Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: Marines swim during the Caribbean Coastal Warrior exercise in Savaneta, Aruba, May 18, 2023. The bilateral event with Dutch Marines expands the them participants’ knowledge and proficiency when operating in littoral and coastal regions. Photo by Marine Corps Cpl. Cassidy Shepherd.
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SOF News
Navy SEAL to be Next SEAC. Navy Fleet Master Chief David Isom (biography, PACOM) has been selected to serve as the U.S. military’s next top enlisted leader. He is a former member of Navy Special Warfare Development Group (SEAL Team Six) and is currently serving as the command senior enlisted leader for U.S. Indo-Pacific Command. He will be the senior enlisted advisor to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff (CJCS).
Navy SEAL Running for Senate. Jared Hudson has announced his intention to enter into the Republican primary for one of Alabama’s senate seats. “Navy SEAL Veteran is First GOP Candidate for Tuberville’s Alabama Senate Seat”, Military.com, May 28, 2025.
SF K-9s. The US Department of Defense (DOD) chooses the recruits for the US Special Forces K-9 Corps from elite breeders around the globe. However, 13% of the chosen dogs come from the DOD Military Working Dog Breeding Program. “US Special Forces K-9 Corps: Four-legged Heroes”, by Susanna Gervasoni, Grey Dynamics, May 26, 2025.
Reflections from SOF Week in Tampa. Jameson “J.R.” Johnson attended SOF Week 2025 in Tampa, Florida in early May. Johnson, a retired U.S. Army colonel, was impressed with the senior leadership that attended – not only U.S. but SOF leaders from around the world. Read more in “Leadership at the Tip of the Spear”, Real Clear Defense, May 29, 2025.
Ukrainian SOF. On Tuesday, May 27, 2025, Ukraine celebrated the anniversary of the formation of the Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces (Wikipedia). the Ukrainian SOF were established in 2016 from existing special forces units into a single, independent branch of the Ukrainian Armed Forces. The SOF force is one of the branches of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.
IW and a ‘New’ OSS. Doug Livermore presents the argument to revive the Office of Strategic Services for today’s strategic competition environment. A new OSS would consolidate and optimize existing resources that are currently fragmented across multiple agenices. Livermore believes that a more unified approach between the CIA, USSOCOM, and other IW assets would eliminate redundancies and maximize operational effectiveness. “Reimagining Irregular Warfare: The Case of a Modernized OSS 2.0”, Foreign Policy Research Institute (FPRI), May 28, 2025.
SOF History
On June 1, 1983, the US Army Institute for Military Assistance was renamed the US Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
On June 6, 1944, the allies conducted D-day – the storming of the beaches of Normandy, France to establish beachheads from which to attack into the interior of France.
On June 7, 2006, Abu Musab al-Zarqaw was killed in coalition air strike. Special operations forces, commanded by Lt. Gen. Stan McChrystal, led the hunt ending in the death of Abu Musab al-Zarqawi, the leader of al-Qaeda in Iraq. Zarqawi (Aḥmad Faḍīl an-Nazāl al-Ḫalāyla), was a Jordanian jihadist who ran a paramilitary training camp in Afghanistan and who later went to Iraq taking part in an insurgency against US troops and contributing to the start of the Shiia – Sunni war.
SOE’s Wireless Facilities in UK During WWII. A 16 page paper (PDF) provides an assessment of the Special Operations Executive’s wireless facilities in the United Kingdom during the Second War War.
https://ueaeprints.uea.ac.uk/id/eprint/69248/1/Accepted_manuscript_GREGORY.pdf
Ukraine Conflict
Russian Airbases Hit Hard. Social media reports are reporting that multiple Russian airbases (Belaya, Olenya, Ivanovo, Dyagilevo, and possible a 5th) were struck over the weekend in a large-scale SBU special operation called “Web” to destroy enemy bomber and fighter aircraft. Some initial reports say that over 40 Russian aircraft were hit by FPV drone swarms, including strategic bombers such as the Tu-95, Tu-22M3, and A-50 aircraft.
Online OSINT reports vary in the actual number of aircraft either damaged or destroyed. 117 drones were launched during the attack striking 34% of the strategic cruise missile carriers operated by the Russian Air Force. Estimates of damage up to 7 billion dollars. The Tu-95 bombers have been used extensively by the Russians in attacks against Ukrainian cities; each can launch eight guided cruise missiles. The Tu-95 launched missiles have a range of thousands of miles allowing the big bombers to stay well inside Russian airspace.
Some media reports are saying the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) is calling the strike “Operation Pavutyna”; with the goal of degrading Russia’s long-range strike capabilities. The airbases were struck with First Person View (FPV) drones remotely launched from vehicles positioned near the airfields. The drones were secretly brought into Russia and concealed in trucks. Check out a map detailing the locations of the airbases posted on X by “Conflict Dispatch” @ConflictDISP.
Russian Offensive Sumy Oblast. More than 50,000 Russian troops are massing for a potential large-scale offensive. While the press is talking about peace negotiations every day the Russians are moving more men and equipment to the front for a big push to take more Ukrainian territory – probably Sumy Oblast (Google Maps). Each kilometer of territory gained by the Russians costs them thousands of lives. Cheap Ukrainian drones are accounting for up to 80% of Russian casualties. Ukrainian made FPV drones are $500.
Report – Russian Military Performance and Outlook. A Congressional Research Service (CRS) publication explores why the Russian military has not been able to decisively defeat the Ukrainian Armed Forces (UAF) since Russia’s February 2022 invasion of Ukraine. (May 28, 2025).
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12606
- 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
Commentary
Women in Combat and Physical Fitness. The Secretary of Defense’s recent order that the military adopt a sex-neutral fitness standard for combat arms branches has changed the dynamics for women serving in combat arms positions. This order directs all military branches to end separate fitness standards for men and women in combat arms occupation. For non-combat roles the gender-normed standards are left in place. The Army will be implementing sex-neutral fitness standards for 21 combat arms jobs beginning in June 2025. “Hegseth made the right call about women in combat”, The Hill, May 30, 2025. In related news, the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) has ended a pilot scheme after finding six-month program is not enough for women to meet required standards. See “Israel to stop training female combat soldiers over ‘lack of fitness'”, The Telegraph, May 29, 2025. (subscription)
National Security
VA Staff Cuts Affect Worker Morale. The government’s second-largest agency will soon lose 83,000 employees as part of a plan to save money. Veterans Affairs personnel are concerned about their jobs and veterans fear a loss of services if the cuts take place. “At Veterans Affairs, plan for sweeping cuts tanks morale”, The Washington Post, May 27, 2025. (subscription)
SECDEF in Singapore. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth addressed the Shangri-La Dialogue, an International Institute for Strategic Studies (IISS) conference that brought together defense leaders from across the Indo-Pacific. You can read the transcript of his remarks here. (DOD, May 31, 2025).
Erik Prince and Haiti. The Haitian government has signed a contract with Erik Prince (founder of Blackwater) for the provision of security in Port-au-Prince and other areas of Haiti. The country is plagued with gangs that are terrorizing the nation and causing unrest and instability. The gangs are in control of most of Haiti’s capital city. Prince will reportedly send security contractors for the operation and there is conjecture that drones will be a big part of the mission. Read more in “A Desperate Haiti Turns to Erick Prince, Trump Ally, in fight Against Gangs”, The New York Times, May 28, 2025. (subscription)
Transgenders. Apparently DOD is giving all transgender military service members until June 6, 2025, to voluntarily resign. After that, it is expected that involuntary separations will begin for those that remain.
Cyber and Information Operations
AI for Cyber and Info Ops. The use of artificial intelligence into military information operations should be very focused and and supported by robust resourcing in application. Our adversaries (Russia, China, and others) are becoming increasingly proficient and sophisticated in the employment of AI in an information evironment. This linked article provides a brief historical summary of IO, examines some specific applications, and offers insight into how AI can be effectively employed in military campaigns. “Exploring Artificial Intelligence-Enhanced Cyber and Information Operations Integration”, Military Review, March-April 2025.
Chatbots – Are They Your Friend? Tactics used to make artificial intelligence tools more engaging can drive these AI tools to monopolize users’ time or reinforce harmful ideas. “Your chatbot friend might be messing with your mind”, The Washington Post, May 31, 2025. (subscription)
US Information Operations Capability to be Diminshed. All the remaining staff at Voice of America are expected to receive notices of termination in the coming week. Reductions have already taken place at the VOA, but these new terminations will shut down the rest of the international broadcasting network. “Termination notices expected to go out to all remaining Voice of America employees this week”, Politico, May 28, 2025.
Strategic Competition
Russia – NATO War? Fabian Hoffmann, a research fellow at the Oslo Nuclear Project at the University of Oslo, describes what a future conflict with Russia might look like. Western Europe has fears that Russia, once done with its adventure in Ukraine, will push further west and attack one of the bloc’s members (one of the Baltic states?) within three to seven years. There is a belief that Moscow will seek to avoid a full-on war and focus on breaking the bloc’s resolve. “A Russia-NATO War Would Look Nothing Like Ukraine”, Foreign Policy, May 19, 2025. (subscription)
Hybrid Warfare and Russia. Eitvydas Bajarunas, a Lithuanian Ambassador, explains why Russian political warfare is a decisive threat to frontline states. “Russia’s Hybrid Warfare Tactics Target the Baltics”, The Jamestown Foundation, May 27, 2025.
Russia, Scandinavia, and Total Defense. Across the Nordic nations, governments are reassessing security and adopting the concept of total defense. This is an approach that mobilizes the whole of society to defend against military and non-military threats posed by the Russians. “Nordic nations embrace total defense as the risk of sabotage and war rises”, AP News, May 29, 2025.
The company offers a wide range of coffee flavors to include Green Eyes Coffee, a tribute to those Navy special operations personnel who operate in the night.
Afghanistan
CARE Dismantling. The Coordinator for Afghan Relocation Efforts (CARE) is being eliminated on July 1, 2025. This organization has been dedicated to helping Afghan allies who served as interpreters for the U.S. military to relocate to the United States in order to avoid Taliban reprisals. Shawn Van Diver, the president of #AfghanEvac, says that this is a “. . . profound betrayal of American values and promises”. Read more in “State Department restructuring scraps office dedicated to relocating Afghan allies”, The Hill, May 30, 2025.
Africa
Sahel and Threats to U.S. General Michael Langley, head of U.S. Africa Command, has warned Congress that multiple terrorist groups have grown in influence in the Sahel region of Africa and likely will pose a future threat to the United States. The countries of greatest concern include Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. “U.S. general warns of Sahel-based threats to US homeland”, Maghreb Insider, May 30, 2025.
AFRICOM Asks for Help in New Era. Deterring the spread of terrorism in Africa and countering the moves of Russia and China in Africa has gotten a lot harder in the past few months. Cuts in USAID, VOA, and similar ‘soft power’ programs have left a vacumm on the continent. China, Russia, and jihadist groups will see the draw-down by the U.S. as an opportunity. “AFRICOM asks for help deterring terrorism, after Trump pulls aid to allied countries”, Defense One, May 29, 2025. See also “Africom Strives to Empower African Nations’ Security Efforts”, DOD News, May 29, 2025.
Russia to Support AES Force. The member countries of the Confederation of Sahel States (AES) will soon receive some foreign assistance in standing up a 5,000 man joint force. The initiative will strengthen the fight against terrorism for Mali, Niger, and Burkina Faso. The nations are fighting jihadist forces fielded by the Islamic State and al-Qaeda. “Russia to support 5000-strong joint AES force”, Military Africa, April 7, 2025.
Nigeria’s NNSOC. Nigeria has established the Nigerian Navy Special Operations Command. This is a centralized command structure for rapid deployment and elite ground operations – with headquarters in Benue State. It will be aimed at addressing Nigeria’s internal security challenges.
Somalia at a Crossroads. The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point has published a detailed article about the current situation of the federal governments fight against Al-Shabaab in Somalia.
CTC Sentinel, May 2025, read article here. See also “How U.S. cuts in Somalia could imperil the fight against al-Shabab”, The Washington Post, May 27, 2025. (subscription)
Paper – SOF Effectiveness in Strategic Competition: Insights for West Africa and Beyond, by Maureen Farrell, Joint Special Operations University (JSOU), January 6, 2025.
https://jsou.edu/Press/PublicationDashboard/258
Podcasts, Videos, Publications, and Reports
Video – USASOC CAPEX 2025. Army special operations forces were showcased at Fort Bragg, North Carolina in April 2025. YouTube, 8 minutes.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Lk5MCVu0eiU
Podcast – 25 Days to Aden. Listen to the story of how Arabian elite forces halted the Yemeni Houthis’ attempts to take control of Southern Yemen in 2015. United Arab Emirates special forcers played a key role. The Trident Podcast, U.S. Naval War College, May 27, 2025, one hour.
https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/the-trident/18/
CTC Sentinel. The Combating Terrorism Center at West Point has published its May 2025 issue and it is available online. Topics include CT challenge in Somalia, interview with the former director fo the U.S. National Counterterrorism Center, and the rise and fall of al-Qaida in Syria. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/may-2025/
DOD Report on JLOTS. The Inspector General of the U.S. Department of Defense has published a report on the DoD’s capabilities to effectively carry out Joint Logistics Over-the-Shore (JLOTS) Operations and Exercises. The DoD recently employed JLOTS in Gaza (NSI) in the spring of 2024 to provide humanitarian aid as part of Operation Neptune Solace. The IG investigation resulted in some findings and offers some recommendations. The IG concluded that the DoD faces potential challenges meeting JLOTS requirements in fast-paced, contested, or simultaneous regional or global operations. Read the report here (May 2, 2025, PDF, 94 pages).
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