Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: The graphic prepared by the Joint Staff above was presented during a Department of Defense briefing on Operation Midnight Hammer, the attack on Iranian nuclear facilities, that took place early on Sunday morning, June 22, 2025. Click here for a larger view of the above image.
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SOF News
New SEL for USSOCOM. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Andrew J. Krogman, currently assigned as the Command Senior Enlisted Leader for Joint Special Operations Command, Fort Bragg, North Carolina, has been selected to replace Army Command Sgt. Maj. Shane Shorter, as the command senior enlisted leader, U.S. Special Operations Command, MacDill Air Force Base, Florida.
Operation Eagle Claw. A plan to free American hostages in Iran ended in disaster on April 24, 1980. The tragedy led to an overhaul of U.S. special operations. “Operation Eagle Claw and the genesis of Joint Special Ops”, by Kyle Gunn, Task & Purpose, June 17, 2025.
Iran, SOF, and Nuclear Materials. Ground operations in Iran could be needed to secure dangerous nuclear materials and verify the program’s destruction, especially if the regime falls. Read more in “Loose Nukes in Iran is a Scenario U.S. Special Operators Have Been Training For”, The War Zone, June 18, 2025.
International SOF
Israel’s Eyes. The Combat Intelligence Collection Corps (CICC) of the Israel Defense Forces is a specialized ground forces corps tasked with frontline intelligence and surveillance. Their general mission is to prevent hostile activity and defend Israel’s borders by gathering real-time combat intelligence. “Combat Intelligence Collection Corps: Eyes of Israel’s Army”, Grey Dynamics, June 12, 2025.
Russia’s Africa Corps. The Wagner Group is being replaced over time by the Africa Corps. This new organization is under the direct control of the Russian Defense Ministry. This reduces the possibility of the Africa Corps of acting against Russia’s interests; but it also puts Russia on the hook for its activities in Africa. “The Wagner Group is Leaving Mali. But Russian Mercenaries Aren’t Going Anywhere”, RAND Corporation, June 12, 2025.
Norway’s Security Service. Norway’s Police Security Service (PST) was established in 1937, the intelligence agency is responsible for counterterrorism, counterespionage, investigating organized crime, and tracking political extremism. “PST: The Norwegian MI5”, by Daniel Blanco Paz, Grey Dynamics, June 18, 2025.
Mali’s SOF Command. An African country experiencing a decade of insurgent activity has created a Special Operations Command (COS). It will have a special operations battalion, a counterterrorism force, an airborne intervention unit, and a reconnaissance group. “Mali: The creation of the COS, a new era in the struggle for security and peace”, Sahel Liberty News, June 19, 2025.
Finnish SUPO. The Suojelupoliisi (SUPO), Finland’s Security and Intelligence Service, is the country’s primary national intelligence agency. With around 584 employees, it is tasked with protecting Finland and its citizens from terrorism, espionage, and other hybrid threats. “Suojelupoliisi (SUPO): Finnish Security and Intelligence Service”, Grey Dynamics, June 9, 2025.
SOF History
On June 24, 1957, the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was activated. On of its first missions was the deployment of training teams to South Vietnam. https://www.specialforceshistory.info/groups/1sfga.html
On July 25, 1957, the Australian 1st Special Air Service Company was established at Campbell Barracks in Perth. On September 4, 1964, it was reestablished as the Special Air Service Regiment (SASR) when the company became a regiment.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special_Air_Service_Regiment
27 June 27 – PTSD Awareness Day.
Israel – Iran Conflict
Operation Midnight Hammer. The attack on the Iranian nuclear facilities this past weekend was conducted by hundreds of U.S. Air Force fighters, tankers, and bombers. Naval forces also participated. Israeli aircraft attacked numerous air defense sites in Iran the preceding 48 hours.
B-2 “Spirt” Bombers and Tomahawk Cruise Missiles. Several B-2 “Spirit” bombers along with refueling tankers left the U.S. and began crossing the Pacific Ocean preceding the attack to stage in Guam. Much of the media followed their progress, but it was a deception effort known only to an extremely small number of planners and key leaders in Washington. However, the attack was conducted by B-2s leaving via the east coast and flying over the Atlantic to the target area. Six B2s hit one target (Fordow nuclear enrichment facility, The Hill, 19 June 2025) while a single B2 hit a second target. This was the first operation use of the GBU-57 Massive Ordnance Penetrator “bunker buster” bomb.
Cruise Missiles. Naval Tomahawk cruise missiles launched by submarine attacked the second and third targets – with 30 missiles launched by submarines. The sub was operating in CENTCOM’s area of responsibility. The missiles along with the MOPs totaled approximately 75 precision-guided weapons used in the attack.
Israel’s Campaign Aims. The objective of Israel’s campaign is to prevent Iran from getting a nuclear weapon and to alter Iran’s behavior in the Middle East. Zohar Palti, a former head of the Mossad intelligence directorate, and others provide their views on the current conflict. With the recent U.S. attack on three nuclear sites in Iran, the hope is that Iran will now come to the negotiation table to resolve the issue of Iran producing a nuclear weapon. “From Diplomacy to Military Force: The Future of Iran’s Nuclear Program”, The Washington Institute for Near East Policy”, June 17, 2025.
Commandos and Drones. The Israeli Operation Rising Lion was an example of how commandos can infiltrate cheap drones into a conflict area, knock out radar and air defense systems, and then allow airpower to come it and hit high-payoff and time sensitive targets. “Ungentlemanly Robots: Israel’s Operation Rising Lion and the New Way of War”, Commentary, Center for Strategic and International Studies (CSIS), June 13, 2025.
Ukraine Conflict
Not noticed in the media that last few days due to all eyes on the Middle East is the relentless attack on Ukrainian civilian targets by Russian drones. The numbers of drones attacking each day and night has increased due to the drone manufacturing capability of the Russians. While the Russians are having success in attacking civilian targets in Ukrainian cities their progress on the ground is very slow resulting in numerous casualties each day. However, the Russians have been able to increase their combat power at the front over time, and they continue to grind away at the Ukrainian defenses.
An Analysis of Operation Spider’s Web – with Some History. Ben Connable provides a history lesson that reveals that the use of drones is not a new concept, and that unconventional or irregular warfare has been around for a while. The recent Ukrainian operation where commandos infiltrated deep into Russia to destroy as many as 40 Russian aircraft has been cited by many analysts as a revolutionary tactic. But Connable cautions us on this idea. Read his thoughts in “Putting Operation Spider’s Web in Context”, Irregular Warfare Initiative, June 20, 2025.
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
UAE Drones in Sudan? The Rapid Support Forces (RSF) have been targeting the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) in the Port Sudan area with drone strikes since early May. Power stations, ammunition depots, oil infrastructure are targeted. 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). The UAE has several variants of drones to include the MQ-9 provided by the United States. The Chinese Wing Loog-II has been used in Africa by UAE as well.
Commentary
IW on the Sea Floor. Andrew Rolander is an Irregular Warfare and Strategic Competition analyst supporting the US Department of Defense. He has penned an essay that stresses the importance of the vast array of undersea communications networks and the strategic vulnerability that they present. Over 95% of international data transverse through these submerged pathways. “Irregular Warfare on the Sea Floor and the Case for Naitonal Resilience”, Small Wars Journal, May 30, 2025.
Cheap Drones and U.S. Defense. Jack Barry, a former special operations Blackhawk pilot, explains why the United States must harden its energy infrastructure and protect valuable military targets from inexpensive drones that could be employed in the U.S. homeland. “Cheap Drones Are America’s Open Door to Disaster”, Special Operations Association of America, June 19, 2025.
US Vet Aid Groups in Conflict Zones? Crossing the Line? Retired military officers are now delivering humanitarian aid using private contracting firms. These firms are delivering aid to some of the world’s crisis areas that are also zones of conflict. The international aid community is speaking out – saying it is a dangerous path to follow. But the American contractors – some currently working is Gaza and South Sudan – say that they are putting their security, logistics, and intelligence skills to work in relief operations. Read more in “Firms led by US military veterans deliver aid in Africa and Gaza, alarming humanitarian groups”, AP News, June 18, 2025. See also “Fogbow operations in South Sudan and beyond raise red flags for faltering aid system”, The New Humanitarian, June 16, 2025.
Gray Zone. Some security analysts believe we are now in a “hybrid Cold War” – a persistent state of competition that blends conventional capabilities with irregular tactics, cyber, and information warfare. Read more in “Quantifying the Gray Zone: A Framework for Measuring Hybrid Warfare Power Balances”, Small Wars Journal, June 17, 2025.
National Security
Greenland and NORTHCOM. The Danish territory known as Greenland has been in the news over the past few months. The Pentagon is redrawing the alignment of where Greenland is placed under combatant commands. It is being moved from EUCOM to NORTHCOM. “Pentagon shifts Greenland to US Northern Command in shakeup”, Defense News, June 17, 2025.
“African Initiative”. Russian intelligence 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) campaign 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.
“Golden Dome”. Israel’s “Iron Dome” is getting a lot of press over the past month. So is a proposed next-generation missile defense shield that the Trump administration is proposing. The shield would defend against nuclear and conventional attacks. There are some potential strategic stability considerations, feasibility questions, and budgeting concerns. Read more in “Golden Dome: Potential Strategic Stability Considerations for Congress”, Congressional Research Service (CRS), 20 June 2025.
Old Salt Coffee is a corporate sponsor of SOF News. 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
Abandoning Our Allies. Thousands of Afghans who risked their lives helping the United States in Afghanistan over the past two decades are now at risk. With the fall of Kabul to the Taliban in August 2021 Afghans who served as interpreters and in other positions supporting the U.S. fled to the United States. Last month, the Department of Homeland Security ended the Temporary Protected Status for some 10,000 Afghans who made their way to the U.S. after being flown on U.S. military planes from Kabul to U.S. military destinations in the Middle East and Europe. The Afghans were processed at those ‘Lily Pads’ and later on U.S. military bases in the U.S. Many U.S. veterans of the Afghan war are deeply disappointed in the determination of the DHS. Read more in “Abandoning our Afghan allies is a moral and strategic mistake”, by Luke Coffey, The Hill, June 18, 2025.
Afghanistan War Commission Public Hearing. The AWC’s next public hearing will be held on Monday, June 23, 2025, in the U.S. Senate building. The focus of the AWC’s third hearing will be key decisions surrounding the 2009-2012 surge in U.S. military and civilian personnel deployed to Afghanistan by President Barack Obama. Expert witnesses who served in senior military, intelligence, diplomatic, and policy roles during the administration of President Obama, as well as Afghan officials who served during the administration of President Hamid Karzai, will testify. The hearing is open to the public and will be broadcast live. (link to info and YouTube broadcast)
Africa
Russian Military Equipment for Africa. Cargo ships leaving the Baltic Sea are making a month-long journey to seaports along Africa’s western shore. Once there, loads of military equipment are off-loaded onto trucks and transported to countries where Russia’s Africa Corps has a presence. In locations where the Russian mercenary Wagner Group still exists, there is transition from Wagner Group to the Russian Africa Corps. The shipped military equipment includes radio jamming, armored vehicles, and other military supplies. “Russia skirts Western sanctions to ramp up its military footprint in Africa”, AP News, June 10, 2025.
Africa Corps Replaces Wagner Group. After several years of assisting the government of Mali in the fight against Jihadist the Russian mercenary group is departing the country. The Russian presence is not going away. The Russian state-controlled paramilitary group called “Africa Corps” is replacing the Wagner Group fighters. As the western presence in Mali has diminished, Russia has stepped into the void. “Wagner Group leaving Mali after heavy losses but Russia’s Africa Corps to remain”, AP News, June 6, 2025.
Al-Shabaab Offensive in Somalia. 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.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Book: The Hand Behind Unmanned: Origins of the US Autonomous Arsenal. A new book published by Oxford University Press (2025) investigates the dominance of today’s unmanned weapons. Wars in the Middle East and Ukraine show the ‘unmanned revolution’ in stark relief. Read more about what the book is all about in “Subverted By Drones”, Hoover Institute, June 20, 2025.
https://www.hoover.org/research/subverted-drones
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