The New Isolationism: Why Ignoring Al Shabaab Invites the ‘Enemy from Within’
The new isolationism dismissing U.S. forward engagement in East Africa – misunderstands the nature of the Al Shabaab threat to the homeland.
Somalia
Fort Gordon Dedicated to Battle of Mogadishu Hero
Story by Laura Levering. Master Sgt. Gary I. Gordon was 33 years old when he made the ultimate sacrifice, and nearly 32 years later, the Army is keeping its promise to ensure that he – and his fellow brothers-in-arms – […]
Medal of Honor Day Observed by Maine SF Veterans
Every year, a group of Special Forces veterans who live in Maine gather together to pay tribute to two Special Forces soldiers who were recipients of the Medal of Honor. This occasion takes place on Medal of Honor Day – […]
Reflections from a Complex Intervention – 30 Years Since the 3 Oct 1993 Battle of Mogadishu
By Michael A. Marra and Brett D. Weigle. October 3, 2023, marked the somber 30th anniversary of the Battle of Mogadishu, Somalia – another tragic event in another “small war” waged far away from United States soil in a nation […]
Operation Gothic Serpent, TF Ranger, and the Search for the Missing
By Fiona G. Holter, USAICoE Staff Historian, October 13, 2022. On 14 October 1993, CWO3 Michael Durant, a pilot with the 160th Special Operations Aviation Regiment (SOAR), was released by Somali insurgents after being held captive for eleven days following […]
U.S. Withdrawal from Somalia
U.S. Africa Command has announced the formation of Joint Task Force Quartz to oversee Operation Octave Quartz – a mission designated to reposition forces from Somalia and continue the assistance effort in Somalia. In early December President Trump and the […]
Al Shabaab Raid on Manda Bay – January 2020
On January 5, 2020 militants from al-Shabaab attacked the U.S. airfield and base at Manda Bay Airfield in Kenya. Three Americans died in the attack. In addition, several aircraft were destroyed or damaged to include U.S. special operations aircraft. Two […]
Somalia – A Short History of a Failed State
Somalia – A short history. The country of Somalia located in the ‘Horn of Africa’ has been a troubled nation for decades. It has been caught up in the events of the Cold War, suffered through famines, experienced anarchy, dealt […]
Defense Update – News, Analysis, and Commentary
Defense Update – Revisiting FM 3-25, nation-building in Syria, South Asia strategy, Kilcullen on urban combat, Somalia’s 9/11, and more. Re-visiting FM 3-24. General Petraeus is famous for many things. He is credited with winning the Iraq War, he was […]
U.S. SOF Step Up Involvement in Somalia’s Shadow War
U.S. SOF has increased their activities in Somalia’s shadow war. The participation in the war torn country by U.S. special forces has largely gone unnoticed by the American public. Most of the nation’s attention is focused on the U.S. presidential […]
Kenya’s Special Operations Forces (Kenya SOF)
Kenya SOF is a recent addition to the Kenya armed forces. The largest of these units in the Kenya SOF is the Special Operations Regiment (SOR). The SOR is composed of the 20 Para, 30 Special Forces, and 40 Rangers […]
SOF News Weekly Update – 20160821
SOF News Update: US SOF raid in Somalia, interesting facts on the WWII British SOE, IPB in the “Gray Zone”, and SOF in the ground war against ISIS in northern Iraq. U.S. SOF in Raid in Somalia. United States special […]