Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: A Vision 60 Q-UGV ground robot does a simulated route mission at Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico, April 17, 2023. The Vision 60 is a quadrupedal ground robot that is capable of maneuvering through rough terrains, making it perfect for patrolling Holloman’s arid environment. (U.S. Air Force photo by Airman 1st Class Isaiah Pedrazzini)
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SOF News
SOF in the Philippines. The use of U.S. SOF in the Philippines at one time centered on counterinsurgency and counterterrorism. Now the focus has shifted, in part, to external defense given the increasing aggressive actions of China in the waters around the Philippines. Exercises like Balikatan 2025 demonstrate this change in focus. Read more in “U.S. Special Forces Deploy Across the Philippines for Balikatan 2025”, by Aaron-Matthew Lariosa, USNI News, U.S. Naval Institute, May 7, 2025.
Personnel Assignments in NSW and the Navy. The Naval Special Warfare officer and enlisted career tracks create a cadre of sailors who, while experts in their fields, do not seem to reach the highest levels of command in the U.S. Navy. The authors of this article argue that the talent management system needs to be tweaked by integrating NSW officers into fleet commands. “Special Operators Must Lead Throughout the Navy”, Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, May 2025.
USSOCOM Interested in USV Air to Air Capability. Recent news reports stated that Ukraine had successfully shot down Russian aircraft over the Black Sea with missiles launched from an uncrewed surface vessel (USV). Read more in “US special ops eye unmanned vessels with missiles after purported Ukrainian strike”, Defense, May 7, 2025.
Help Special Operations Forces (SOF) personnel with spine injuries receive the healthcare options, education, and care they need.
Ukraine Conflict
Ceasefire? Europe and the U.S. have proposed a 30-day ceasefire; however, Putin has rejected the plan (as of Sunday). Although European leaders stated that they would impose more sanctions on Russia and increase military assistance to Ukraine, it is something that may not happen. Putin has indicated that his representatives can meet the Ukrainians in Istanbul to negotiate the terms of Kyiv’s capitulation.
- References:
- Interactive Map. Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine by the Insitute for the Study of War and Critical Threats. On storymaps.arcgis.com See also https://www.national-security.info/ukraine/maps.html
- U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine, Congressional Research Service, CRSIF12040, periodically updated, PDF, 3 pages. https://crsreports.congress.gov/product/pdf/IF/IF12040
- Ukraine Conflict, National Security Info. https://www.national-security.info/ukraine-conflict.html
Sudan Conflict
The conflict in Sudan between the rebel Rapid Support Force (RSF) and Sudananese Armed Forces (SAF) is continuing, prompting one of the world’s most pressing humanitarian crisis. The conflict began two years ago in April 2023. Other countries are providing assistance to both government (SAF) and RSF forces. The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is cited as providing Chinese weaponry to the RSF according to Amnesty International (Sudan Tribune, May 8, 2025). Last month the government forces were making headway, advancing in certain areas of the capital, Khartoum. The interim capital, Port Sudan, has experienced drone attacks (Sudan Tribune, May 9, 2025) conducted by the RSF. Efforts by the United Nations and regional powers have been unsuccessful in negotiating a settlement or ceasefire.
Commentary
SOF and the Joint Chiefs. U.S. special operations forces have evolved as the threats to this nations security has changed – whether from strategic competitors, regional threats, or violent extremist organizations. USSOCOM has grown in response to the shifting nature of global conflict along the entire spectrum of conflict; yet SOF remains institutionally underrepresented at the highest levels of defense policymaking. Perhaps it is time to make the commander of United States Special Operations Command a permanent member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (JCS). Read more on this topic in “From the Shadows to the Summit: Elevating Special Operations to the Joint Chiefs”, by David Maxwell, 1945, May 11, 2025.
SOF and Less-Than-Lethal Options. Gunnery Sergeant Jacob Hopper, U.S. Marine Corps, is advocating for an increase in capability for SOF that could challenge adversaries in today’s competition space. He cites the example of countering Chinese below-the-threshold of violence activities in the waters around the Philippines. Read more in “Special Operations Forces Need Less-than-Lethan Options for Competition”, Proceedings, U.S. Naval Institute, May 2025.
Gen Fenton Editorial. The commander of U.S. Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) writes about how SOF needs to knit together traditional and non-traditional government, industry, and academic partners. Read “Forging a new national security alliance”, Defense One, May 5, 2025.
Present Day SOF – A Responsive Force. The experience of decades has molded the U.S. special operations forces into a an entity that can rapidly transform itself to address the quickly evolving threats that the country is faced with today. Read more in “SOF’s Past Makes it Perfect for the Future”, by Dean Hoffman and Joe Mariani, National Defense Magazine, May 6, 2025.
USAID and the Military. Ted J. Kim describes how the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) complements the military efforts by overseeing humanitarian assistance operations, promoting good governance, supporting democratic institutions, and enhancing economic development. Read more in “Soft Power, Strong Impact: The Enduring Alliance Between USAID and the U.S. Military”, Small Wars Journal, May 8, 2025.
“Shadow Wolves” and Border Security. A specialized unit of the Tohono O’odham Nation members have served in the Sonoran Desert of southern Arizona for five decades. They are a Native American tactical unit assigned to the U.S. Department of Homeland Security that uses tracking skills to keep tabs on transnational criminal organizations that operate in the border regions. The authors of this article advocate for the establishment of more units like the Shadow Wolves. Read their views in “Protecting Our Borders: Leveraging Technological Assets and Local Knowledge in Remote Communities”, by Thomas Dean and Ryan Andrew Brown, RAND, April 24, 2025.
National Security
SECDEF to Fire Generals. The size of the U.S. military’s top ranks may be reduced soon. About 100 generals and admirals could be facing an early retirement as the Secretary of Defense continues efforts to reduce bureaucracy and streamline the force structure. There are over 800 officers with one-star and above. 20% of 4-stars and 10% of other general officer ranks could be cut. Some national security observers recognize that a reduction is in order but are worried about the reduction being carried out in haste and indescriminately. Many observers see an attempt to conduct the reduction for political reasons; purging any officers who are not Trump supporters. “Hegseth sparks fears as he moves to ax generals”, The Hill, May 10, 2025. See also “Senior Officers Are Not the Villian”, by Steve Mills, Real Clear Defense, May 9, 2025.
Report – Autonomous Systems. Artificial Intelligence (AI) is advancing the tecnology used in weapons systems and rapidly changing the nature of modern warfare. Along with these advances are potential problem areas with the way groups of autonomous systems interact with each other. There is potential for conflict between these futuristic systems that need to be researched and addressed. Read more in Lessons in Learning: Ensuring Interoperability for Autonomous Systems in the Department of Defense, by Josh Wallin, Center for a New American Security (CNAS), May 2025, PDF, 19 pages. Link.
WPS Program Canceled by DoD. SECDEF Pete Hegseth announced the cancellation of the DoD’s Women, Peace and Security (WPS) program last week. He described the WPS as a social justice initiative that is woke, divisive, and hated by the troops. He attributed the WPS to the Biden administration, but . . . it was actually passed by Congress in 2017 under Trump’s first administration. Read more in “US Defense Secretary cancels Women, Peace and Security programs”, by Susan Hutchinson, The Strategist, Australian Strategic Policy Institute.
Information Operations
Russian Disinformation and Latvia. Russia has carried out information-manipulation campaigns across Europe, in Africa, the United States, and other parts of the world. These efforts aim to polarize societies and undermine democracy. Latvia, a small nation bordering Russia, has been a frequent target of these disinformation efforts. For Latvia, the “resilience of the country’s information space has become a national-security priority”. The country hosts NATO’s Strategic Communications Center of Excellence and works with its allies to counter the Russian disinformation campaigns. Read more in “What’s the best way to deal with Russian information manipulation? Latvia has answers”, Atlantic Council, May 5, 2025.
VOA and OAN. Kari Lake, a senior adviser to the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), announced that Voice of America (VOA) will be working with One America Online (OAN). The news network will be offering its news and video services “free of charge”. The Trump adminstration is currently in court defending a March executive order to dismantle the USAGM. Thus far, more than 1,000 VOA staffers have been placed on administrative leave. Some political observers are worried that the VOA will become tainted because of OAN’s right-wing slant and support of President Trump. “Voice of America will carry One America News programming”, by Scott Nover, The Washington Post, May 7, 2025.
SOF News welcomes the submission of articles for publication. If it is related to special operations, current conflicts, national security, or defense then we are interested.
Asia
India – Pakistan Crisis. The two countries have been exchanging tit-for-tat attacks against each other the past several days ever since a terrorist attack took place on April 22nd on the Indian side of Kashmir. India accused Pakistan of sheltering terrorist groups and initiated a cross-border military campaign. Each has accused the other of starting the crisis and escalating the fighting. At one point India had turned off water supplies flowing into Pakistan; water flow has since resumed. Observers are monitoring the crisis with an eye on the possibility of escalation resulting in an exchange of nuclear weapons as well as watching the performance of various weapons systems (especially Chinese-made systems). Aircraft are reported to have been shot down by both sides of the conflict. In the past day or so there are reports that a cease fire has gone into effect.
Europe
U.S. Now ‘Spying’ on Greenland? According to The Wall Street Journal (subscription) U.S. spy agencies have been instructed by Tulsi Gabbard, the Director of National Intelligence, to increase surveillance on Greenland and to assess efforts to support the island’s independence. President Trump has said that the U.S. needs “Greenland very badly”. The island has been under Danish control for more than two centuries; international matters and defense are handled by Denmark.
Russia and Neo-Nazi Terrorist Groups. A far right neo-fascist transnational network is suspected of being a intelligence asset of Russia. “The Base” is a white supremist organization that seeks to train its members in fighting a race war. It has been involved in the Ukraine conflict. Read more in “Russia’s Links to Neo-Nazi Terrorist Groups Demonstrates its Hybrid Warfare Toolkit”, The Soufan Center, May 8, 2025.
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Africa
Russian PMCs in Africa. Since 2018, Russian mercenary groups like the Wagner Group, Africa Corps, and others have been operating in Africa. This engagement helps Russia expand their global reach, strengthens their influence, and provides access to oil and other rare minerals. The Russians are filling the vacumn left by the U.S., France, and other European countries. The Russians have a very strong presence in six African nations and the list will likely grow longer as time goes on. Read more in Russian Mercenary and Paramilitary Groups in Africa, RAND Corporation, May 1, 2025, PDF, 62 pages.
https://www.rand.org/content/dam/rand/pubs/research_reports/RRA2600/RRA2613-1/RAND_RRA2613-1.pdf
Sub-Sahara Africa and VEOs. The Sahel region of sub-Sahara Africa has seen violence erupt in several countries over the past four years. ISWAP, JNIM, ISSP, and IS-Somalia are all active in various parts of the Sahel. Deaths from terrorism activities has steadily risen. Read more in “Sub-Saharan Africa Remains an Epicenter of Violent Jihadist Terrorism”, INTELBRIEF, The Soufan Center, May 1, 2025.
Unrest in DRC. Tens of thousands of people have been displaced in the Republic of the Congo (DRC) due to escalating violence in eastern DRC – bordering on Rwanda on the east. The M23 rebel fighters, supported by Rwanda, have been making gains on the ground against DRC government troops. At stake are rich deposits of minerals that provide a lucrative revenue stream for those who control the region. There are reports that the Trump administration is negotiating an end to the fighting – with, of course, a deal that would give U.S. firms access to some of the DRC’s natural resources. Erik Prince’s PMC is also reported to be conducting activities in the DRC – related to the business of natural resoures.
Camel Cavalry in Mauritania. Playing a vital role in the fight against jihadism, the “Nomad Group” is operating in areas of the desert where off-road vehicles cannot travel. The cavalry unit has about 150 riders and a herd of 400 camels. Read more in “On Patrol for Jihadists With Mauritania’s Camel Cavalry”, by Eleonore Sens, Barron’s, May 9, 2025.
Videos
Inside America’s Secret Global Wars, by The Jedburgh Podcast, May 9, 2025, 1 hour.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1qAvyQRirMQ
Mike Vickers – former Green Beret, CIA Paramilitary Officer, and later the ASD SO/LIC is interviewed in this episode of The Jedburgh Podcast. He recounts his experiences in nearly every American conflict since the Cold War.
U.S. Black Ops in Europe is Legitimately Insane, by Cappy Army, May 10, 2025, YouTube, 28 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5Bo04u9c5Js
This video covers several secret operations that have taken place over the past several decades. Topics include CIA and SF in Ukraine, Task Force Dragon (U.S. intel to Ukraine), a CIA coup attempt in the early 1950s in Albania, Operation Gladio in Italy (stay behind operations in case of Soviet invasion), and Operation Greenlight (practice backpack nuke infiltration).
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