5th SFG Green Beret Fires Anti-Tank Weapon

SOF Weekly Brief – August 18, 2026

August 18, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update examines new USASOC leadership, expanded American special operations activity in the Philippines and Alaska, Iran-war MQ-9 losses, shifting security relationships with Oman and South Korea, the Saudi-Turkish-Pakistani defense pact, Ukraine’s battlefield innovation, irregular warfare, intelligence, veterans, history, and upcoming events.

Video Dark Dune 18. AFSOC aircraft conduct aerial refueling of French helicopters during Exercise Dark Dune May 2018. DoD

SOF Weekly Brief – August 10, 2026

August 10, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News update covers leadership changes in Ukraine security assistance, proposed protections for special operations personnel, international exercises, SOF history, conflicts in Iran and Ukraine, emerging technology, Afghanistan, veterans’ issues, and selected reports, commentary, podcasts, and videos from across the national security community.

Jungle Tab Now Authorized for Wear Army-Wide

August 4, 2026 John Friberg 0

The U.S. Army has authorized permanent, service-wide wear of the Jungle tab for graduates of recognized jungle training courses. The new policy includes retroactive eligibility for qualifying personnel who trained in Hawaii or Panama, including former students at Fort Sherman’s historic Jungle Operations Training Center.

10th Dive Training July 2026

SOF Weekly Brief – August 3, 2026

August 3, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers senior U.S. defense and intelligence appointments, special operations developments, the Iran and Ukraine conflicts, emerging military technology, strategic competition, and global security affairs. It also marks the Extortion 17 anniversary and highlights SOF history, veterans, commentary, and upcoming events.

CV-22 from the 8th Special Operations Squadron flies over the Emerald Coast outside Hurlburt Field. (AFSOC photo).

SOF Weekly Brief – July 27, 2026

July 27, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes the most significant events affecting SOF, IW, intelligence, and national security during the past week. Some stories in this update include a new PSYOP unit for Africa, an essay on SOF in 2040, testosterone treatments for SOF members, how technology is shaping the future of SOF in the Pacific, and SOCKOR CoC.

Critical Minerals

Conference on Critical Minerals

July 20, 2026 John Friberg 0

The “Strategic Resources in Competion: Critical Minerals & Rare Earth Elements” conference is taking place in Reston, Virginia this week. The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) and the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) are hosting the two-day conference. The gathering will be focused on the role of critical minerals and rare earth elements in strategic competition.

B-52 Refueling

SOF Weekly Update – July 13, 2026

July 13, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers the NATO Summit in Turkey, renewed attacks in the Strait of Hormuz, Ukraine’s campaign against Russian logistics, the resurgence of Somali piracy, emerging special operations technologies, and the latest developments affecting national security, intelligence, and irregular warfare worldwide.

HALO Jumper Adjusts ATAK during Exercise Radiant Shield

SOF Weekly Brief – July 6, 2026

July 6, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update highlights advances in AI-driven intelligence, NATO special operations leadership changes, Ukraine’s evolving long-range strike campaign, developments involving Iran, maritime infrastructure security, and the latest news affecting the global special operations community. Historical milestones, upcoming events, and a featured book review round out the briefing.

U.S. Navy GARC

Drone Monthly Update – June 2026

June 30, 2026 John Friberg 0

News updates on unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) including latest drone technology and use in conflicts around the world. An executive summary, key events and developments, and curated articles are provided in this article. Executive Summary Unmanned systems are reshaping air, […]

Flight Deck USS Abraham Lincoln

SOF Weekly Brief – June 29, 2026

June 29, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. Iran is continuing to attack U.S. forces in the region to try and stop the United States from undermining Iranian efforts to control the Strait of Hormuz. The U.S. is retaliating with strikes of its on on Iranian military targets.

Polish SOF

SOF Weekly Brief – June 20, 2026

June 20, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. Three Medal of Honor awards were presented to recipients from the SOF community. The anticipated meeting between the U.S. and Iran in Switzerland was delayed. USSOCOM released a video about a recently published SOF Cancer Study.

NSW SPIES CH-47

SOF Weekly Brief – June 15, 2026

June 15, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. The White House announced that a “historic” peace agreement had been reached with Iran. Israel continues its attacks against Hezbollah targets in Lebanon, possible endangering the proposed ceasefire agreement. The U.S. military continues its operations in South America.

Navy Osprey

SOF Weekly Brief – June 8, 2026

June 8, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers USSOCOM’s C-130J autonomy program, Special Forces strategic utility, combat diver modernization, developments in the Iran conflict, Ukraine’s drone warfare lessons, intelligence and diplomacy in irregular warfare, and global special operations news from Canada, Israel, Somalia, and beyond.

AC-130 Gunship

SOF News Weekly Brief – June 1, 2026

June 1, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News Update covers developments in Iran ceasefire negotiations, SOF Week 2026, Ukraine’s expanding drone campaign, instability in Mali, missile inventory concerns following Operation Epic Fury, emerging AI applications for special operations forces, and global security developments affecting the U.S. special operations and defense community.