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U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela's coast carrying 1.1 million barrels of Merey heavy crude. (Photo: AG Pamela Bondi via X)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

Trump Orders Naval Blockade on Venezuela’s Sanctioned Oil Tankers

President Donald Trump announced a “total and complete blockade” on all sanctioned oil tankers entering or leaving Venezuela, escalating U.S. pressure on President Nicolás Maduro’s regime.

In a Truth Social post, Trump accused Venezuela’s “illegitimate” government of using oil to fund “drug terrorism, human trafficking, murder, and kidnapping,” and designated it a foreign terrorist organization.

It remains unclear how many vessels will be targeted by the blockade. The move follows the U.S. seizure of a sanctioned tanker tied to an Iranian-Venezuelan oil smuggling network off Venezuela’s coast. (Read More)

Trinidad and Tobago Opens Airports to U.S. Military Amid Venezuela Tensions

Trinidad and Tobago will allow U.S. forces to use its airports for logistical operations, including supply runs and personnel rotations, as tensions rise between Washington and Caracas.

The decision follows the recent installation of a U.S. radar system in Trinidad and Tobago, which officials say is meant to combat local crime, not launch attacks on other nations.

Venezuelan Vice President Delcy Rodríguez accused Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar of turning Trinidad and Tobago into a “U.S. aircraft carrier” against Venezuela. She said Venezuela will cancel gas supply deals with the Caribbean nation in response to its actions. (Read More)

Ukrainian Special Forces Destroy Russian Artillery Depot in Luhansk

Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (SSO) released a video showing the destruction of a Russian artillery supply depot in Luhansk during an overnight operation on Wednesday.

The warehouse, belonging to the 101st Separate Brigade of Russia’s 51st Army, was struck using domestically produced FP‑2 drones. A large number of enemy munitions were destroyed as a result.

The SSO said the strike is part of ongoing asymmetric operations to weaken Russian forces. Ukrainian forces also struck a BM‑27 Uragan multiple launch rocket system using FP‑2 drones in the Donetsk region during the overnight operation. (Read More)

Zuri Secures New Strategic Investment

Zuri has secured a strategic investment from AAMG to accelerate development of Zuri Hybrid VTOL, a platform designed to expand regional air mobility and support mission-critical operations. This investment strengthens our ability to advance certification pathways, scale system integration, and prepare Zuri Hybrid VTOL for real-world transport, emergency response, and defense-oriented use cases.

Explore how Zuri Hybrid VTOL supports critical missions in our Security Defense and Relief section and related mission content.

Read the full article on the Zuri and AAMG investment agreement.

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QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Satellite images from TWZ show the Russian Improved Kilo-class submarine, reportedly hit by a Ukrainian underwater drone in Novorossiysk port, is still moored, with no visible signs of efforts to prevent sinking or contain oil and other hazardous leaks. (Read More)

➤ President Donald Trump has nominated Gen. John D. Lamontagne to become Vice Chief of Staff of the Air Force, a position vacant since February. Lamontagne brings extensive airlifter experience, having served the past 15 months as head of Air Mobility Command. (Read More)

➤ Vietnam is nearing completion of eight militarized outposts in the Spratly Islands as part of its expanded South China Sea land reclamation efforts. Construction continues with nonstop crane activity reported on South Reef, where soldiers are also being encouraged to raise chickens and grow vegetables. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Nuno Loureiro, MIT professor and director of the Plasma Science and Fusion Center, has died at 47. He was a theoretical physicist and fusion scientist whose research explored the heart of fusion chambers and the edges of the universe. (Read More)

➤ Project NOLA, a New Orleans nonprofit running a citywide surveillance network, continues providing live facial recognition data to federal, state, and local police despite privacy concerns. Founder Bryan Lagarde says the system is more accountable than a government-run network. (Read More)

➤ The Great Lakes are facing declining water levels just as data centers move into the region, raising concerns among local residents. Ohio farmer Tom Hermes fears that Aligned Data Centers’ facility beside his farmland could threaten the water his livestock and crops depend on. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The U.S. Air Force is purchasing two Boeing 747-8 aircraft from Lufthansa for $400 million to support the long-delayed VC-25B presidential airlift program. The service said the planes will be used “to support training and spares for the 747-8 fleet.” (Read More)

➤ Germany plans to extend the use of Falke reconnaissance drones, developed by Quantum Systems, from special forces to the entire Bundeswehr. The Bundestag is considering a €200 million ($220 million) budget to acquire over 500 drones. (Read More)

➤ The Department of Defense urged contractors to prepare for a 2027 mandate banning certain Chinese-made parts in U.S. weapons programs. Michael Cadenazzi said companies should identify any connections to prohibited components now and submit waiver requests in 2026 if necessary to avoid a “painful process.” (Read More)

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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.

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ In an experiment called Project Sid, 1,000 AI agents created a virtual society in Minecraft, complete with farms, markets, governance, and social hierarchies. Some took on roles as leaders, others as priests, and a few became corrupt, bribing their peers for influence.

➤ The Senate confirmed billionaire Jared Isaacman as NASA administrator in a 67–30 vote. Isaacman, a 42-year-old entrepreneur and experienced space tourist, has flown on multiple SpaceX missions and will lead NASA’s push to return to the Moon in 2028.

➤ Lawton Chiles Middle School in Florida was briefly placed on lockdown after an AI system mistook a student’s clarinet for a gun. Instead of blaming the AI system, the principal urged parents to discuss “the dangers of pretending to have a weapon on campus” with their children.

On this day in history: On December 18th, 1941, Congress passed the War Powers Act, granting FDR authority to manage defense contracts, reconfigure agencies, freeze foreign assets, and censor communications. FDR appointed AP's Byron Price as censorship director. Price allowed media self-censorship, successfully protecting secrets like the Manhattan Project. The most aggressive enforcement targeted "girlie" magazines like Esquire, which the Post Office banned for pinups. After three years, the Supreme Court overturned the ban.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

If SpaceX/NASA achieved regular Mars travel and needed volunteers for a permanent colony, would you go?

Yes – Sign me up for the final frontier

No – Keeping both feet on this planet

Maybe – Show me the habitat specs first

Yesterday’s Results:

Do you think Thailand and Cambodia will reach a new ceasefire agreement by the end of the year?

No (60.5%)
Too close to call (25.6%)
Yes (13.9%)

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Defense Division

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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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