U.S. pulls support for Yemen conflict

Yemen: U.S. Pulling Support

February 9, 2021 SOF News 0

The Biden administration wasted very little time in setting a course correction in the United States role in the Yemen conflict. Citing humanitarian issues (as well as other concerns) it has decided to eliminate support for offensive operations provided to […]

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).

One Year Later – Physical Defeat of Daesh

March 23, 2020 SOF News 0

On March 23, 2019 the Pentagon announced the physical defeat of the Daesh caliphate in Syria. Over 110,000 square miles were liberated and 7.7 million people freed from Daesh oppression. The Syrian Democratic Front was assisted by U.S. airpower, ISR, […]

A U.S. Army AH-64 Apache helicopter flies at Schofield Barracks, Hawaii, Dec. 17, 2018. (U.S. Army photo by 1st Lt. Ryan DeBooy)

Special Operations News Update 20190617

June 17, 2019 SOF News 0

Current news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, national security, and conflicts from around the world. SOF News USSF Fighting ISIS in Afghanistan. Thomas Gibbons-Neff provides a glimpse of the activities of a Special Forces team engaged in the fight […]

SIGAR report on Afghanistan Divided Responsibility June 2019

SIGAR Report: “Divided Responsibility”

June 14, 2019 John Friberg 0

The Special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (SIGAR) has published a new report on Afghanistan – with a focus on security sector assistance efforts. This 210-page report, published on June 14, 2019, is entitled Divided Responsibility: Lessons From U.S. Security […]

SDF mortar team fires 120mm at ISIS target near Deir ez-Zor in the Middle Euphrates River Valley, Syria. Photo by SGT Matthew Crane, CJTF-OIR, November 16, 2018.

Trump Said Turkey Will Finish Off ISIS. Maybe Not.

January 29, 2019 SOF News 0

In December 19, 2018 President Trump surprised just about everyone when he announced that the U.S. would begin immediately withdrawing its 2,200 military personnel from northeastern Syria. This decision was apparently the result of a phone call with the Turkish […]

Syria bombing casualties January 2019

Syria Bombing Victims Identified

January 18, 2019 SOF News 0

The Department of Defense has identified three of the four Americans who died on Wednesday, January 16, 2019 in Manbji, Syria in a suicide bombing. The patrol was on an engagement patrol when the attack occurred. A suicide bomber detonated […]

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 […]

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 […]

MG Fadhil al-Barwari 1st ISOF

Remembering MG Fadhil Barwari – ISOF Commander

September 25, 2018 SOF News 0

By David M. Witty Major General Fadhil Barwari, commander of the 1st Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) Brigade, Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), was a central figure in the Iraqi ethos in the struggle against the Islamic State of Iraq […]

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 […]