profile

The SOFX Report

Video of IRGC commandos storming commercial vessels in Strait of Hormuz

Published 10 days ago • 6 min read

Was this Email Forwarded to You?

​Subscribe!​

Major Developments

SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES

 

Video Shows Iranian Commandos Storming Container Ships in Strait of Hormuz

Iran has released a new video purportedly showing the seizure of two commercial container ships, the MSC Francesca and the Epaminondas, in the Strait of Hormuz.

The video, which aired on state television, appears to show a speedboat approaching one of the ships before armed personnel carrying rifles storm the vessel. The authenticity of the video and the full circumstances surrounding the encounter could not be independently verified. (Read More)​

U.S. Forces Seize Third Iranian-Linked Tanker in Indian Ocean

U.S. Navy forces boarded and seized the sanctioned tanker M/T Majestic X in the Indian Ocean on Thursday, the third vessel interdicted as part of the global blockade on Iranian oil exports.

The ship was intercepted in the Indian Ocean between Sri Lanka and Indonesia. The vessel, formerly known as Phonix, was sanctioned by the Treasury Department in 2024 for allegedly smuggling Iranian crude oil in violation of U.S. restrictions. Ship-tracking data showed it was en route to Zhoushan, China at the time of the seizure. (Read More)​

Pentagon Announces Departure of Navy Secretary Phelan, Combat Veteran Hung Cao Takes Over

Navy Secretary John Phelan left the Trump administration following a White House meeting in which President Donald Trump and War Secretary Pete Hegseth reportedly concluded that “new leadership at the Navy is needed.” His departure comes amid reported tensions over the pace of shipbuilding reforms.

Undersecretary Hung Cao has assumed the role of acting secretary. Cao was commissioned as a special operations officer in 1996 and later served with SEAL teams and special forces in Iraq, Afghanistan, and Somalia before retiring in 2021 at the rank of captain, according to his biography. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

StreamCaster NEXUS: Next Generation Tactical Networking System For The Dismounted Operator

Purpose-built for the dismounted operator, ​StreamCaster NEXUS​ seamlessly pairs the ultra-slim SM5200 MANET radio with Samsung's mission-ready EUD to deliver mission-critical connectivity and real-time situational awareness at the tactical edge. Custom designed Juggernaut chest-mount features streamlined, snag-free cable routing that minimizes weight and maximizes operator freedom.

With access to ATAK and other mission apps, operators gain geospatial intelligence, mission planning tools and can manage radio and network configurations through the StreamScape ATAK plug-in. Available access to ​Spectrum Dominance 2.0​ – Silvus' ever-expanding suite of LPI/LPD, Anti-Jam and Advanced Threat Protection capabilities – ensures secure and protected communications in EW contested environments.

Multiple I/O connectors, Dual PTT, dedicated RoIP interface and Nett Warrior unified power options combine to make StreamCaster NEXUS an operator-focused, next-generation tactical networking system, engineered for today's dynamically changing battlespace.

Experience next-generation tactical networking with StreamCaster NEXUS.
The Tear Line

QUICK UPDATES

CONFLICT UPDATES

➤ President Donald Trump ordered the U.S. Navy to “shoot and kill” any boat caught laying mines in the Strait of Hormuz. The directive comes as the U.S. continues enforcing a naval blockade on Iranian-linked shipping. CENTCOM said 33 vessels have been ordered to turn around or return to port since the blockade began on April 13. (Read More)​

➤ Ukrainian drones struck a Russian Federal Security Service command post in occupied Donetsk on Wednesday, killing 12 officers and injuring 15. Ukraine reportedly used FP-2 drones carrying a 60–100 kilogram payload during the attack. (Read More)​

➤ Italy's navy chief said two minesweepers, an escort vessel, and a logistics ship are ready to deploy to the Strait of Hormuz as part of an international mine-clearing coalition. Italy also proposed expanding the EU's Aspides naval mission from the Red Sea to include Hormuz. (Read More)​

SECURITY UPDATES

➤ Apple fixed an iOS bug that allowed deleted or disappearing messages to be recovered via cached notification data on iPhones and iPads. The flaw enabled law enforcement tools to extract Signal messages even after deletion. (Read More)​

➤ A class-action lawsuit filed in New York accuses JetBlue of "surveillance pricing," alleging the airline used browsing history and behavioral analytics to inflate ticket prices for individual customers. JetBlue denied the practice, calling a viral post advising customers to clear cookies "simply a mistake." (Read More)​

➤ Researchers from the City University of New York and King’s College London found that prolonged conversations with Grok and Gemini could intensify delusional thinking in users experiencing psychosis. In contrast, GPT-5.2 and Claude Opus 4.5 were more likely to recognize delusional content and steer users toward real-world support and help. (Read more)​

TECHNOLOGY UPDATES

➤ China has sparked speculation that it may be developing its first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier after releasing a Navy anniversary video featuring a fictional character named “Hejian,” which sounds like the Mandarin for “nuclear vessel,” joining three other officers whose names echo the service’s three aircraft carriers: Liaoning, Shandong and Fujian. China’s fourth aircraft carrier is reportedly under construction at the Dalian shipyard. (Read More)​

➤ The U.S. military has deployed Ukraine’s “Sky Map” counter-drone system at Prince Sultan Air Base in Saudi Arabia after the facility came under waves of Shahed drone and missile strikes that destroyed U.S. Air Force E-3 AWACS radar aircraft and multiple KC-135 refueling tankers. (Read More)​

➤ Lockheed Martin has withdrawn from the competition to develop a new Navy training jet to replace the T-45 Goshawk, leaving Boeing, Sierra Nevada Corporation, and a Textron–Leonardo partnership as the remaining competitors. (Read More)​

SPONSORED

Defending Today, Securing Tomorrow

Parsons delivers comprehensive national security solutions designed to help government and defense customers confront rapidly evolving global threats. As connectivity grows and geopolitical risks shift, we stay ready to leverage our advanced engineering services, logistics support, and innovative technologies to enhance defense readiness and operational resilience.

Our capabilities include cyber and intelligence operations, missile defense system integration, space operations, and support for critical federal infrastructure modernization.

By integrating multidisciplinary expertise—from systems engineering to scalable security solutions, we help our customers address complex mission demands, secure vital assets, and maintain strategic advantage in a dynamic security landscape.
Special Interest

SPECIAL CATEGORY

➤ Time reported that Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps generals have led key wartime decisions since Mojtaba Khamenei became Supreme Leader, including the Hormuz closure, attacks on Israel, and ceasefire talks. One analyst told the magazine that the 56-year-old cleric "relies heavily on the advice and guidance of the board members. The generals are the board members."

➤ U.S. President Donald Trump signed an executive order committing $50 million to ibogaine research as part of efforts to expand treatment options for veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder. Ibogaine is a hallucinogenic compound derived from the African shrub iboga and is classified in the U.S. as a Schedule I substance, placing it in the same regulatory category as heroin.

➤ The Marine Corps has upgraded valor awards for Marines of Company G, 2nd Battalion, 1st Marines who guarded Abbey Gate during the Aug. 2021 Kabul airport bombing, after a Pentagon review found several awards had been improperly downgraded. Retired Marine Lt. Col. Stu Scheller, who advocated for proper recognition of those involved, said they are “deserving of the awards” and called the correction long overdue.

On this day in history: On April 24th, 1980, eight U.S. servicemen died in the Iranian desert when Operation Eagle Claw, the mission to rescue 52 American hostages in Tehran, ended in catastrophe. A helicopter collision during a sandstorm forced the abort and ultimately led to the creation of USSOCOM.
Special Interest

SENTIMENT COLLECTION

Yesterday’s Results:

Should AI companies face criminal liability when users consult their products before committing violent crimes?

  1. Yes (55.3%)
  2. Only if the company was warned and failed to act (30.0%)
  3. No (14.6%)

n=602

Have a question you would like polled? Email us at editor@sofx.com​
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
Cultural Support Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Emergency Care Medical Provider Defense Division Remote, US
International Humanitarian Security Officer Defense Division Worldwide
Interpreter Defense Division Remote, US
Logistics Officer 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

SPONSORED

70,000+ daily readers trust The SOFX Report for independent coverage of global conflict and defense technology. Over 11 years of consistent publication has built an engaged audience of defense professionals and decision-makers.

Interested in partnering with SOFX? Contact ​emily.benjamin@sofx.com​ →

Was this Email Forwarded to You?

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​.​

This email was sent to Reader

You've received it because you've subscribed to The SOFX Report.

​Unsubscribe or Update to Sunday Only​

Copyright © 2026 SOFX Inc. All rights reserved.

The SOFX Report

The World's Leading Report on Conflict, Security, and Technology Impacting You.

Join 70,000+ decision makers who get The SOFX Report delivered daily.

Read more from The SOFX Report
(aileenchik / Shutterstock.com)

Was this Email Forwarded to You? Subscribe! (aileenchik / Shutterstock.com) SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES AI Coding Agent Wipes Startup's Database in Nine Seconds, Admits “Violating Every Principle” It Was Given A Cursor coding agent running Anthropic's Claude Opus 4.6 deleted the entire production database of automotive SaaS company PocketOS on April 25 after finding an unrestricted API token, erasing all data and backups in nine seconds. "I violated every principle I was given," the agent wrote....

2 days ago • 6 min read
(Mediantone / Shutterstock)

Was this Email Forwarded to You? Subscribe! (Mediantone / Shutterstock) SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES Behind the Curtain: We've Been Warned | Axios Axios laid out six facts it says prove AI's power and risk have outpaced public understanding, warning that the technology's builders, its data, and its capabilities are all sending the same alarm. OpenAI and Anthropic briefed House Homeland Security Committee staff in classified sessions on their latest models' cybersecurity risks. Anthropic's...

3 days ago • 6 min read
(JarTee / Shutterstock.com)

Was this Email Forwarded to You? Subscribe! (JarTee / Shutterstock.com) SIGNIFICANT ACTIVITIES Families Sue OpenAI for $1B Over Tumbler Ridge School Shooting Seven families of victims in the Tumbler Ridge, British Columbia, school shooting have filed a lawsuit against OpenAI and CEO Sam Altman over the company’s alleged failure to alert law enforcement about the gunman’s threatening activity on ChatGPT, even after the system flagged the shooter’s account for “gun violence activity and...

4 days ago • 6 min read