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U.S. Seizes Giant Sanctioned Tanker Near Venezuela

Published 4 days ago • 5 min read

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Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

U.S. Seizes Sanctioned Tanker off Venezuela’s Coast

U.S. forces seized a sanctioned oil tanker off Venezuela’s coast, President Donald Trump announced Wednesday, calling it “the largest one ever seized.” The Skipper, previously known as the Adisa, had been sanctioned for involvement in Iranian oil trading.

Attorney General Pam Bondi said the FBI, Homeland Security, Coast Guard, and U.S. military conducted the joint operation. She shared on X drone footage showing troops boarding the vessel from a helicopter.

The Skipper, a Guyana-flagged Very Large Crude Carrier, departed Venezuela’s main oil port of Jose earlier this month with 1.1 million barrels of Venezuela's Merey heavy crude, according to energy consulting firm Kpler. (Read More)​

Ukraine Strikes Russian ‘Shadow Fleet’ Tanker in Black Sea

Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) said it struck a Russian oil tanker from Moscow’s “shadow fleet” in the Black Sea on Wednesday using Sea Baby maritime drones. The joint SBU-navy operation marked the third attack on Russian tankers in two weeks.

The targeted vessel, identified as the Dashan, was en route to Russia’s Novorossiysk port when it was attacked. Ukrainian officials said it sustained “critical damage” and was disabled.

The strike is part of Ukraine’s ongoing campaign to disrupt Moscow’s covert oil exports and curb oil revenues for Russia. (Read More)​

British Soldier Killed in Ukraine During Weapon Test

The UK Ministry of Defence said that Lance Corporal George Hooley, 28, of the Parachute Regiment, died in a tragic accident while observing Ukrainian forces test a new defensive capability on Tuesday.

Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer extended his “deepest sympathy and condolences” to Hooley’s family, adding that his “service and sacrifice will never be forgotten.”

This marks the first confirmed death of a UK service member in Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in February 2022. Ukrainian authorities have yet to comment on the incident. (Read More)​

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The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ Two U.S. Navy F/A-18 Super Hornets flew deep into the Gulf of Venezuela for about 40 minutes on Tuesday, according to flight tracking data. A pair of Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets were also tracked orbiting in the Caribbean just north of the gulf. (Read More)​

➤ U.S. forces stationed at Israel’s Kiryat Gat facility, which monitors the Gaza ceasefire, are accusing their Israeli counterparts of recording meetings, both openly and secretly. The Israel Defense Forces dismissed the allegations as “absurd.” (Read More)​

➤ The National Resistance Front says its fighters killed at least 17 Taliban members, including a battalion chief of staff, and wounded five in an overnight attack on a Taliban base in Panjshir’s Dara district in Afghanistan. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ OpenAI warns that its upcoming AI models are rapidly advancing and could pose a “high” cybersecurity risk, as their growing capabilities may enable more people to carry out sophisticated cyberattacks. (Read More)​

➤ Americans in Mali are advised to depart immediately as al Qaeda-linked militants advance across the West African nation. The U.S. embassy recommended using commercial flights instead of overland routes due to security risks. (Read More)​

➤ A Customs and Border Protection proposal would require foreign tourists to the U.S. to disclose five years of social media activity, along with phone numbers, email addresses, and other digital information, as part of their Electronic System for Travel Authorization applications. (Read More)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ The U.S. Army is testing M1A2 Abrams tanks fitted with Switchblade loitering munitions via the Precision Effects & Reconnaissance, Canister-Housed system, with further trials planned under a potential U.S. Army contract for an upgraded version. (Read More)​

➤ Australia has approved the purchase of seven additional MQ-28 Ghost Bat drones from Boeing in a AUS $754 million (US$500.6 million) deal which features design upgrades including an internal weapons bay. (Read More)​

➤ Pentagon Chief Technology Officer Emil Michael said he hopes to see “five more Andurils and Palantirs and SpaceXs” flourish. He made the remarks as the U.S. increasingly relies on neo-prime contractors and shows growing interest in dual-use equipment. (Read More)​

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Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ McDonald’s Netherlands drew criticism for its fully AI-generated 2025 Christmas ad, showing families and individuals experiencing holiday mishaps. Viewers described the commercial as “creepy and depressing.”

➤ Researchers studying Pompeii, an ancient city in Italy, have uncovered how the Romans made durable cement using a “hot-mix” combining quicklime, volcanic ash, and water. Researchers say the discovery could guide the development of longer-lasting concrete in modern construction.

➤ Right-to-repair provisions, which would have required contractors to provide the military with detailed instructions for equipment repair and maintenance, were removed from the 2026 National Defense Authorization Act.

On this day in history: On December 11th, 1963, Frank Sinatra Jr. was released three days after being taken at gunpoint from his Lake Tahoe hotel room. The 19-year-old singer had been blindfolded and transported to Canoga Park in the San Fernando Valley during the abduction.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Yesterday’s Results:

Australia has officially enacted a teen social media ban. Do you think kids should be allowed on social media?

  1. No, and I'd support laws banning it (39.1%)
  2. Yes, but I'd support some age-based restrictions (33.5%)
  3. No, but I don't support government regulation (25.9%)
  4. Yes, keep it open (1.6%)
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Interested in partnering with SOFX? Contact ​emily.benjamin@sofx.com​ →

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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.

Have feedback for us? We want to hear any and all comments you may have. Contact us at editor@sofx.com​.​

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