Fall of Aleppo - Map depicting location of Aleppo, Syria (red circle). (Map from CIA 2007).

The Fall of Aleppo – and the Aftermath

December 23, 2016 SOF News 0

The recent fall of Aleppo to Syrian government forces signals a new turn of events for the long, confusing, and complex conflict. Read some recent news articles, analysis, maps, and commentary about the fall of Aleppo and the future of […]

Water Jump by SOF Operators from Special Operations Command Europe (photo by SOCEUR 2016).

Special Operations News Update 20161222

December 22, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161222 – India’s police Special Commandos, E&E maps of WWII, former EOD tech for JSOC shares his story, AF Special Operations Surgical Team (SOST), in Middle East, relationship b/t SOF and CIA, India’s Special Frontier Forces (SFF), […]

Intel Update - Intelligence Agencies

Intelligence Update – News, Pubs, & Analysis

December 22, 2016 SOF News 0

Intelligence Update 20161218 – LTG Flynn’s views of the CIA, Flynn sharing secrets inappropriately while in Afghanistan, CIA’s classified cloud, America’s ‘Top Spy Catcher’, an Intelligence Officer’s guide to dissent, Trump and the intelligence community, and more. CIA’s Classified Cloud. The […]

A New Zealand trainer from Task Force Taji provides instruction to Iraqi soldiers. (U.S. Army Photo by SPC Craig Jensen, 1 Dec 2016).

Middle East News Update

December 22, 2016 SOF News 0

Middle East News Update – Obama’s Syrian legacy, seige of Aleppo, using hybrid warfare against Russia, research into Arab politics, U.S. support to Kurds could be better, and more. Obama’s Syrian Legacy. A former NATO supreme allied commander – retired […]

Destroyed ISIL oil tankers. (Photo by SSgt Charles Rivezzo, U.S. AFCENT Public Affairs, Dec 8, 2016). Targets were struck based on intel from the Target Fusion Cell.

CENTCOM’s Target Fusion Cell (TFC)

December 22, 2016 John Friberg 0

The newly-established Target Fusion Cell (TFC) works within the Combined Force Air Component Command (CFACC) in the CENTCOM Area of Responsibility (AOR). The Target Fusion Cell is “. . . an integrated cell of intelligence analysts, targeting experts and intelligence, surveillance […]

John Cena stars in the war movie "The Wall". Image from movie trailer on YouTube.com

Special Operations News 20161221

December 21, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161221 – Review and movie trailer of “The Wall”, review and trailer of “SIX” by History Channel, ISIS use of RBs providing greater safety and capability, Reaper upgrade, book review (yep, its about a SEAL), and SOCAfrica […]

Terrorism Update

Terrorism News Update From Around the World

December 21, 2016 SOF News 0

Terrorism news, reports, and publications – ISIS, al Qaeda, interactive map depicting worldwide terrorist attacks, a new strategy to prevent terrorist attacks, Hezbollah, Global Terrorism Index 2016, and more. Report – The Jihadi Threat. The United States Institute of Peace and […]

An AH-1W Super Cobra from 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit lands on a Navy ship in the Mediterranean Sea. The helicopters have been taking part in Operation Odyssey Lightning - the campaign against ISIS in Libya. (Photo USMC by SGT Ryan Young, Nov 18, 2016).

Defense News 20161221

December 21, 2016 SOF News 0

Defense News 20161221 – Sirte, Libya now liberated, Trump’s Generals, and more. Sirte, Libya Liberated. It appears that the U.S. Department of Defense is declaring victory in Libya over the ousting of the Islamic State from Sirte, Libya. A campaign […]

Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama took place in December 1989. (graphic from USSOCOM Twitter feed Dec 20, 2016.

Operation JUST CAUSE – Panama December 1989

December 20, 2016 John Friberg 0

On this day – December 20, 1989 – Operation JUST CAUSE in Panama began. The operation arrested Maneul Noriega – the ruling dictator – and restored the government of Guillermo Endara. Special Operations Command South (SOCSouth) was stationed in the […]

SOF Operator fast-roping from CV 22 Osprey (photo from USSOCOM 2016 Factbook).

Special Operations News 20161220

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20161220 – Movie “American Sniper” barred from college campus, SFCT Dec 2016 newsletter, Secretary of Army designee, Russian ambassador to Turkey killed, SAS to guard UK streets, and more. “American Sniper” barred from Campus. The movie about […]

C17 bundle drop over a remote U.S. camp in Afghanistan. (Photo by Senior Airman Ricky J. Best, 2 Jan 2007).

Defense and National Security News

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Recent articles about Defense and National Security – Army’s dependence on air power, equipping infantrymen, the ‘Third Offset Strategy’, Russian jihad approaching, MREs to change in 2017, China’s ‘Little Blue Sailors”, and more. Airpower – Still Needed by the Army. […]

Social Media News and the Islamic State

Social Media News – Papers, Pubs, and More

December 20, 2016 SOF News 0

Social Media News – papers, publications, commentary, and analysis on how information operations is used to influence the population in support or against governments and their security forces. Islamic State and Social Media, the Kremlin’s IO machine, ‘disinformation’ (dezinformatsiya) is […]