Russia cancels high level talks with U.S. over expanded sanctions

The Russian government has canceled an upcoming high-level meeting with U.S. officials intended to help curb increasing tensions between the two military powers. According to a statement released by the Russian Foreign Ministry, the meeting has been canceled in direct response to the recent expansion of U.S. sanctions on Russian individuals and organizations tied to […]

ISIS targeting the children of fleeing families according to UNICEF report

According to a report released by the United Nations Children’s Fund, or UNICEF, Islamic State fighters have begun specifically targeting the children of families attempting to flee areas under ISIS control. As SOFREP has reported on in the past, the Islamic State in Iraq and Syria has been utilizing a strategy of herding civilians into […]

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 […]

Senators want Congress to OK military action in Syria

U.S. senators called on Congress on Tuesday to take back its authority to determine whether the country goes to war, saying recent U.S. strikes in Syria were not covered by existing authorizations for the use of military force. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee has begun considering legislation that would cover military action in Syria, Afghanistan, […]

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 […]

Breaking: US Air Force F-15 Shoots Down Armed Iranian Drone in Syria

US military officials are reporting the downing of an Iranian made armed Shahed-129 drone by an F-15 fighter jet. The drone was being flown by  pro Syrian government personnel. The armed pro-regime Shaheed-129 UAV was shot down by a U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle about 12:30 a.m. after it displayed hostile intent and advanced on Coalition forces. […]

U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle shoots down another Iranian drone over Syria

One day after a U.S. F/A-18 Super Hornet shot down a Syrian Air Force SU-22, the United States has announced its third air-to-air victory in just weeks.  A U.S. F-15E Strike Eagle intercepted and shot down an Iranian Shaheed-129 UAV over Southern Syria on Monday, after the drone’s presence was assessed to be a threat […]

All parties involved draw new red lines in Syria amid rising tensions

After the United States shot down a Syrian military SU-22 over Syria on Sunday, the United States, Russia, and Iran have begun establishing “red lines” for one another, or borders within the nation each respective state’s military assets cannot cross without being engaged as a hostile. While the establishment of red lines is not a […]

US F-18 Shoots Down Syrian SU-22 After It Attacks SDF Troops

The Pentagon has reported that a US Navy F-18 fighter plane has shot down a Syrian SU-22 ground attack aircraft after the Syrian pilot attacked SDF (Syrian Democratic Forces) on Sunday. The US-led SDF have been advised by US Special Operations forces, however, it isn’t known if any US troops were present when attacked by […]

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

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 […]