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Ethan Hawke on “Blue Moon,” Richard Linklater and growing up in his profession

Ethan Hawke has been nominated for an Oscar for lead actor for his role in “Blue Moon,” directed by Richard Linklater from a screenplay by Robert Kaplow. In the film, Hawke plays lyricist Lorenz Hart, who wrote the sharp, witty words to such standards as “My Funny Valentine” and “Blue Moon.”

The drama captures one night with Hart near the end of his life as he waits at Sardi’s for his former songwriting partner Richard Rogers (played by Andrew Scott) to arrive for a party celebrating the premiere of “Oklahoma!” By turns funny and self-pitying, full of regrets, disappointments and thwarted ambitions, Hart is portrayed by Hawke as a man who has often been his own biggest obstacle and is coming to realize his time has passed him by.

Hawke had been previously Oscar-nominated for supporting actor in 2001’s “Training Day” and 2014’s “Boyhood” — and for co-writing “Before Sunset” and “Before Midnight.” He has been acting professionally since he was a teenager, with an extensive list of credits that includes “Dead Poets Society,” “Reality Bites,” “Gattaca,” “Hamlet,” “Before the Devil Knows You‘re Dead,” “First Reformed” and many more.

Speaking on the phone during the morning of the Oscar nominations from his home in Brooklyn, the 55-year-old Hawke showed no signs of slowing down, as he was heading to Park City, Utah, the next day for the Sundance Film Festival. His new project, “The Weight,” starring Hawke and produced by his wife Ryan Hawke, would be premiering there and Hawke would also be speaking at a tribute to Robert Redford.

“It is true that this last year is one of the hardest working years of my life,” said Hawke. “I went from ‘Blue Moon’ straight to ‘The Lowdown’ straight to ‘The Weight.’ Somehow figured ‘Black Phone 2’ in there. I worked my ass off the last year. Ask my kids; they’re not happy about it.”

You recently did an interview where you said you thought you were maybe doing too many interviews. So I guess I apologize in advance.

Ethan Hawke: It’s just funny, the amount of energy it takes to kind of penetrate the zeitgeist today is a lot more than it used to be. I hate to sound like an old man, but it used to be you go on “Letterman” and everybody knew about your movie. And now it’s like, wow. It’s just a lot different.

Congratulations on your nomination today. Were you watching the announcements? How did you find out?

Hawke: I don’t do that to myself. I found out because my wife woke me up and told me. I let myself try to sleep in so that I could try to avoid the stress.

This is your fifth Oscar nomination, but the first for best actor. What does that mean to you?

Hawke: Embarrassingly enough, it means a lot. I’ve dedicated my life to this profession and our culture places a high value on that. And it means a lot to me. Frankly, I don’t think I would’ve thought when I did “Training Day” that it would take me so long to get there. It’s been a long road.

A tall blond woman stands next to a short man in a suit.

Margaret Qualley and Ethan Hawke in the movie “Blue Moon.”

(Sabrina Lantos / Sony Pictures Classics)

It’s such a great year for movies and you talk with such passion and conviction — almost as an ambassador of movies — about how important they are to you. You seem like you’re like cheerleading for everybody else as much as promoting your own work.

Hawke: I feel that way, sincerely. I appreciate you saying that because I do think that’s kind of the job of these award shows and things. We are ambassadors for our profession. Everybody knows that competition and the arts — it’s a game and a lot of great things go unnoticed in their time. And time is the great curator, of course. But movies need a boost and it’s part of our job to create substantive, meaningful entertainment for people to have serious conversations and interesting things to think about and talk about and push the consciousness forward. And so I feel really proud of all these movies that were nominated and tons of them that weren’t, that are all doing their job.

The fact that this nomination comes from a film you’ve made with Richard Linklater, who you’ve worked so closely with over the years — does that make it even more special?

Hawke: I couldn’t articulate that clear enough. It feels so wonderful to get this for a movie that was made so organically and rose up through not through the prism of business, but through the prism of friendship. Robert Kaplow is a brilliant screenwriter and Rick’s his friend, and we’ve been talking about this for a decade. And that’s the way all of the projects that I’ve done with Rick have happened, is they kind of are born out of friendship. And so to get to ring the bell with a film that really feels so connected to my life is particularly meaningful.

What does that relationship with Richard mean to you?

Hawke: Words fail. I think that friendship is the substance of our life. When friendships or love affairs or collaborations happen the right way, they’re kind of effortless. And your life is richer because of them, not your work. Your life, your character is improved. I always like to tell my kids, you spend your life with your friends, so your friends are your life, so choose them wisely. They really shape you. And I’ve been really lucky to have a great friend who happens to be one of the definitive filmmakers of our era.

And I don’t take that lightly. Think about it, Rick has two — I know he doesn’t care, so it kind of makes it even more funny — but he had two of the best movies made this year [“Blue Moon” and “Nouvelle Vague”]. And he doesn’t win any prizes but it’s kind of a testament to what’s special about his filmmaking is that he disappears and lets the project appear and he doesn’t put his signature all over it. I was fortunate enough to work with Sidney Lumet and they’re reminiscent of each other in a way. They’re just completely dedicated to the work. And it’s wonderful to have a partner like that.

What did you connect to about the character of Lorenz Hart?

Hawke: It’s deeper than just the character. It has to do with what the film’s kind of about. My love of the theater and my love of the people who dedicate their life to creativity and the kind of highs and lows of that life, and the silliness and stupidity of that life, and the moments of elegiac grace. I love what the film is about. It’s kind of a howl into the night of an artist being left behind. And indifference is kind of the feeling most of us in this profession feel most of the time, obviously not today, but most of our lives are met with absolute indifference.

And it also had the good fortune of the way Rick works. He’s so patient — we worked on it and dreamed about it for 10 years. And we knew it was fragile. We knew it was delicate. We knew the bull’s-eye was extremely small. It’d be an easy movie to make badly. So it was entirely execution-dependent. And that’s the fun of Rick is he loves to think about it.

You shaved your head for this. Were you confident it was going to grow back?

Hawke: No. At my age you’re like, “Wait a second, is this just a giant mistake?” But we knew we had to get the look right. So we were all in.

You just seem like you’re in such an incredible position right now in your career, you’re making projects like “Blue Moon” and “The Black Phone” movies, you’re doing TV work, you can direct your own projects like “Wildcat” or “The Last Movie Stars,” about Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward. How do you see where you are right now?

Hawke: It feels really good because I have a lot more I want to do. I’ve started to feel like one lifetime’s not enough for this profession and that there keeps being so much to learn. I get more excited about the possibilities of how storytelling can impact our culture and what the responsibilities are with that and how much fun I’ve had. I’ve really had a ball — my whole career I’ve gotten to do things the way that I wanted to do them.

And it’s kind of thrilling for me to watch Stellan [Skarsgård] this year and like get inspired. I mean, he’s a proper grown-up and he’s humble and so gifted and had such an amazing career. And it makes me really excited about the future. I’ve always had these huge actors I’ve admired, Christopher Plummer, Jason Robards, people who’ve learned how to grow up and be an adult in this profession. That’s what I’m trying to do. So I feel like that’s the moment you’re finding me in.

Because it seems at this point that you’re always working. Do you ever think about just taking a break?

Hawke: I’ve been always working since ’89. The thing is, I just love it. My wife and I have this little production company and we both just love to work and make things and try to sneak things into the atmosphere that might not exist otherwise. And it’s how you define work, right? Most of the time it’s not work for me. I loved making “Blue Moon.” When I’m on a set with Richard Linklater, I am exactly where I want to be. My relationship with my work is one where I wouldn’t want to take a year off because I wouldn’t know what to do.

I’ve noticed a lot of people, when they talk about you, they say they used to find you annoying — who does that guy think he is, writing a novel or directing a movie? — but that they’ve come to really respect and admire you for the fact that you try to do so many different things and you’ve really kept at it. How do you feel about it when you hear people talk about you in that way?

Hawke: I think they’re right too. It’s a general suspicion and if you can’t withstand that suspicion, then you should stop. Like you have to pass through that if you’re serious and you have to be willing to be criticized, to be made fun of. It’s a small luxury tax for getting to do it. You really want to be doing it because you want to offer something. And so if you’re offering it, then people can do with it whatever they want. They can throw it away. They don’t have to take it.

I think some of the stuff that was happening to me when I was younger, facing that attitude was really actually good for me. I mean, I hated it. We all want to be liked and understood and for people to understand our intentions and know that our aim is true and we’re coming from a good place. All of us crave that. But you just can’t give it too much credit. And you’ve just got to keep putting one foot in front of the other.

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Celebrity Traitors’ Paloma Faith shows off her huge growing baby bump on holiday with family in Oman

PALOMA Faith has shared a look at her blossoming baby bump after a luxury break in Oman. 

The singer is pregnant with her third child, and ahead of the birth whisked away for a sunsoaked getaway with her two daughters and partner, Stevie Thomas.

Paloma has showed off her blossoming baby bump by the poolside in OmanCredit: Instagram
The star shared a series of pics from her trip on InstagramCredit: Instagram
Paloma and partner Stevie are expecting their first child together – her third babyCredit: Instagram

Sharing pictures from the resort’s poolside, Paloma looked relaxed and happy as she posed for selfies, while in another she was seen asleep in a bikini with her bump on display. 

Alongside photographs of the Middle Eastern resorts sights, Paloma was also seen beaming next to Stevie in another loved up snap. 

“Amazing trip to Oman with the boy, kids and bump,” she wrote alongside the pictures on Instagram. 

“I have to say it’s an amazing part of the world and I am so blessed to share this time with my kids before new baby comes ….. taking time out with family from work is something to push for and I really try.” 

PALOMA’S HEARTBREAK

Paloma Faith in tears as she reveals best friend died ‘really slowly’


SENDING LOVE

Pregnant Paloma Faith in worrying hospital dash as she’s put on a nebuliser

“Someone said to me recently you only really get 18 summers with your kids and I was lucky to extend that with a bit of winter sun,” she added. 

“I never take time with them for granted and I can’t wait to have my third miracle baby. 

“I have to say, I feel VERY happy about my personal life right now, it’s all going wonderfully!” 

Paloma announced she was expecting her third baby back in October last year, shortly after her brutal exit from Celebrity Traitors, where she was murdered at the hands of close pal, Alan Carr. 

This is her first child with Stevie, having welcomed her two daughters, born in 2016 and 2021, with her ex-husband, artist Leyman Lahcine

For both babies, Paloma was open about years of fertility struggles, undergoing IVF in order to conceive. 

After splitting from Leyman in 2022 after a 10 year relationship, it’s believed Paloma and music venue director Stevie secretly dated for a year before going public with their romance in March 2025. 

While she’s been praising her current pregnancy experience, in December she worried fans as she was rushed to hospital and put on a nebuliser after a nasty bout of Flu A.

Thankfully she has since fully recovered, taking the opportunity to ditch the British cold for a resort trip abroad with her family and loved ones.

The star shared pictures of the sights from her getawayCredit: Instagram
Paloma returned to our screens last year as part of Celebrity TraitorsCredit: Instagram
The star has been sharing updates of her pregnancy onlineCredit: BBC
The star was iconically killed by best mate Alan as part of his work as a traitorCredit: BBC

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Bangladesh bans IPL broadcast amid growing tensions with India | Cricket News

The move comes after star Bangladesh fast bowler Mustafizur Rahman was dropped by his IPL team on the BCCI’s directives.

Bangladesh’s interim government has banned broadcast ‍of this ‍year’s Indian Premier League (IPL), the latest flashpoint in a growing row with neighbouring India, which has now extended to cricket ties between the two nations.

The move follows the decision by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) to have the Kolkata Knight Riders drop Bangladesh pacer Mustafizur Rahman, ​who had signed for the IPL franchise for ‍this season.

The unceremonious dumping of a “star player” like Mustafizur from the IPL “defied logic” and had “hurt people”, the country’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting said in a statement explaining its decision.

Bangladesh have also refused to play their matches of next month’s Twenty20 (T20) World Cup in India, demanding that those ‍be staged ⁠in Sri Lanka, co-host of the 20-team tournament.

The Bangladesh Cricket Board’s directors met in an emergency meeting on Sunday and confirmed their decision shortly afterwards.

“Following a thorough assessment of the prevailing situation and the growing concerns regarding the safety and security of the Bangladesh contingent in India and considering the advice from the Bangladesh Government, the board of directors resolved that the Bangladesh national team will not travel to India for the tournament under the current conditions,” it said.

“The board believes that such a step is necessary to safeguard the safety and wellbeing of Bangladeshi players, team officials, Board members and other stakeholders and to ensure that the team can participate in the tournament in a secure and appropriate environment,” the statement added, urging the ICC to take swift action.

The International Cricket Council (ICC) has not publicly responded to Bangladesh’s ‌demand to play World Cup matches in Sri Lanka.

Tensions have risen ‌in recent weeks between India ⁠and Bangladesh.

Following the protests, the Indian board asked ‍Knight Riders to drop Mustafizur.

The IPL, the ​world’s richest T20 league, is scheduled ‌from March 26 to May 31.

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Nuno Espirito Santo: West Ham boss under growing pressure after defeat by bottom club Wolves

Next up for them is a relegation six-pointer at home to Sean Dyche’s Forest, who sit directly above them on the table in a fixture that could shape Nuno’s future.

A win against the club that sacked him in September after 21 months in charge might buy him some more time, but a defeat would deepen the crisis and amplify the questions over his position.

“Nobody expected us to play so bad,” Nuno added on BBC Match of the Day.

“Now is the moment for us to reflect and think are we doing everything we can? Do we realise the situation we are in? And how to get out of this situation and improve. There are things that need to be addressed.

“Forest will be a tough game, but now is about reacting and transforming and improving.”

The last side to avoid relegation after having less than West Ham‘s 14 points at this stage of the season were Eddie Howe’s Newcastle, who had just 12 after 20 games in 2021-22.

But they spent £85m in January to bolster their squad with Bruno Guimaraes, Chris Wood, Dan Burn, Kieran Trippier and Matt Targett and finished 11th with 49 points after winning 12 of their remaining 18 games.

Although West Ham are committed to backing the manager in the January window, it is highly unlikely Nuno will get the kind of financial support Howe received.

They have already signed Brazilian striker Pablo Felipe from Portuguese club Gil Vicente for a reported fee of 25m euros (£21.8m), and he was an unused substitute at Molineux, but have sent German forward Niclas Fullkrug to AC Milan on loan.

“It is a complex situation,” added Nuno, when asked about the club’s prospects in the transfer market.

“The club is working on that situation [of transfers]. We have problems in terms of squad and options but that is not a justification for what we did in the first half – the mistakes we made, the lack of effort… it was very bad.

“It was about mistakes we made over and over again that was really poor.”

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Chargers’ growing offensive line issues threaten to derail season

Justin Herbert could glimpse at the Chargers’ “See the lighting, Feel the thunder” branding above the field-level suites as his offensive linemen pulled him up on the SoFi Stadium turf.

Herbert certainly felt the thunder against the Texans. The NFL’s top defense recorded 26 pressures as it swarmed through the Chargers’ offensive line en route to a 20-16 win Saturday.

And Herbert saw the lightning, best represented by second-string defensive end Derek Barnett’s back-to-back sacks to halt the Chargers’ first drive of the second half.

The latter of Barnett’s takedowns — part of the Texans’ five sacks and eight tackles for loss — came when he spun past Bobby Hart and brought down Herbert for a seven-yard loss.

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Sam Farmer breaks down what went wrong for the Chargers in their 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans on Saturday.

“I mean, it’s just football,” Hart said when asked if he was dwelling on Barnett’s pair of sacks or losing a one-on-one against Texans defensive end Danielle Hunter in the first quarter that left Herbert grimacing and favoring his surgically repaired left hand.

Hart added: “People make plays — defenders, guys, catch the ball. Quarterbacks might have some throws that you want back. It’s just a part of the football game.”

Coach Jim Harbaugh said he pulled Hart in the third quarter because the 31-year-old was “having trouble getting in the rhythm.”

Austin Deculus replaced Hart and Trevor Penning temporarily replaced Mekhi Becton Jr. at right guard for a drive, creating the Chargers’ 24th offensive line combination of the season. But in a game previewing the quality of defenses the Chargers could face in the postseason, the offensive line — hit hard by the losses of Rashawn Slater and Joe Alt to injury — struggled to adequately protect Herbert.

“Just too many mistakes,” right tackle Trey Pipkins III said. “Whatever it was — sacks and untimely situations — we started really slow.”

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert walks on the field during the second half of a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans.

Chargers quarterback Justin Herbert walks on the field during the second half of a 20-16 loss to the Houston Texans at SoFi Stadium on Sunday.

(Eric Thayer / Los Angeles Times)

The Chargers trailed 14-3 at halftime, punting in each of its first four drives. Herbert, who had 236 passing yards along with a touchdown and an interception, capitalized on Houston penalties and standout plays to extend drives.

Late in the third quarter, Texans defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins burst past left guard Zion Johnson, and then swiftly ran by center Bradley Bozeman in help protection and grabbed Herbert by the waist. Instead of falling to the ground for the sack — a potential sixth overall — Herbert connected with wide receiver Quentin Johnston for the first down.

Moments later, rookie running back Omarion Hampton scored on a five-yard run to make it a four-point game. Outside of the touchdown run, the Chargers’ run game was close to non-existent. Herbert had a team-leading 37 rushing yards, 28 coming on a single run.

Hampton had just 29 yards on 14 carries for a career-low 2.1 yards per carry. The Texans’ downhill attack gave up just 74 rushing yards, the second fewest Houston has given up this season.

“We just shot ourselves in the foot,” said Johnson, who along with Bozeman has appeared in all of the Chargers’ line combinations. “It starts with us up front. We’ve got to protect [Herbert] better. We got to execute better in the run game. There’s too many missed opportunities.”

The Texans revealed the extent of the Chargers’ offensive line weaknesses. With the wild-card playoffs two weeks away, will they be able to figure out their protection issues?

“Learn from it,” Harbaugh said. “Some of the things that happened today, clean up, and use those to be better tomorrow.”

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EC-130H Compass Call Electronic Warfare Plane Joins Growing U.S. Force In Caribbean

One of the U.S. Air Force’s last remaining EC-130H Compass Call electronic warfare planes is now in Puerto Rico, video emerging on social media shows. The arrival marks the latest in an increasing buildup of military assets in the region to pressure Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and for what seems increasingly likely to be a contingency for a sustained kinetic operation over Venezuela.

You can catch up with our latest coverage on Operation Southern Spear in the Caribbean here.

The Compass Call landed 10 p.m. on Saturday at the Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport in Puerto Rico, the videographer, an aircraft spotter who uses the Instagram handle Pinchito.Avgeek, told us. Other aircraft spotters told The War Zone that this is the first confirmed Compass Call to be seen in Puerto Rico as of late. The airport is also home to the Puerto Rico Air National Guard’s 156th Wing and has seen C-17 Globemaster III and other military aircraft operating there for Southern Spear.

A video posted to social media yesterday (20 Dec) shows the arrival of a USAF EC-130H at Luis Muñoz Marin International Airport (SJU/TJSJ) in Puerto Rico.

There are only a few EC-130Hs left in USAF inventory.

Credit/permission: pinchito.avgeek (IG). pic.twitter.com/IxqBaKSBtE

— LatAmMilMovements (@LatAmMilMVMTs) December 22, 2025

While there are a number of C-130 Hercules variants in Puerto Rico, a screencap of that video shows that antennas under the tail and on top of the aircraft behind the cockpit conclusively show this is an EC-130H Compass Call.

EC-130H. (Screencap via Pinchito.Avgee Instagram account.)

Though the Air Force is phasing these aircraft out in favor of EA-37B Compass Call jets, the EC-130H brings capabilities that would be called upon for an attack on Venezuela should one be ordered. The heavily modified C-130 Hercules cargo planes carry a suite of electronic attack gear that can find and track “emitters” like radios and radars and then scramble their signals. This equipment can also jam cell phones.

A U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft taxis on the flightline at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., July 18, 2024. The EC-130H allowed the Air Force to jam communications, navigation systems, early warning and acquisition radars during tactical air, ground and maritime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos)
A U.S. Air Force EC-130H Compass Call aircraft taxis on the flightline at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base, Ariz., July 18, 2024. The EC-130H allowed the Air Force to jam communications, navigation systems, early warning and acquisition radars during tactical air, ground and maritime operations. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos) Senior Airman Jasmyne Bridgers-Matos

The equipment aboard the Compass Call would help to blind Venezuelan air defenses, communications and command and control, making it harder to respond to attacks by combat aircraft and cruise missiles. The four-engine aircraft can fly for many hours without refueling and much longer with tanker support, giving U.S. Southern Command a long-loitering airborne EW platform.

As we noted in an earlier story: “Previous iterations of the EC-130H-based Compass Call system have proven their value in combat zones on multiple occasions in the past two decades. A contingent of these aircraft was continuously forward-deployed in the Middle East, from where they also supported operations in Afghanistan, between 2001 and 2021. EC-130Hs supported the raid that led to the death of Al Qaeda founder Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan in 2011 and prevented the detonation of an improvised explosive device that might have killed then-Maj. Gen. James Mattis, who later rose to the rank of General and also served as Secretary of Defense under Trump, in Iraq in 2003, among many other exploits, according to a recent story from Air Force Times.”

Maintenance troops and aircrew members prepare a U.S. Air Force EC-130H aircraft for its final departure from an undisclosed air base on Aug. 29, 2010. (U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer) Maintenance troops and aircrew members prepare a U.S. Air Force EC-130H aircraft for its final departure from an undisclosed air base on Aug. 29, 2010. Credit: U.S. Air Force photo by Maj. Dale Greer

The current status and location of the Compass Call are not publicly known. The videographer told us he only saw it land. A U.S. official we spoke with could not comment on the arrival of the EC-130H but told us that there have been no new military orders for Southern Spear.

The EC-130H joins a squadron of E/A-18G Growler electronic attack jets, deployed on the aircraft carrier USS Gerald R. Ford, as well as another squadron on land, as airborne electronic warfare assets now operating in the Caribbean. While Compass Calls offer some overlapping capabilities and some significantly different ones than the Growlers, the arrival of the EC-130J is another indication that electronic warfare is clearly taking a lopsided focus compared to the size of the rest of the fighting force deployed in the region.

A contingent of six U.S. Navy EA-18G Growler electronic warfare jets, roughly a full squadron, is now forward-deployed at the former Naval Station Roosevelt Roads in Puerto Rico.
A stock picture of a US Navy EA-18G Growler. USAF/Staff Sgt. Gerald Willis

While it is unclear if the Compass Call has performed any of its offensive operations yet, both the U.S. and Venezuela are using defensive jamming to protect assets. This has become an increasing problem for the region as tensions rise.

“At least some of the U.S. warships that have deployed to the Caribbean in recent months have been jamming GPS signals in their vicinity,” The New York Times reported, citing an analysis of data provided by Stanford University and a U.S. official who spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss operational matters.

In an effort to protect important resources, “the armed forces of President Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela have jammed the GPS signals around the country’s critical infrastructure, including military bases, oil refineries and power plants,” the publication noted, citing an analysis by Spire Global, a satellite data firm.

Combined, the jamming is raising concerns for aviation.

“Whether jamming is due to the U.S. or Venezuelan forces, it really doesn’t matter: You don’t want an aircraft going in there,” Gen. Willie Shelton, the former head of the U.S. Air Force’s Space Command, told The Times.

The US has issued a flight warning for Venezuela, but it has been mostly silent about the impact of its warships’ GPS jammers on tourism-dependent Caribbean islands. “We just lost our GPS,” a Copa pilot reported over Trinidad on Dec. 10. w/ @riley_mellen https://t.co/Sd8KkvgzwH

— Anatoly Kurmanaev (@AKurmanaev) December 22, 2025

As for the EC-130Hs, the aircraft is being retired from the Air Force inventory.

“Currently, the U.S. Air Force is operating and maintaining eight EC-130H aircraft,” Capt. Ridge Miller, a spokesperson for Air Combat Command (ACC) told The War Zone Monday afternoon. “A total of 10 EA-37B aircraft are on track to be delivered while simultaneously retiring the EC-130H fleet in a phased approach. Both platforms currently operate out of the 55th Electronic Combat Group at Davis Monthan AFB in Arizona.”

The EA-37B is based on a heavily modified version of the Gulfstream G550 airframe.

The US Air Force's future EC-37B electronic warfare jets are now EA-37Bs, which is meant to highlight their ability to not only find and attack various types of targets, but destroy them.
An EA-37B Compass Call jet. (L3Harris) L3Harris

In addition to the Compass Call, other C-130 variants are operating out of Puerto Rico. One of which is the Marine Corps’ KC-130J Hercules tanker/transport aircraft. The KC-130Js uses the probe-and-drogue method for Navy and Marine Corps aircraft, and is used to refuel fixed-wing fighter aircraft and helicopters.

Plane spotter @LatAmMilMovements told us that at least one of these aircraft, and sometimes two, have had a steady presence ever since Marine F-35B Lightnings arrived in Puerto Rico in September. This matches the imagery and satellite photos we have seen of the installation for months now. AV-8B Harriers, MV-22 Ospreys, and CH-53 Sea Stallions, all from the USS Iwo Jima and its flotilla, are also using the base regularly and they can all refuel from the KC-130J.

Air Force HC-130J Combat King II combat search and rescue (CSAR) planes are also flying out of Puerto Rico. Traditionally, they provide fuel to HH-60W Jolly Green Giant II CSAR helicopters, CV-22 Ospreys, and, to a lesser degree, the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR) helicopters.

These types are just part of a growing fleet of aerial refuelers in the region. The Air Force has also deployed KC-135 Stratotankers and KC-46 Pegasus tankers to the Dominican Republic and U.S. Virgin Islands.

A U.S. Marine Corps KC-130J aircraft taxis before takeoff past parked U.S. Marine Corps F-35B and U.S. Air Force F-35A fighter jets on the apron at the former Roosevelt Roads naval base in Ceiba, Puerto Rico, December 21, 2025. REUTERS/Ricardo Arduengo pic.twitter.com/MhQqrCrK0j

— Idrees Ali (@idreesali114) December 21, 2025

As more tanker aircraft arrive in Puerto Rico, they are also building up at MacDill Air Force Base in Tampa, Florida. Aerial images show at least 28 KC-135s at the base. The image also shows at least two E-3 Sentry Airborne Warning and Control System (AWACS) aircraft are operating from MacDill, located about 1,400 miles northwest of Venezuela. As we pointed out last week, at least one Sentry was recently tracked on FlightRadar24 flying close to the Venezuelan coast. 

Flying over MacDill this morning, seeing a significantly lot more aircraft than last month:
1 C-32
1 C-17 Globemaster
2 E-3 Sentry’s
8 UHi60 Blackhawk’s
28 KC-135 Stratotanker’s pic.twitter.com/g7zi9AnraA

— Chris (@flyrogo) December 21, 2025

While E-3s may have been present but not trackable over the Caribbean in recent days, this one being trackable was not a mistake. U.S. military aircraft executing easily trackable sorties very near Venezuelan airspace have been a key component of the pressure campaign placed on Maduro. 

In addition to the growing military pressure on the Venezuelan leader, the U.S. is also raising the stakes economically. Since President Donald Trump declared a blockade against sanctioned oil tankers, U.S. authorities have seized two tankers. On Sunday, the Coast Guard was in “active pursuit” of the massive tanker Bella 1 after it refused to submit to U.S. seizure efforts. The status of that effort was unclear as of Monday afternoon. We have reached out to the Coast Guard for more details.

??????? BREAKING: The oil tanker Bella 1 was not seized by United States forces and has continued its voyage from Iran to Venezuela. The vessel remains en route, signaling a completed avoidance of interdiction during its transit. pic.twitter.com/denLoaDhRR

— Defense Intelligence (@DI313_) December 22, 2025

Though the military and economic pressure are building on Maduro, Trump’s exact intentions remain an open question, although they appear to be becoming clearer by the day. During his announcement of the new Trump class battleships Monday afternoon, the president again said that the U.S. would soon be going after drug cartels on land; however, he explained that would not just be focused on Venezuela.

Contact the author: howard@thewarzone.com

Howard is a Senior Staff Writer for The War Zone, and a former Senior Managing Editor for Military Times. Prior to this, he covered military affairs for the Tampa Bay Times as a Senior Writer. Howard’s work has appeared in various publications including Yahoo News, RealClearDefense, and Air Force Times.




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How will Syria deal with its growing security challenges? | Syria’s War

Renewed fighting between army and SDF highlights volatility.

As the year comes to an end, a deal between the Syrian government and the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces was expected to come into force.

Instead, fighting has erupted between the two sides in the northern city of Aleppo.

They later agreed to stop the fighting, while blaming each other for the violence.

That deal was supposed to lead to the SDF integrating with the army, but it is stalling on how that should be implemented.

This renewed tension comes as Damascus faces other threats, ranging from ISIL (ISIS) to recurrent conflicts with the Druze community and continuing attacks by Israel.

So what does this complex security situation mean for Syria, a year after the fall of Bashar al-Assad?

Presenter: Dareen Abughaida

Guests

Haid Haid – Researcher at Chatham House

Steven Heydemann – Professor and Middle East Studies programme director at Smith College

Omer Ozkizilcik – Nonresident fellow for the Syria project in the Atlantic Council’s Middle East programme

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