TEARLINE

➤ A Russian Italmas drone hit a gas station in Ukraine’s northern city of Sumy on Thursday, injuring at least four people including a local TV station manager. The strike comes amid escalating Russian attacks on civilian and energy sites across the front line. (Read More)

➤ Israeli forces struck Hezbollah infrastructure in southern Lebanon’s Mahmudiyah area, targeting a launcher and tunnel shaft, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) said Wednesday. The military said the presence of such sites violates prior agreements between Israel and Lebanon. The IDF added that operations will continue to eliminate threats against Israel. (Read More)

➤ A Russian Il-76 military transport aircraft landed in Venezuela after a two-day journey from Russia via Armenia, Algeria, Morocco, Senegal, and Mauritania. The plane likely delivered spare parts or missiles to bolster Venezuela’s aging Russian-made arsenal. The flight comes amid rising tensions between Venezuela and the U.S. over recent U.S. strikes on alleged narco-trafficking vessels. (Read More)

➤ The United States has issued a Level 2 travel advisory for Tanzania following violent demonstrations that erupted after the country’s general elections. The U.S. Embassy in Dar es Salaam warned citizens to avoid large gatherings and affected areas amid reports of widespread violence, roadblocks, and an ongoing internet blackout. (Read More)

➤ Nation-state hackers broke into U.S. telecom supplier Ribbon Communications, which provides software and networking gear to Verizon, CenturyLink, and the U.S. Defense Department. The company said it discovered the intrusion in September and is working with experts to confirm the extent of the breach and strengthen its security. (Read More)

➤ The U.S. Treasury Department has sanctioned a Mexico-based human smuggling network accused of trafficking migrants from four continents using yachts, hotels, and cartel links. Officials said the Bhardwaj Human Smuggling Organization moved thousands of people toward the U.S. border with help from Sinaloa Cartel members. (Read More)

➤ AI startup Luminary Cloud has created a physics-based model for Northrop Grumman that simulates spacecraft subsystems in seconds, letting engineers quickly test design changes. The speed and accuracy will be crucial as the Pentagon shifts to rapidly fielding large constellations of space systems instead of a few long-term satellites. (Read More)

➤ Army Rangers, Navy SEALs, Marines, and Air Force airmen joined the military’s first “Drone Crucible” in September to test drone tactics across six operational scenarios. Teams shared lessons, identified weaknesses, and explored new approaches to improve U.S. drone operations. (Read More)

➤ U.S. Marine Corps F-35Bs escorted B-52H bombers off Venezuela on Oct. 15 during a long-range mission in the U.S. Southern Command area. Officials said the exercise tested crew readiness, reinforced deterrence, and demonstrated the military’s ability to respond to threats in the region and homeland. (Read More)