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Trump claims secret "discombobulator" weapon key to Venezuela Raid

Published 5 days ago • 5 min read

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Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

Trump Claims Secret ‘Discombobulator’ Weapon Key to Venezuela Raid

President Trump told the New York Post that U.S. forces used a classified system he called "the Discombobulator" during the January 3 Caracas raid, claiming the device disabled Venezuelan air defenses and prevented Russian and Chinese rockets from launching. "They pressed buttons and nothing worked," Trump said.

The comments follow reports that Washington possesses an energy weapon similar to devices suspected of causing Havana Syndrome. An alleged Venezuelan guard described a sound wave that left Maduro's security team bleeding from the nose and unable to move. (Read More)​

Top Chinese General Ousted for Leaking Nuclear Secrets to US

China’s top general Zhang Youxi has been removed from his post and placed under investigation for misconduct, marking the latest move in President Xi Jinping’s ongoing purge of senior military leaders.

Reports allege that Zhang leaked nuclear secrets to the United States, and accepted bribes to promote allies. His ouster follows a series of shakeups within the military, including the removal of former vice chair He Weidong in October. (Read More)​

Ukraine Strikes Belgorod Thermal Plant Using HIMARS

The Russian city of Belgorod was hit overnight in what Governor Vyacheslav Gladkov described as “the most massive” strike on the city to date. He claimed the attack involved U.S.-supplied HIMARS.

Among the targets was the Belgorod Thermal Plant, which produces an average of 395.6 million kWh of electricity annually. Independent outlet Astra reported “at least 50 explosions” and power and water outages in several districts. No casualties have been reported. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Approve with Confidence. Execute with Precision.

​Our client is looking for a SARs Development Director to lead Source Approval Request (SARs) initiatives across the company. This role requires someone who can work independently, navigate DLA and government procurement processes, and deliver results that drive enterprise growth.

Key Responsibilities:

  • Identify and execute SARs opportunities that support company strategy
  • Build, submit, and manage SARs packages through approval
  • Coordinate with internal teams and external suppliers
  • Ensure all activities comply with government and DLA requirements

Preferred Background:

Five to seven years of SARs development experience with a strong record of approvals. Solid understanding of government contracting and DLA practices required.

Based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Fully onsite.

The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ The Israel Defense Forces carried out precise strikes in southern Lebanon on Sunday, killing two Hezbollah operatives, including artillery chief Muhammad al-Husseini and weapons site operative Jihad Bassam. (Read More)​

➤ U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff Gen. Dan Caine will convene a rare meeting of top military leaders from all 34 nations in the Western Hemisphere on Feb. 11. The meeting comes amid the U.S.’ ongoing campaign targeting drug cartel vessels in the Caribbean and Eastern Pacific. (Read More)​

➤ A video showing a Syrian militiaman holding a braid he claims belonged to a woman linked to the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) killed in Raqqa has ignited outrage, as Damascus seeks to tighten its grip on northeastern Syria amid a fragile ceasefire. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Iraq will prosecute ISIS detainees being transferred from Syria under a U.S.-facilitated deal. The move comes after Syrian troops seized al-Hol and Shaddadeh camps from Kurdish-led forces, who had long guarded thousands of ISIS prisoners. (Read More)​

➤ Up to 30,000 people may have been killed during the January 8–9 protests in Iran, two senior Health Ministry officials told Time Magazine. According to the report, the scale of the killings overwhelmed the state's ability to handle the dead, depleting body bag supplies and forcing the use of 18-wheel trucks instead of ambulances. (Read More)​

➤ German authorities arrested a suspected Hamas member near the Czech border. The Lebanese-born man is accused of procuring weapons intended for attacks on Israeli or Jewish sites in Germany and Europe. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The Pentagon's 2026 National Defense Strategy places homeland defense as the department's top priority above the Indo-Pacific, signaling potential drawdowns in Europe and South Korea while calling for allies to take "primary responsibility" for their own regions. (Read More)​

➤ Ukraine's Special Operations Forces are testing a new modular body armor system featuring a mechanical exoskeleton designed to redistribute load weight away from the spine. The platform aims to reduce musculoskeletal injuries that account for a significant portion of non-combat casualties among infantry soldiers. (Read More)​

➤ The U.S. Army's C5ISR Center issued a request for information seeking passive acoustic detection technology to identify Group 1 and Group 2 drones in near-real-time across varied environments. The effort follows War Secretary Pete Hegseth's directive establishing Joint Interagency Task Force 401 to lead Pentagon counter-drone development. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Ownership. Compliance. Growth.  

We’re looking for a SARs Development Director to take ownership of Source Approval Request initiatives that support our government and commercial programs.

​This role is perfect for someone who knows SARs inside and out, understands DLA and government procurement, and can manage approvals from start to finish. You’ll work with internal teams and suppliers to build solid SARs packages that drive growth while staying compliant.

Candidates should have five or more years of SARs experience with proven approvals and the ability to work independently in a fast-paced environment.
Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Congress has tasked the Government Accountability Office with investigating whether the War Department weaponized ticks carrying Lyme disease during the Cold War. The review, mandated under the 2026 Defense Authorization Act, seeks to examine historical experiments to enhance understanding, testing, and treatment of the illness.

➤ Marine Forces Special Operations Command is seeking enlisted Marines with intelligence experience to join its elite Special Operations Capability Specialist (SOCS) unit. Marines in the SOCS role support special operations forces by collecting and analyzing information, transforming it into actionable intelligence.

➤ Scientists have developed a method to track falling space debris by using existing seismometer networks to detect their sonic booms, allowing for faster recovery of potentially hazardous materials that could land in populated areas on Earth.

On this day in history: On January 26, 1939, Barcelona was captured by Nationalist forces under General Francisco Franco during the Spanish Civil War. The Catalan capital served as the Republican government's seat after Nationalists divided Republican territory the previous summer. Franco's forces, supplied by Germany and Italy, captured the rest of Catalonia within weeks. Madrid surrendered two months later.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Saturday’s Results:

Do you think that Europe can defend itself without U.S. involvement?

  1. No (81.1%)​
  2. Yes (13.1%)
  3. Unsure (5.8%)
Job Board

ASSIGNMENTS

Security and Intelligence
All Source Intelligence Analyst Defense Division Remote, US
Armorer Defense Division Remote, US
Austere Medic Defense Division Remote, US
Comms & Command Systems Instructor Defense Division Remote, US
Critical Care Medical Provider Defense Division Remote, US
Intl. Humanitarian Security Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Interpreter Defense Division Remote, US
Security Director Defense Division Remote, US
Security Operations Chief Defense Division Remote, US
Security Team Lead Defense Division Remote, US
Targeter Defense Division Remote, US
Business Development
SARs Development Director 100K - 120K Fort Lauderdale, FL

SPONSORED

Looking for a SARs Development Director with hands-on experience in Source Approval Requests, government procurement, and DLA compliance.

Must have 5–7 years of SARs development experience, strong approval track record, and the ability to manage submissions independently.

Fort Lauderdale, FL | Onsite
U.S. citizenship required

​Apply today to help drive compliant sourcing and enterprise growth →

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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.

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