Australia Suspends Flights Over Syria After Russian Warning

Australia Suspends Flights Over Syria After Russian Warning

Australia has suspended air combat missions over Syria after Russia had threatened that it would treat any plane from the US-led coalition flying west of the Euphrates River as a potential target. This was in the aftermath of a US F-18 shooting down a Syrian SU-22 on Sunday after the pilot bombed pro-coalition SDF forces outside of […]

OSS Dons Chutes and Skis for a Dangerous Norway Mission

OSS Dons Chutes and Skis for a Dangerous Norway Mission

The CIA and the US Army Special Forces’ heritage is linked directly from the World War II OSS (Office of Strategic Services). Many of the operators who pulled classified missions for the OSS later became intelligence professionals or the original Special Forces troops. One such operator was William Colby who commanded Jedburgh teams in France […]

McCain Blasts Trump’s Lack of Winning Strategy in Afghanistan

McCain Blasts Trump’s Lack of Winning Strategy in Afghanistan

Senator John McCain has been an outspoken critic of President Donald Trump and on Monday, called out the president again, citing his lack of a winning strategy for the war in Afghanistan. In a statement, McCain cited the recent attack by an Afghan soldier on three members of the 101st Airborne Division where the soldiers […]

SOF Imperative #1 Understand the Operational Environment

SOF Imperative #1 Understand the Operational Environment

The Special Operations community under their command element at USASOC were developed back in the 1990s. The joint command looked to define what was a successful Special Operations mission and what factors played a key role in the conducting of their missions. They published a list of 12 SOF (Special Operations Forces) Imperatives to aid […]

US Airstrikes Causing “Staggering” Civilian Deaths Says UN

US Airstrikes Causing “Staggering” Civilian Deaths Says UN

The UN is reporting that the coalition airstrikes led by the US is causing a “staggering” number of civilian deaths in the Syrian city of Raqqa. The city was taken by Islamist State forces in 2014 and has been cited by the IS as their “capital” and their “caliphate”. US-backed SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) are […]

Defense Chief Mattis Says North Korea is US Security’s Greatest Threat

Defense Chief Mattis Says North Korea is US Security’s Greatest Threat

United States Defense Secretary Jim Mattis declared to the House Armed Services Committee on Monday that North Korea is the “most urgent and dangerous threat to peace and security,” moving the rogue regime of Kim Jong Un past Russia as the No. 1 threat that the United States faces. This is an escalation of the […]

Syrian SDF Rebels Moving Into Small Neighborhoods of Raqqa

Syrian SDF Rebels Moving Into Small Neighborhoods of Raqqa

The US-backed Syrian Defense Forces (SDF) are slowly tightening the noose around the Islamic State (IS) enclave of Raqqa. While forward elements are already getting a foothold in the city’s east side, other SDF units are busy securing the areas surrounding the city. There are reports of US Special Operations troops being with the SDF […]

US-backed Syrian Fighters Move Slowly into IS “Capital” of Raqqa

US-backed Syrian Fighters Move Slowly into IS “Capital” of Raqqa

The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) rebel force against the government of Assad has cautiously entered the final Islamic State stronghold of Raqqa. They entered thru the eastern edge of the city, fording a river on foot and in light vehicles all the while relaying their position by radio in an attempt not to fall […]

North Korea Launches Several Land-to-Ship Missiles, South Korea Delays THAAD

North Korea Launches Several Land-to-Ship Missiles, South Korea Delays THAAD

The rogue nation of Kim Jong Un in North Korea continues to up the ante in the never-ending weapons program tit-for-tat. The North launched a series of missiles that were characterized as land-to-ship and defensive in nature off of its coast. While the UN continues to impose more economic sanctions on the North, Jong’s military […]

Syrian Forces Closing on Special Operations Base Hit with US Air Strikes

Syrian Forces Closing on Special Operations Base Hit with US Air Strikes

Syrian military forces loyal to embattled President Assad ignored warnings about approaching a small US base that houses its Special Operations Forces this week and was hit by a US-led airstrike. This was the second attack in just the past month against Assad’s forces by US airstrikes in what the Defense Department characterized as self-defense […]

Turkey Readies For “Aggression” From US-Backed SDF in Raqqa

Turkey Readies For “Aggression” From US-Backed SDF in Raqqa

The US-backed coalition of Kurds and Arabs of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) have begun their long-awaited assault on the Islamic State’s self-proclaimed caliphate in Raqqa. The forecast for the battle has it that it will be long and costly as the IS fighters are cut off from any support. But the government of Turkey […]

Special Operations Forces Vehicles Come Front and Center

Special Operations Forces Vehicles Come Front and Center

The United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) is home to some of the most elite forces in the world, SEALs, Green Berets, Rangers, Air Force Special Operators, and Marine Raiders. And all of them are using a host of new vehicles that were specifically engineered for their use. SOFREP and Special Operations.com had an opportunity […]