NITRO ZEUS: Will Trump dust off the plan to topple Iran that Obama torpedoed?

Night fell over the desert. U.S. Air Force aircraft soared overhead, lowering their ramps and emptying their cargo into the night sky. Vehicles were heavy dropped on pallets while operators assigned to 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment-Delta parachuted out into the darkness, conducting a military free-fall jump. Hitting their assembly area below, the operators quickly […]

US special operators to integrate with Greek SOF units?

Could American special operators be integrated into the Greek Special Operations Forces (SOF)? According to reports in the Greek media, the European Special Operations Command (SOCEUR) and the U.S. embassy in Greece have proposed the idea to the Hellenic Ministry of Defense. The initiative would attach U.S. SOF officers and non-commissioned officers to various Greek […]

Never again: How the military prepares for a Benghazi terrorist scenario in Africa

The night of September 11, 2012, the U.S. diplomatic post and the nearby CIA annex in Benghazi, Libya, were attacked by Islamic terrorists. The ensuing two-day battle left four Americans dead: U.S. Ambassador to Libya Chris Stevens, State Department employee Sean Smith, CIA contractor and former Navy SEAL Tyrone Woods, and CIA contractor and former […]

Proxy warfare: The strategic dilemma of relying on proxy counterterrorism forces

Proxy warfare isn’t a new concept. It has been used since ancient times. More recently, the British used it quite successfully during the Dhofar War in Oman in the early 1970s. Special Air Service (SAS) operators trained, advised, and, perhaps, accompanied Yemeni dissenters in cross-border operations deep inside Yemen. Another example—this time of active proxy […]

FIRE AND ICE:  ICELAND’S ELITE, “VIKING SQUAD” SWAT TEAM

“Never walk away from your home ahead of your axe and sword. You can’t feel a battle in your bones, or foresee a fight.” —     The Hávamál (Viking book of knowledge), circa 1000 A.D. Occasionally here at SpecialOperations.com we get article submissions from authors, that we believe that our readers will enjoy. And this one […]

Breaking: 14 killed in deadly terrorist attack in Kenya, SAS responds

On the afternoon of Tuesday, January 15, al-Shabaab terrorists attacked a luxury hotel in Nairobi, Kenya, killing at least 14 people and wounding dozens. According to emerging reports, one American and one British national are among the dead. The attack began early in the afternoon. An unspecified number of terrorists stormed the hotel’s entrance, lobbing […]

When innovation meets special operations: How German SOF improvise

Special operations units are known for their improvisation. Since they are designed, trained, and organised to operate behind enemy lines, having the ability to think on their feet and make do with limited resources is essential. Bring this mindset and attitude to the training room, and you get marvels. The German Kommando Spezialkrafte (KSK) created […]