RCCTO) to build and test a High-Energy Laser (HEL) prototype. The contract amount was not disclosed. (Read More)
China Deploys Private Security Firms to Protect Workers in Pakistan
China has deployed private security personnel to Pakistan for the first time to protect its workers and engineers after a rise in militant attacks. According to India Today, the security firms involved are Dewe Security Frontier Service Group, China Overseas Security Group, and Huaxin Zhongshan Security Service. These companies are now under contract to protect Chinese workers at various China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project sites across the country. (Read More)
Iran Seizes Two Foreign Oil Tankers in Persian Gulf, Citing Fuel Smuggling
Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) seized two foreign oil tankers in the Persian Gulf on Monday, accusing them of smuggling diesel fuel. According to the IRGC, the tankers — Star 1 and Vintage — were carrying more than three million liters (792,516 US gallons) of diesel. The IRGC said the vessels were intercepted in the central Gulf and are being transferred to Bushehr port in Iran under a judicial order. (Read More)
Papers Strewn On Newcastle Street Feared To Be Sensitive Army Documents | The Guardian
The UK Ministry of Defence is investigating after sensitive military documents were found scattered on a Newcastle street on March 16. Linked to Catterick Garrison, the papers included ranks, shift patterns, and access codes. A passerby discovered them and alerted police. The documents are now with the MoD, and the incident remains under investigation. (Read More)
Alert Line Hi everyone, If you are an expert in government acquisition and are interested in providing services to SOFX clients as a 1099 member of various SOFX project teams, please send us your resume along with your top 3 superpowers or areas of specialized access or knowledge. Be specific, not vague. For example, “relationship building” is not a superpower in and of itself. “Extreme influence in USD x, y, z as a function of n years working in it and knowing where bodies are buried” is....
Alert Line Hi everyone, If you are a legitimate expert in government acquisition and are interested in providing services to SOFX clients as a 1099 member of various SOFX project teams, please send us your resume along with your top 3 superpowers or areas of specialized access or knowledge. Be specific, not vague. For example, “relationship building” is not a superpower in and of itself. “Extreme influence in USD x, y, z as a function of n years working in it and knowing where bodies are...
Alert Line The CTC Sentinel March 2025 edition is out now. It features an in-depth look at the evolving terrorist drone threat, with Don Rassler and Yannick Veilleux-Lepage analyzing trends shaped by the Russo-Ukrainian War. Read it here. Sam Havelock CEO, SOFX Are you a first time reader? Subscribe. Satellite image of Diego Garcia — A strategically vital atoll in the Indian Ocean, Diego Garcia hosts a major U.S. and U.K. military base. (Zelvan / Shutterstock.com) Armed Conflict Open-Source...