Map Middle East

Middle East Update – January 2021

January 31, 2021 SOF News 0

Recent news, analysis, and commentary about the Middle East – politics, conflict, Iraq withdrawal, and great power competition. Security Overview CENTCOM Now Has Israel. In his last week in office President Trump ordered that U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) add Israel […]

Iranian Proxy Groups

JSOU Paper: Iranian Proxy Groups in the Middle East

January 14, 2021 SOF News 0

The Iranian regime maintains a network of proxies including Lebanese Hezbollah, various Shiite militias in Iraq, the Houthis in Yemen, and foreign fighters in Syria. This paper by the Joint Special Operations University (JSOU) provides a look at the problem […]

Map of Syria and Iraq (CJTF-OIR)

Middle East War News Update 20171022

October 22, 2017 SOF News 0

ME Update 20171022 – Russia helping the Kurds, Iranian proxies gain ground in northern Iraq, Syrian Kurds advance into oil fields, stabilizing Mosul, Raqqa and governance, Iranian influence in Yemen, Salafism in Gaza, British jihadists, and more. Iraq Iranian Proxies Advancing […]

Map of Jordan

Middle East War News Update – 20171019

October 19, 2017 SOF News 0

Middle East Update – ISIS downfall in Iraq and Syria, Iranian influence grows, Kurds lose out, easy victory for Baghdad, Raqqa cleared of ISIS (almost), Iraqi elections coming soon, and more. Hawija Offensive. The last urban stronghold of the Islamic […]

A New Zealand trainer from Task Force Taji provides instruction to Iraqi soldiers. (U.S. Army Photo by SPC Craig Jensen, 1 Dec 2016).

Middle East News Update

December 22, 2016 SOF News 0

Middle East News Update – Obama’s Syrian legacy, seige of Aleppo, using hybrid warfare against Russia, research into Arab politics, U.S. support to Kurds could be better, and more. Obama’s Syrian Legacy. A former NATO supreme allied commander – retired […]

General Dunford in Turkey. DoD photo by D. Myles Cullen, Nov 6, 2016.

Middle East Conflict Update – 20161109

November 9, 2016 SOF News 0

News on the Middle East 20161109 – Civil war in Syria, U.S. deal with Turkey on fighting ISIS in Syria, SDF announces Raqqa offensive, US Apache Gunships, ‘Hearts and Minds’ of Mosul, counter-drone operations, defining military success in Iraq, and […]

Map of Middle East - Middle East News Update

Middle East Conflict Update

November 5, 2016 SOF News 0

The Middle East is still ablaze. Russia is confronting the U.S. in Syria, Assad’s regime is hanging on and actually surviving, Turkey is now engaged in northern Syria and northern Iraq, and Iraqi government forces (assisted by the Peshmerga, militias, […]

Middle East Update 20160827

August 27, 2016 SOF News 0

Middle East Update 20160827 – News about the war in Iraq, U.S. airstrikes in Iraq and Syria, Turkey enters the war, U.S. selling out the Kurds, Lebanon Armed Forces receive $50 million in U.S. military equipment, and more. U.S. Airstrikes […]

Map of Middle East - Middle East News Update

Middle East News Update – SOF News

August 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Middle East News Update. A combination of news reports over the past week about the Middle East, Syria, Libya, Yemen, State Department failure in Iraq, Russia bombing Syria from Iranian air bases, and (not so smart) recruits for the Islamic […]

Pararescue Chute Landing

Special Operations News – March 25, 2024

March 25, 2024 SOF News 0

Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world. Photo / Image: U.S. Air Force pararescuemen assigned to the 57th Rescue Squadron drop near Aviano Air Base, Italy, March 13, 2024. The 57th RQS […]

U.S. House Committee on Armed Services

SOF Leaders Testify Before Congress (March 2024)

March 21, 2024 John Friberg 0

Leaders of the U.S. special operations community testified in Washington, D.C. before the House Armed Services Subcommittee on Intelligence and Special Operations on Wednesday, March 20, 2024, in open and classified sessions. Chris Maier, (SOF News, 24 Apr 2021) the […]

MC-130J Commando II

Special Operations News – March 18, 2024

March 18, 2024 SOF News 0

Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world. Photo / Image: Two U.S. Air Force MC-130J Commando II aircrafts, operated by the 67th Special Operations Squadron, fly in formation prior to conducting static […]