Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: An East-coast-based U.S. Naval Special Warfare Operator (SEAL) prepares to descend below the surface during dive training with Polish special forces, June 27, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katie Cox)
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SOF News
General Officer Promotion for AFSOC Officers. The following officers have been nominated for promotion:
- Air Force Brig. Gen. Leslie S. Hadley has been nominated for appointment to the grade of major general. Hadley is currently serving as mobilization assistant to the commander, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
- Air Force Col. Jeremy S. Bergin for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Bergin is currently serving as chief of staff, Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
- Air Force Col. Ethan P. Hinkins for appointment to the grade of brigadier general. Hinkins is currently serving as mobilization assistant to the director of Operations, Air Force Special Operations Command, Hurlburt Field, Florida.
NSW Officer Promotion. Navy Capt. Christopher A. Carter for appointment to the grade of rear admiral (lower half). Carter is currently serving as commander, Navy Reserve Naval Special Warfare Task Force Eighteen, San Diego, California.
SOF and Neurotechnology. Anna M. Gielas, PhD, writes on how rapid advancements in neurotechnology will present opportunities that could amplify the inherent strengths of Special Operations Forces. Tip of the Spear, Edge of the Mind: Neurotechnolgy’s Roles in the Future of Special Operations, Joint Special Operations University Press, May 28, 2025.
https://jsou.edu/Press/PublicationDashboard/277
SEALs and Cold War II. The Navy’s SEALs have been transitioning, like the rest of the military, to a force emphasizing competition with Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. This transition began a few years back. An intelligence officer assigned to a US Navy special warfare unit writes on how her unit conducted this transition. “The US Navy SEAL Teams Can Bring the Heat in the New Cold War, And I Saw the Spark”, by Jill Gentry, Small Wars Journal, June 9, 2025.
SECDEF on SOF Funding. During a hearing before the House Armed Services Committee, the Secretary of Defense, Pete Hegseth, says that the proposed defense budget for fiscal year 2026 has adequate funding for the special operations community. Although figures have not been released, it is understood that there will be an increase over last year. (Defense.gov, June 12, 2025)
Base Named for SF MoH Recipient. Fort Gordon will regain its former name, but in honor of Master Sgt. Gary L. Gordon. He was a Delta Force soldier awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions in Somalia in 1992 during the Battle of Mogadishu.
IWC Spotlight. The monthly newsletter for the Irregular Warfare Center (May 2025) has been published. Two pages, PDF. https://irregularwarfarecenter.org/news/newsletter/may-2025-newsletter/
International SOF
Israeli Commandos Strike From Inside Iran. Some news reports are saying that Israeli commandos and Mossad agents infiltrated Iran ahead of the air strikes to attack air defense systems and radars with drones. Read more in “Israeli Commandos Attacked Iranian Air Defenses With Drones From Inside the Country”, TWZ, June 13, 2025. and “How Mossad covertly prepared Israel’s attack from deep inside Iran”, The Washington Post, June 13, 2025. (subscription)
Cheap Drones, SOF, and Airpower. Israel’s recent attack against Iran shows how warfare is changing with the use of commandos, small drones, and airpower all combined to inflict a devastating blow on air defense system and radars. This allowed the Israeli Air Force to inflict attack Iran’s strategic and time sensitive targets. “Ungentlemanly Robots: Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the New Way of War”, by Benjamin Jensen, Commentary, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), June 13, 2025.
Decapitation and Strategic Surprise Using SOF. Doug Livermore, a U.S. Special Forces officer, provides an analysis of Israel’s recent operation where Mossad and commandos infiltrated Iran to conduct strikes against key targets that enabled the Israeli air attacks to successfully engage targets in Iran. “By fusing intelligence and special operations, Israel’s strikes on Iran are a lesson in strategic surprise”, Atlantic Council, June 14, 2025.
Belgian SFG. Established in April 2000, the SOF component of the and Component of the Armed Forces of Belgium stands as Belgium’s Tier 1 special operations group. It has participated in various theatres of operation over its history. This article provides info on its history, organization, equipment, and more. “The Belgian Special Forces Group (SFG)”, by Edwin Taylor, Grey Dynamics, June 11, 2025.
SOF History
On June 17, 1983, The Department of the Army authorized a Special Forces tab for wear by qualified soldiers. The tab bore the same colors as those used for Special Forces Shoulder Sleeve Insignia.
On June 19, 1942, the 1/75th was established in World War II.
On June 19, 1952, the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) was activated at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. https://www.specialforceshistory.info/groups/10sfga.html
Ukraine Conflict
Russian Casualties. There are many organizations attempting to track the number of casualties Russia has suffered since it invaded Ukraine a few years back. Some estimates say that it has had over 300,000 killed with a total of over one million casualties. Many open-source reports say that Russia suffers about 1,000 casualties a day while only gaining meters on the ground. Russia has seized less than 1 percent of Ukrainian territory since January 2024. In addition to the human cost, Russia’s military equipment inventory has been severely diminished. “Vladimir Putin has incurred one million casualties in his pointless war”, The Hill, June 12, 2025.
CRS Report – “Ukrainian Military Performance and Outlook”, IF12150, by Andrew S. Bowen, updated June 13, 2025. The Congressional Research Service (CRS) has updated a report that the military situation on the ground. Topics include manning of the UAF, equipment, U.S. and western security assistance, training, and current military outlook. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12150
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
Israeli Attack on Iran
Operation Rising Lion. Early on Friday, June 13, 2025, hundreds of Israeli jets attacked numerous targets in Iran. Among the targets were air defense systems, nuclear program facilities, senior military leaders, and leading scientists for Iran’s nuclear program. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has claimed that Iran was months away from having a nuclear weapon that could be used against Israel; thereby compelling his country to preemptively strike Iran. U.S. administration officials were reportedly briefed on the strike plans ahead of time. The commander of U.S. Central Command had days earlier cancelled an appearance before Congress due to rising tensions in previous days to the strike. Iran’s Quds Force, an elite part of the Revolutionary Guard, has been a high priority target for the Israelis.
Iran Responds. The Iranians answered hours later with more than 100 drones; however, Israel claims that they were all shot down. In time, Iran launched ballistic missiles from mobile missile launchers; they have more than 120 launchers so waves of about 100 missiles are being launched into Israel. Many of the missiles are landing in the Tel Aviv area. The air strikes, drone attacks, and missile launches ensued throughout most of the weekend. Some of the missiles were intercepted by Israel’s Iron Dome system while others hit military targets and civilian areas. By Sunday, the number of Iranian launched missiles in each wave had dwindled in number. Early on Monday morning the Israelis announced that they had air superiority over the skies of Iran. (AP News, June 16, 2025)
U.S. Helps in Defense. There are reports in the news media that the US is helping Israel shoot down some of the Iranian missiles with ground-based Patriot missile defense systems and one or more Navy destroyers in the eastern Mediterranean Sea. The U.S. has about 40,000 military personnel on bases around the Middle East, up from the normal complement of 30,000. (The Hill, 13 June 2025)
National Security and Commentary
Alcohol and Veterans. Many studies have pointed to the drinking habits of veterans and the negative effect on their health. Alcohol use will contribute to liver ailments, heart problems, and other health ills. It also has an effect on mental health; especially those with PTSD. “Alcohol Use Disorder Among U.S. Veterans”, Rand.org, June 10, 2025.
“Dark Eagle” – Army’s LRHW. The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon has a reported range of 1,725 miles. The LRHW provides the Army a strategic attack weapon system to suppress adversary long-range fires and other high payoff/time critical targets. The Army’s LRHW was designated as the Dark Eagle on April 24, 2025. The system has yet to achieve full operational capability. “The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW): Dark Eagle”, Congressional Research Service (CRS), IF11991, June 12, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF11991
M10 Booker Production to be Shut Down. The Army’s light tank program will soon come to a close. The modifications of the M10 Booker kept piling on, turning the light tank into a medium tank. “Dead on arrival: Army pulls plug on M10 Booker light tank”, Defense News, June 12, 2025.
China and Political Warfare. Eric Chan and Kerry Gershaneck provide a 22-page essay on how China uses political warfare in Chinese military operations. Of course, their primary target is Taiwan. Read “Political Warfare against Intervention Forces“, Journal of Indo-Pacific Affairs, Spring 2025.
U.S. Military Reserve Components. “The term reserve component (RC) refers collectively to the seven individual reserve components of the Armed Forces. Congress exercises authority over the reserve components under its constitutional authority “to raise and support Armies,” “to provide and maintain a Navy,” to “provide for calling forth the Militia to execute the Laws of the Union, suppress Insurrections and repel Invasions”, and “to provide for organizing, arming, and disciplining the Militia,” Read more in “Defense Primer: Reserve Forces”, Congressional Research Service (CRS), IF10540, June 13, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF10540
Information Operations
VoA Recalls Iranian Language Staff. Most of the staff of Voice of America, the federally funded news network, were put on administrative leave by the Trump administration in March. In a reversal, the staff working the “Iranian Desk” have been brought in off admin leave. Unfortunately, the Farsi language service has lost a lot of its Iranian audience since early spring. The VoA Farsi service provided news to a country where the news reports are severely censored. “Voice of America Recalls Staff for Iranian Language News Service From Leave”, The New York Times, June 13, 2025. (subscription)
Russia, AI, and Africa. Russian intelligence and Wagner Group assets are associated with a clandestine pro-Russian online operation that seeks to expand Moscow’s influence in Africa. The campaign is using grassroot activists and social media. The information operations (IO) is being conducted through the “African Initiative“. This organization publishes in five languages, including French and English. “Russia targeted French speakers in Africa with AI-generated posts”, Le Monde, June 13, 2025.
Africa
Al-Shabaab on Offensive. A strategic village, El Hareri (Google Maps), in central Somalia has been seized by the jihadist group. The insurgents have stepped up operations in Somalia prompting concern that the President is more concerned with politics than fighting Al-Shabaab. “Al-Shabaab Seizes Strategic Area Amid Fierce Clashes in Central Somalia”, Garowe Online, June 12, 2025.
RSF Drone Strikes. The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been targeted the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) with drone strikes since early May. Power stations and ammunition depots are among the targets being hit at Port Sudan – the current temporary capital of the government of Somalia. The drone strikes have caused disruption in civil aviation, damaged oil infrastructure, and more. Some reports say that MALE-class drones are being provided by the United Arab Emirates (UAE). These drones are referred to as medium altitude long endurance (30 hours 30,000 feet).
Russia Increases Military Presence in Africa. Moscow is delivering sophisticated weaponry to sub-Saharan conflict zones. Ships sailing out of the Baltic Sea are making nearly a one-month journey carrying howitzers, radio jamming equipment, tanks and other military supplies – evading international sanctions. Much of the equipment is destined for Russia’s Africa Corps, which has been replacing Russia’s mercenary Wagner Group. “Russia skirts Western sanctions to ramp up its military footprint in Africa”, AP News, June 10, 2025. https://apnews.com/article/russia-africa-weaponry-ships-mali-ukraine-f3383b5bbc8120b445d3df9062bf7f14
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Book Review – The Ethics of Special Ops. Ian North reviews a book entitled The Ethics of Special Ops: Raids, Recoveries, Reconnaissance, and Rebels, Cambridge University Press, 2023. Published by the Australian Army Research Centre, the review examines how the authors of the book present ethical concerns of how special operations are conducted by examining SOF missions and operations through time and around the world. The reviewer of the book concludes that “. . . this book is well researched, well written and hugely timely for Western militaries dealing with multiple instances of degraded ethical decision-making by SOF.”
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