Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) provide security for a Coalition mortar crew providing fires support to SDF against ISIS locations in Operation Round Up taking place in the Middle Euphrates River Valley (MERV) in Syria. (photo by SSG Timothy Koster, CJTF-OIR, May 13, 2018).

Syrian Democratic Front (SDF)

December 27, 2018 SOF News 0

The Kurds in Turkey, Iran, Iraq, and Syria number about 25 million people. They are considered the most populous people in the world that does not have its own nation-state. The Syrian Kurd’s Local Protection Force (YPG) (Wikipedia) comprise a […]

Map Syria Admin Divisions CIA 2007

Leaving Syria – What Happens Next?

December 27, 2018 SOF News 0

Trump’s Surprise Announcement On Thursday, December 19, 2018, President Trump tweeted that we had attained victory over the Islamic State (IS) and that all military personnel would depart immediately. “We have defeated ISIS in Syria, my only reason for being […]

10th SFGA Soldiers drive snowmobiles to an objective during winter warfare training in Colorado. Photo by SGT Timothy Clegg, March 7, 2016.

Special Operations News Update 20181221

December 21, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181221 – How SOF can step up, saving the PKSOI, Navy SEAL history, abandoning the Syrian Kurds, Erik Prince’s plan for Afghanistan, Morocco and terrorism, new MQ-9 squadron for AFSOC, Michelle Black on losing a husband, British PMCs […]

DoD report on Afghanistan December 2018

DoD Report on Afghanistan – Dec 2018

December 21, 2018 SOF News 0

The Department of Defense has published its latest DoD report to Congress on Afghanistan. The 124-page report is available online (PDF) at defense.gov. Many sections of the report are: Strategy and objectives Threat assessment Overview of the Afghan National Defense […]

Jim Mattis letter of resignation

SEC DEF Mattis Letter of Resignation

December 20, 2018 SOF News 0

Secretary of Defense James Mattis submitted his letter of resignation to President Trump on Thursday, December 20, 2018. In his letter he stated . . . “Because you have the right to have a Secretary of Defense whose views are […]

Map Syria Admin Divisions CIA 2007

No Friends But The Mountains

December 20, 2018 SOF News 0

Once again the Kurds are cast aside. This is nothing new. Over the span of the past 100 years they have been used as proxy forces and then kicked to the side of the curb once their usefulness has run […]

Iraqi CTS CQB training in live-fire shoot house. Photo by SSG Sara Zaler, CJTF OIR, Nov 6, 2018

Special Operations News Update 20181219

December 19, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update – unrest in Mali continues, catch and release of detainees, MND-NE is ready – says NATO, CTF in Africa, focusing on SOF ‘core values’, more airstrikes in Somalia, Bolduc on Niger mission, Saudi Arabia and militarization, helping […]

Afghanistan Update - Recent news, analysis, and commentary on the Afghan conflict.

Afghanistan Conflict Update – Dec 2018

December 18, 2018 SOF News 0

The month of December 2018 has brought news of significant events in Afghanistan. Significant in the sense that they are developments worth noting in the course of 30 days; but not so noteworthy when considered the conflict has been in […]

10th SFGA troops fastrope from UH-60 near Aalborg, Denmark. Photo by SSG Steven Young, SOCEUR, Sep 2, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181217

December 17, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181217 –  A cult of lethality, review of intel processes at combatant commands, DoS back in Somalia, Mitchell (SO/LIC) on SOF, progress against jihadists in Mali, Bolton on moving AFRICOM, new SEL for USACAPOC, SF officer charged […]

HALO Jump by 1st SFGA from CH-47 on Dec 6, 2018. Photo by SGT Joseph Parrish, U.S. Army.

Special Operations News Update 20181214

December 14, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181214 – CT in Maghreb, India’s SOF, Middle East purgatory, China and Russia in Africa, LAAs for AFSOC (?), USSOCOM and ethics, Somalia piracy, CT in the Maghreb, CRS report on Syria, regional ME arms race, Mali […]

Soldiers at Sunset

Special Operations News Update 20181212

December 12, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20121212 – the cost of the Yemen war, future of SOF, Assad – gaining friends, IS in Iraq, Myanmar and the ARSA, UW in Syria, 1st SFGA and Menton Week, ‘good ALP’, NAVSCIATTS and LCBI, NSHQ changeover […]

Fighting the Fight We Are In

December 11, 2018 SOF News 0

By Ajit Maan “Narratives are essential in mobilizing local actions to defeat violent extremists. Some leaders laugh nervously at this concept, and dismiss it with arrogant waves of the hand. Misperceptions about narrative and story as somehow being a squishy […]

Small Boat Team 22 performs a simulated hot extraction utilizing Special Operations Craft Riverine. Photo by Angela Fry, NSCITTS, Sep 7, 2018.

Special Operations News Update 20181210

December 10, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181210 – Afghan SOF are busy, SEAL / Raider hearing in GB death postponed, learning from our enemies, 919th SOMSG CoC, Hollywood and military movies, UDT-SEAL museum, SOF ethics review, SOCEUR’s ‘Jackal Stone’ exercise, AFSOC’s bobsledders, G5 […]

Winter Parachute Jump March 2018. Photo by SOCEUR.

Military and National Security News – 20181208

December 8, 2018 SOF News 0

Middle East ISIS in Iraq. Attacks by the Islamic State have increased significantly in Kirkuk and Salah ad-Dine provinces. Apparently there are some ‘security gaps’ between Iraqi Security Forces (ISF) and Peshmerga units in some areas of these two provinces. […]

Parachutist. USASOC photo.

Special Operations News Update 20181207

December 7, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20181207 – SASC hearing for SOCOM nominee, job hunting for SF NCOs, ISIS in Iraq, ISIS in Syria, Yemen update, dirty bombs in SE Asia, radicalization in Central Asia, ‘remote warfare’, discontent grows in Chap, perils of […]