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An F/A-18E/F Super Hornet from Strike Fighter Squadron (VFA) 103 lands during a rain shower on Nimitz-class aircraft carrier USS George Washington (CVN 73) Dec. 6, 2023 (U.S. Navy Photo by Mass Communication Specialist 3rd Class August Clawson)

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

Two U.S. Navy Aircraft Crash in South China Sea

A U.S. Navy MH-60R Sea Hawk helicopter and an F/A-18F Super Hornet fighter jet, both operating from the aircraft carrier USS Nimitz, crashed in the South China Sea on Sunday during separate routine missions.

The Sea Hawk, assigned to the “Battle Cats” of Helicopter Maritime Strike Squadron 73, went down around 2:45 p.m. Roughly 30 minutes later, the Super Hornet from the “Fighting Redcocks” of Strike Fighter Squadron 22 also crashed.

All five crew members were rescued by assets from Carrier Strike Group 11 and are in stable condition, according to U.S. Pacific Fleet. The Navy has launched investigations into both incidents. (Read More)

Venezuela Arrests Alleged U.S., Colombian ‘Mercenaries’ Alleging Links to CIA

Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro said authorities captured seven foreign “mercenaries,” including two Americans and two Colombians, for allegedly planning “terrorist acts” ahead of his inauguration.

Vice President Delcy Rodríguez claimed the group had ties to the CIA and was preparing a “false flag” operation intended to spark a “full military confrontation” with Venezuela. She offered no further details.

The arrests come amid heightened tensions with Washington over ongoing U.S. strikes in the Caribbean that killed more than 40 people. Earlier this month, President Donald Trump confirmed he had authorized CIA operations in Venezuela. The agency has not commented on the latest allegations. (Read More)

UN Peacekeepers Shoot Down Suspected Israeli Drone Near Lebanon Border

The UN peacekeeping mission in Lebanon (UNIFIL) said its forces shot down an alleged Israeli drone flying “aggressively” over a patrol near the border town of Kfar Kila on Sunday. It said “defensive countermeasures” were taken after the drone flew directly over its troops.

Moments later, another alleged Israeli drone reportedly dropped a grenade near peacekeepers, followed by a tank round. No injuries were reported. UNIFIL said the actions violated Lebanon’s sovereignty and UN Resolution 1701, which requires both Israel and Lebanon to respect the mission’s safety and freedom of movement.

Israel’s military denied firing toward UNIFIL and said the case is under review. (Read More)

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TEARLINE

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces struck Russian fuel and oil depots in the occupied Luhansk region overnight Sunday. According to the unit, the facility supplied fuel to Russian troops. A Russian official said administrative buildings, fuel trucks, and tankers were damaged, but all workers were evacuated and no injuries were reported. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Air Force has resumed high-altitude drone surveillance over the Black Sea. On Saturday, a Northrop Grumman RQ-4B Global Hawk, callsign FORTE 10, conducted reconnaissance from NATO’s Sigonella Air Base in Sicily, monitoring activity across the European waters. (Read More)

➤ Lithuania will start shooting down smuggler balloons from Belarus and close most border crossings with the neighboring country, Prime Minister Inga Ruginiene announced. The decision comes after repeated airspace violations by suspected cigarette-smuggling balloons, which led to flight cancellations at Lithuania’s main airport. (Read More)

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ OpenAI released data showing more than 1 million ChatGPT users weekly have conversations with suicidal indicators, as the company faces lawsuits and improves safety features in its new GPT-5 model, which responds appropriately to mental health issues 65% more often than previous versions. (Read More)

➤ Mexican journalist who covered drug trafficking, was found murdered along a highway between Durango and Sinaloa, authorities confirmed. In one of his last reports, he covered the arrest of a leader of the Cabrera Sarabia gang, which operates in Durango and rivals the powerful Sinaloa and Jalisco Nueva Generacion cartels. (Read More)

➤ Research submitted to a UK committee found at least 49 family members and colleagues of Afghans were killed after the Ministry of Defence leaked details of nearly 19,000 Afghan applicants in 2022, with 87% of surveyed victims reporting threats to themselves or their families. (Read More)

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ Singapore launched its largest-ever surface combatant, the 8,000-ton, 492-foot Victory, the first of six Multi-Role Combat Vessels (MRCVs), at ST Engineering’s Benoi shipyard on Oct. 21. Set for delivery in 2028, the MRCV combines frigate capabilities with a “mothership” role for unmanned systems operating in air, sea, and underwater. (Read More)

➤ Russia has tested its nuclear-powered Burevestnik cruise missile, claiming it flew 8,700 miles over roughly 15 hours. President Vladimir Putin hailed the launch as a milestone, while U.S. President Donald Trump called on Russia to end the war in Ukraine instead of conducting missile tests. (Read More)

➤ Wisconsin authorities located a missing 3-year-old in the middle of a 100-acre cornfield with the aid of a thermal imaging drone, authorities said. The child, who had wandered half a mile from home while chasing a cat, was found uninjured and safely reunited with his parents after deputies scanned the fields. (Read More)

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ASSIGNMENTS

Management & Leadership

General Manager

Competitive

College Station, TX

Chief of Staff

$145K - $170K

Phoenix, AZ

Program Delivery and
Business Development Manager

Competitive

Remote, USA

Engineering & Technology

Controls Engineer

$80K - $120K

Easley, SC

Sr Aeromechanical Engineer

$145K - $175K

Camarillo, CA

Sr/Principal UAS GNC Engineer

$160K - $220K

Camarillo, CA

Director of Engineering

$185K - $215K

Phoenix, AZ

Technology Vendor Manager

$70K - $110K

Jacksonville, FL

VIEW BOARD

PMC & Security

Cultural Support Operator

Defense Division

Worldwide

Humanitarian Security Officer

Defense Division

Worldwide

Interpreter

Defense Division

Remote

Medic

Defense Division

Remote

Specialized Drone Operator

Defense Division

Remote

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SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Several U.S. Navy warships in the Caribbean counter-narcotics mission have repositioned to avoid Hurricane Melissa, now a Category 5 storm expected to hit Jamaica. Officials said the safety of personnel and their families is the top priority, and the hurricane is not expected to impact ongoing operations, as many vessels were already outside its path.

➤ San Francisco is seeing a wave of satirical AI billboards, including ones from Replacement.AI declaring that humans are “no longer necessary.” The ads exaggerate AI capabilities, such as doing homework, reading bedtime stories, and creating deepfakes, while mocking the tech industry’s casual attitude toward ordinary people.

➤ About 3,000 people remained at the U.S. Navy base in Guantánamo Bay, Cuba, on Monday ahead of Hurricane Melissa’s projected arrival. Over the weekend, roughly 1,000 non-essential personnel and family members were evacuated to Florida. The base has hurricane shelters and emergency supplies but its water and power infrastructure is vulnerable. If damaged, residents would need to rely on generators and bottled water until repairs are completed.

On this day in history: On October 28th 1985, John Walker, leader of the "Walker family spy ring," pleaded guilty to selling US Navy secrets to the Soviet Union for money, aided by family members, until his FBI capture.

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Who will win the World Series?

LA Dodgers

Toronto Blue Jays

Too close to call

Yesterday's Results:

Will Kamala Harris run for president again?

Yes, and she will lose (51.8%)
No (41.6%)
Yes (5.8%)
Yes, and she will win (0.7%)

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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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