MARSOC Training Raven

SOF Weekly Brief – August 31, 2026

August 31, 2026 John Friberg 0

This week’s SOF News brief covers U.S. Special Forces in Ecuador, multinational training developments, special operations technology, and recognition for the Indiana Rangers. Additional coverage examines Iran and Ukraine, CIA engagement with Russia, China’s regional ambitions, Afghan allies, veterans’ issues, and selected books, podcasts, and videos on national security affairs.

NSW SPIES CH-47

SOF Weekly Brief – August 24, 2026

August 24, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly brief examines significant developments affecting special operations, irregular warfare, intelligence, and national security. Key topics include the expanding military applications of autonomous systems and artificial intelligence, proposed changes to U.S. aircraft carriers, rising American casualties in the Iran War, leadership developments in Ukraine, and lessons emerging from modern conflicts.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

CV-22 Osprey Tail Gunner

SOF News Update – May 18, 2026

May 18, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. It is a big week for the international SOF community; the Global SOF Foundation and USSOCOM are hosting SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida.

USS Chafee (DDG 90) Launches Block V Tomahawk

SOF Weekly Update – May 11, 2026

May 11, 2026 John Friberg 0

This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. SOCAFRICA Flintlock exercise ends. One soldier missing and one deceased as AFRICOM’s African Lion exercise comes to a close.

Naval Special Warfare Conducts Training with Croatian Partners

SOF Weekly Update – May 4, 2026

May 3, 2026 SOF News 0

Weekly SOF update covering Iran ceasefire proposals, USSOCOM force design changes, Ukraine battlefield trends, AI integration in defense, and global security developments. Analysis includes maritime disruption, Russian territorial losses, and evolving strategic competition across multiple theaters.