British SAS commandos kill 100 ISIS Jihadists in silent campaign

The British SAS have been conducting several operations in the hilly, remote part of northern Iraq. They have been targeting ISIS leadership in an attempt to stop the terrorist group’s resurgence. ISIS has been largely, but not completely eradicated from Iraq.  The U.K. special operators have been working closely with Kurdish resistance fighters who have […]

Indian Army deploys Special Forces in border after deadly clash with China

After recent bloody clashes with Chinese troops over a disputed border area along what is known as the “Line of Actual Control” (LAC), India has now deployed its Special Forces units in Ladakh to prepare to defend its territory against further violence. On June 15, the worst border fighting in nearly 60 years took place. […]

Australian Special Operations commander admits war crimes

Some SAS members acted like “self-righteous, entitled pricks.” After a long-running investigation looking into war crimes reportedly committed by Australian troops, Major-General Adam Findlay, the commander of Australia’s Special Forces, has admitted that some members of the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) indeed committed war crimes in Afghanistan. He blamed these atrocities on “poor moral […]

German military to dissolve top Special Operations unit

The German Defense Ministry is going to dissolve the country’s top Special Operations unit over a series of right-wing scandals. According to an exclusive report by the Frankfurter Allgemeine, the Kommando Spezialkrafte (KSK) is losing at least one-quarter of its strength as troops suspected of right-wing extremism are either canned or suspended. The unit has […]

Qwat al-Khasah: The battle-hardened Iraqi Special Operations unit

Coalition Special Operations forces have been fighting the good fight in Iraq for over 17 years. The face of the enemy has somewhat changed over the years, but the tactics the enemy uses to inflict damage and terror have largely remained the same. Our Special Operations units have proved their worth time and time again […]

Indian Army overhauls Special Operations selection and training

The Indian Army is looking at restructuring the selection process of its personnel volunteering for Special Forces and Airborne battalions. It is also aiming to expand their role in multiple operational theatres. India, despite having large numbers of Special Forces units and troops, does not have a national strategy on how its SF troops should […]

The Rhodesian SAS: Battle against all odds

Read the previous part here.  With the 1960s coming to a close and the success rate of incursions into Rhodesia from Zambia dropping to practically zero, both African nationalist groups ZANU and ZAPU looked for alternatives. To the east of Rhodesia lay the country of Mozambique. Rhodesia and Mozambique had established a good relationship and […]

German top Special Operations unit rocked by right-wing scandal

The top Special Operations unit of the German military has once again been rocked by a right-wing scandal. Last month, German law enforcement officers, in conjunction with the German military intelligence agency (MAD), raided the residence of a sergeant major who was assigned to the Kommando Spezialkrafte (KSK), the Tier 1 Special Operations unit of […]

The Rhodesian SAS: Covert external operations

You can read the previous part here. We explored the historical background of the Rhodesian SAS C Squadron. Now it is time to focus on a few of the missions that they undertook during the Rhodesian Bush War, a war that threatened to destroy the government of Rhodesia, take the land and evict those of […]

The Rhodesian SAS: selection & operator training

The men of the Malayan Scouts returned as Heroes to their Native Rhodesia. Filled with experience and the haggard look of men hardened by battle, they were promptly deactivated. Rhodesia relied mainly on the Rhodesian African Rifles, the Native Regiment led by white officers and Territorials or Reservists for their standing Army. Like many Armies […]

The Rhodesian SAS, a little known but deadly Special Operations unit

The U.K.’s Special Air Service needs no introduction to anyone remotely interested in military history or Special Operations. However, there is much more to learn about this elite unit when one traces its existence and influence across the once global British Empire. Much of the power of the Brits was derived from their colonies and […]

The Special Operations world of Sub-Saharan Africa: South African Recces

You can read part one here. Langebaan — Western Cape Province, South Africa. It has a predominantly white population of slightly over 8,000 and is located approximately 120 km north of the iconic city of Cape Town. Langebaan boasts of an ecosystem that is the epitome of natural serenity and the lagoon waters of its […]