Kurds and Yazidis at Risk in NE Syria

Fear and Uncertainty for Yazidis and Kurds in Syria

February 3, 2026 Guest 0

Minority groups in northeast Syria face an uncertain future. Clashes have been ongoing between the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the government troops of the Syrian state. Negotiations are stalled over the issue of autonomy for the Kurds. This story […]

Book Review -Those Who Face Death by Mark Grdovic

Book Review: “Those Who Face Death” by Mark Grdovic

January 8, 2026 Guest 0

By How Miller. LTC (Ret.) Mark Grdovic (pronounced grid-uh-vich) has written an exciting and knowledgeable account of the U.S. Army Special Forces’ remarkable efforts in Kurdistan that contributed to the success of the 2003 invasion of Iraq. He and his […]

Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) provide security for a Coalition mortar crew providing fires support to SDF against ISIS locations in Operation Round Up taking place in the Middle Euphrates River Valley (MERV) in Syria. (photo by SSG Timothy Koster, CJTF-OIR, May 13, 2018).

One Year Later – Physical Defeat of Daesh

March 23, 2020 SOF News 0

On March 23, 2019 the Pentagon announced the physical defeat of the Daesh caliphate in Syria. Over 110,000 square miles were liberated and 7.7 million people freed from Daesh oppression. The Syrian Democratic Front was assisted by U.S. airpower, ISR, […]

Map Syria Admin Divisions CIA 2007

No Friends But The Mountains

December 20, 2018 SOF News 0

Once again the Kurds are cast aside. This is nothing new. Over the span of the past 100 years they have been used as proxy forces and then kicked to the side of the curb once their usefulness has run […]

MG Fadhil al-Barwari 1st ISOF

Remembering MG Fadhil Barwari – ISOF Commander

September 25, 2018 SOF News 0

By David M. Witty Major General Fadhil Barwari, commander of the 1st Iraqi Special Operations Forces (ISOF) Brigade, Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS), was a central figure in the Iraqi ethos in the struggle against the Islamic State of Iraq […]

USAF pararescuemen conduct a HAHO MFF in Afghanistan. (photo by Tech Sgt Gregory Brook, March 4, 2018).

Special Operations News Update 20180319

March 19, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180319 – Kurds fighting Turkish forces (not ISIS), HH-60 crash in Iraq, building coalitions, 4th Recon Bn Cdr dies, USMC seeks RIAB for PSYOP, NATO’s annual report, ‘7 Days in Entebbe’, Singapore’s combat divers, SF field kitchen […]

SF trainer in Panama explains ranger procedures to Panamanian counterterrorism security forces in Panama. (photo by SSG Osvaldo Equite SOCSouth, Jan 20, 2018).

Special Operations News Update 20180312

March 12, 2018 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20180312 – 2003 JSOC raid into Iraq, intel in corporate world, some great SF photos, USSOCOM and ‘hard problems’, Britain’s WWII GW, conflict in Mali, Kurds shifting focus to invading Turkish forces, MQ-1 Predator to retire, 10th […]

Soldiers of the 25th Infantry Division conduct Combat Rubber Raiding Craft Training in Hawaii. (Photo by SSG Armando Limon, DoD, 29 Nov 2017).

Special Operations News Update 20171201

December 1, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF News Update 20171201 – Standards at SFQC slipping, Jaded Thunder exercise, former Navy SEAL running for Congress, abandoning the Kurds, STS in Faryab province, innish Winter War anniversary, U.S. advisors to accompany lower level Afghan units, UAE in Yemen, […]

ARSOF Soldiers fastroping from a CV-22. (Photo credit USASOC 20170511)

Special Operations News Update – 20170623

June 23, 2017 SOF News 0

SOF Update 20170623 – Updated C-130J-SOF, U.S. SOF and Nepal Rangers training exercise, the special relationship between the Kurds and U.S. Special Forces, new HQs building for USACAPOC, AFSOC flight surgeon receives award, Afghan Commando School gets visit, Navy SEALs […]