Curated news, analysis, and commentary about special operations, national security, and conflicts around the world.
Photo / Image: U.S. Air Force CV-22 Ospreys assigned to the 353rd Special Operations Wing Operations Wing in transit to Clark Air Base, on July 26, 2025. (U.S. Air Force photo by Staff Sgt. Cedrique Oldaker)
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SOF News (and a little bit of intel)
SOF Week 2025 Event Report. USSOCOM and the Global SOF Foundation co-sponsored the annual convention for the SOF community in May 2025. The event showcased technology and capabilties that are essential to SOF warfighter success, brought together members of the international SOF enterprise, and provided the opportunity for professional development and relationship building. GSOF has published its SOF Week 2025 Event Report to summarizes the events and accomplishments of SOF Week 2025. August 2025, PDF, 8 pages.
SOF and Matrix Operations. The use of artificial intelligence (AI) in military operations will result in the ability to conduct simultaneous optimization across all domains and functions instead of the traditional approach of sequential coordination. Special operations forces will also need to employ AI in its advisory framework of Train, Advise, Assist, and Enable. “AI Beyond the OODA Loop: Matrix Operations and the Future of Specil Operations”, by Duc Duclos, Small Wars Journal, August 1, 2025.
Spies and “Moscow Rules”. A playbook for Cold War spying was developed in the decades before the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991. The “Moscow Rules” was intended to keep spies and agents safe during the Cold War when Moscow surveillance was a smothering embrace of hostile scrutiny. “Moscow Rules: A Crash Course in Espionage for Fledgling Spies”, Spyscape, August 2025.
3rd SFG(A) in Botswana. Soldiers from the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) and the Botswana Defence Force (BDF) Special Forces Regiment (SFR) trained together during a Joint Combined Exchange Training (JCET) at Thebephatshwa Air Base, Botswana, in June, 2025. The JCET’s intent was to strengthen BDF’s operational expertise and capacity to quickly respond to crises.
Protecting UK Special Forces. Morale in UK SF is sagging at a time that they are being scrutinized for their actions on dangerous deployments in Northern Ireland, Iraq, and Afghanistan. “When it comes to our Special Forces, we should take a leaf out of America’s book”, Forces News, August 4, 2025.
Senior CIA Official’s London Tour Cancelled. Tom Sylvester, considered to be one of the Central Intelligence Agency’s best career spies, has been retired out of the CIA. He was enroute to become the station chief in London when his posting was cancelled. The London position is considered the agency’s most prestigious overseas posting. Some former CIA employees are calling this a political move that is now common place at the agency for the past six months – and harmful for U.S. national security. Read more here from CODEWORD, August 3, 2025. See also “Veteran C.I.A. Official to Retire After Losing Out on London Job”, The New York Times, July 28, 2025.
SEAL and SWCC Training. The training for Navy SEALs and Special Warfare Combatant-Craft Crewmen are highly selective and physically challenging. However they differ in their tactical mission and training focus. “How Navy SEAL and SWCC Training is Alike and Different”, Military.com, July 28, 2025.
Operator Syndrome. Special operations forces service members engage in training and operations that test the limits of human potential. They have a unique capacity to endure challenges, compartmentalize pain, and accomplish the mission. However, there is a cost – injuries and health challenges that are frequently associated with “allostatic load”, PTS, and/or TBI. This array of health challenges and injuries is also known as “Operator Syndrome”. Read more in “Quick Reads on Allostatic Load (aka Operator Syndrome)”, Military Special Operations Family Collaborative (MSOFC), July 11, 2025.
SOCOM Cdr Nomination Confirmed. A Navy SEAL will get his fourth star and take command of the United States Special Operations Command. Apparently the road to SOCOM command is through JSOC! “SOCOM getting new commander after Frank Bradley earns Senate confirmation”, Defense Scoop, August 1, 2025.
Spy Movie Props. In 1977, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME was released in the United States. Underwater scenes of James Bond’s Lotus Esprit submarine were filmed using a custom-built wet sub piloted by a former U.S. Navy SEAL. After filming was complete, the sub was placed in a storage unit where it eventually was forgotten. It was rediscovered when the contents of the unit were bought for $100 at an auction. The sub is now owned by Elon Musk. (U.S. Naval Institute)
https://x.com/NavalInstitute/status/1952138652932354161
353rd SOW Supports Relief Efforts. Within six hours of notification, Airmen from the 353rd Special Operations Wing shifted from training operations in northern Japan to deployment for crisis response operations in the Philippines. While participating in Resolute Force Pacific 2025 in Misawa, Japan, the 353rd SOW received orders to conduct life-saving efforts in response to severe flooding across Northern Luzon. “Airmen rapidly deploy to support Philippine disaster relief efforts”, DVIDS, August 1, 2025.
Exercise Tiger Shark. US Navy SEALs trained alongside Bangladesh Navy Special Warfare Diving and Salvage (SWADS) and the Bangladesh Army’s Para-Commando Brigade (PCB) in a recent exercise in Bangladesh. The three-week long exercise conducted training in combat medicine, water rescue, patrolling tactics, close quarters combat, and marksmanship.
SOF History
- On August 6, 1756, General Howe authorized Robert Rogers to raise a battalion of Rangers for service with the British Army.
- On August 2, 1962, Co D, 7th Special Forces Group (A) departed Fort Bragg for Panama.
- In 1966, the United States Air Force was tasked with providing the military forces of Laos with covert air support through a series of clandestine operations in conjuction with the CIA. This was known as Project 404 and would eventually lead to the formation Raven Forward Air Controllers. Read more in “Project 404: The USAF and CIA’s Secret War in Laos”, by Alec Smith, Grey Dynamics, August 3, 2025.
- On August 2, 1990, Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein invaded Kuwait. President Bush ordered the U.S. military to begin Operation Desert Shield on August 7, 1990. In January 1991, Operation Desert Storm was launched – the liberation of Kuwait and invasion of southern Iraq.
- “Navy SEALs and the 1990 Gulf War”, by Tom Hawkins, Navy SEAL Museum
https://www.navysealmuseum.org/outside-the-wire/article-8 - August 6, 2011. A U.S. Chinook helicopter, call sign Extortion 17, was shot down by the Taliban resulting in 38 deaths (30 Americans and 8 Afghans). There were no survivors. Of the U.S. fatalities were Navy SEALs who were part of the Naval Special Warfare Development Group (DEVGRU). Five U.S. Army helicopter crewmen perished a;pmg with one U.S. military working dog.
National Security and Info Ops
USAR Aviation Units Cut. The Department of the Army is set to eliminate all of the Army Reserves helicopter units by the end of the summer. It is part of a broader push to moderize the force in the direction of drones, artificial intelligence, and other emerging technologies. “The Army Reserve Is Gutting Aviation Units. Thousands of Soldiers Are Being Left in the Lurch”, Military.com, July 31, 2025.
Raunchy U.S. Military Aircraft Call Signs. If you check out flightrader24 on a consistent basis you will find every once in a while some U.S. military aircraft depicted with some ‘off color’ call signs. “Here’s why raunchy military call signs keep showing up on flight trackers”, Task & Purpose, January 10, 2023.
Role of Strategic Communication in Wartime. More and more technology, transparency, and disinformation is influencing conflict dynamics and global perceptions. The 2025 India-Pakistan skirmish and Ukraine’s Operation Spiderweb highlight the critical role of narratives in modern conflicts where drones, social media, and OSINT are instrumential in shaping outcomes. “Narratives Under Fire: Information Warfare Lessons from India-Pakistan and Ukraine-Russia”, by TanMengKit, Small Wars Journal, July 31, 2025.
Lessons From Ukraine. An American special ops training in Ukraine says that the U.S. needs to put the Middle East and Central Asian wars in the rear view mirror and concentrate on conventional war and air superiority. (Business Insider, August 1, 2025)
Golden Dome References. Want to know more about the U.S. homeland missile defense architecture? The proposed plan to defend against ballistic, cruise missiles, and other next-generation aerial attacks has been described as the Golden Dome concept. The Congressional Research Center (CRS) has compiled a list of references and publications on the topis of Golden Dome, air and missile defense, related defense agencies, and threat assessments. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/R48584
Pentagon Feuds. Laura Segilman, a national security reporter at the WSJ, writes that the Defense Secretary has made a series of missteps and has feuded with top generals. This has raised concerns among some Republicans on Capitol Hill about his ability to run the department. “Hegseth’s Latest Battle: Infighting Inside the Pentagon”, The Wall Street Journal, August 2, 2025. (subscription)
AI to Track Social Media. An artificial intelligence system is being developed to monitor and analyze Russian-affiliated social media platforms. Called ODCR Assistant, this Ukrainian program will automate open-source data collection and will filter relevant information for further analysis. “Ukraine Develops AI to Track Russian Troops Through Social Media”, by Ivan khomenko, United24 Media, July 31, 2025.
Strategic Competition
Competition in the Arctic. Vast resources are available for exploitation in the Arctic region. Currently there is a behind-the-scenes power struggle for dominance in the far north between superpower nations. However, the U.S. is on the losing end of this fight for resources. “The Arctic Great Game: and Why America Risks Losing It”, by Heather A. Conley, Foreign Affairs, June 24, 2025.
A Militarized Arctic. Russia is rapidly militarizing the Arctic region – along with China. The two nations are exploiting NATO weaknesses and are setting the stage for the Arctic to be a future site of international competition. Russia has three dozen icebreakers, the U.S. has two; that should be an indicator. Climate change is opening up the Arctic region to rare earth minerals, energy reserves, and new shipping routes for maritime traffic. There are worries amongst the Nordic countries that once the Ukraine war winds down Russia will pick up its military activities in the Far North. “Why are Russia and China Militarizing the Arctic?”, by David Kirichenko, National Interest, July 29, 2025.
Russia and the Baltic States. Eric Shiraev and Holger Molder explain the situation facing Lithuania, Latvia, and Estonia in light of Russia’s aggressive foreign policy for more than two decades. The authors of this article advocate for a new approach on forecasting what Vladimir Putin intends to do with the Baltic states. “Decoding Vladimir Putin’s Baltic Strategy”, National Interest, July 30, 2025.
China and Beyond the “Second Island Chain”. Oceania spans more than 3,000 square miles and has some of the world’s most important sea lanes. The region plays an important role in Indo-Pacific security and will be a key geographic area in the event of a military confrontation with China. While small and remote, these small islands have great strategic value. China is paying attention to this important area; it is time for the U.S. to notice and respond. “Beyond the second island chain: It’s time to mitigate strategic risk in oceania”, by George Fust, Modern War Institute at West Point, August 1, 2025.
Lithuania’s History – a Russian Revision. The Kremlin appears to be recasting the Soviet occupation of the Baltic states 85 years ago as a benign political development. Russia released a new publication earlier this year titled The History of Lithuania that delegitimizes Lithuania’s statehood that dates back centuries. This propaganda piece by Russian “historians” promotes the narrative that Lithuania is oppressing its Russian-speaking minority and promoting anti-Russian and fascist ideologies. This is a tactic Russia used to justify the invasion of Ukraine. “Lithuania Is in Russia’s Crosshairs”, by Agnia Grigas, National Interest, July 31, 2025.
Report – The Axis of Upheaval. A report by the Center for a New American Security (CNAS) provides an analysis of the growing military cooperation among Russia, China, Iran, and North Korea. July 2025, PDF, 35 pages. https://s3.us-east-1.amazonaws.com/files.cnas.org/documents/axisofupheaval-july2025-final.pdf
Europe and Asia
The U.S. – South Korea Alliance. The United States maintains a significant military presence in South Korea. This partnership ensures a South Korea is defended against North Korean aggression; but it also enables both nations to project influence and uphold a free and open Asia-Indo-Pacific. The alliance serves as a counter to the actions of China that are supported by North Korea and Russia. “Why the U.S. must sustain forward stationed forces in Korea”, by David Maxwell, United Press International, August 1, 2025.
Great Game 2.0. The term the “Great Game” referred to the contest between Russia and Britain in the nineteenth century over influence in Central Asia. Now, Central Asia and the Caucasus is being contested but with different players. Russia is still in the game but so is China and Turkey. “Central Asia: The Great Game 2.0”, National Interest, July 30, 2025.
Armenia – Azerbaijan Peace Deal? Two countries seemingly at odds with each other for a few decades may soon sign a peace agreement. Both are former Soviet Union republics that broke away from Russia’s grasp in the early 1990s.
Bessarabia in Eastern European Geopolitics. Alexandra Gizhitas describes the enduring strategic importance of a historically contested region at the crossroads of Eastern Europe. She traces the history of the region from 19th-century wars through Soviet annexation and into modern Russian strategic planning. “Shadow States and Shattered Frontiers: Strategic Relevance of Bessarabia in Eastern European Geopolitics”, Small Wars Journal, August 1, 2025.
Africa
U.S. Strikes in Somalia. Over 50 airstrikes have been conducted by the U.S. in the past year against al-Shabaab and ISIS-Somalia targets. This is the most airstrikes conducted in the country in years and may very well outpace the 63 strikes conducted in 2019. Most of the strikes have been against ISIS targets. “Somalia sees sharp rise in US strikes against ISIS and al-Shabab”, Stars and Stripes, July 28, 2025.
History of Eastern Congo. A recent peace agreement has settled things down in the eastern portion of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC); however this region has long been a troubled area of the DRC. It has been subjected to centuries of international intervention by European powers, as well as its African neighbors. This article provides a timeline that traces the role of the outside forces since the end of the colonial era (beginning in 1960). “Eastern Congo: A Legacy of Intervention”, Council on Foreign Relations, August 2025.
Sudan – Role of Gulf States. The United Arab Emirates and other Arabian Gulf states are actively supporting factions in the Sudan civil war. At stake are the natural resources the country can provide once peace is restored. These Gulf states import almost 80% of the food they consume and Sudan’s livestock and agriculture sectors are an important economic consideration for the future. The UAE supports the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) while other Gulf states support the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). Read more in “The falcons and the secretary bird: Arab Gulf states in Sudan’s war”, by Jonas Horner, European Council of Foreign Relations (ECFR), July 30, 2025.
Books and Videos
Video – Inside the elite UK commando task force training to support NATO, ITV News, YouTube, 3 mins, August 1, 2025. Info on the Special Operations Maritime Task Group. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dmK4uf7YhgI
Video – VOA Signing Off. The Washington, D.C. branch of Voice of America is signing off.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1qBF9dMDF7_TxtTAzYgFMug1HIxsID-j1/view
Video – Emerald Warrior 25.2: Free Fall Insertion and FARP Operation. U.S. Air Force Air Commandos assigned to Air Force Special Operations Command conduct a military free fall insertion and forward arming and refueling point operations in California as part of Emerald Warrior 25.2, July 28, 2025. Supported by U.S. Special Operations Command, Emerald Warrior is a joint, combined special operations exercise. DVIDS, July 29, 2025, 3 mins.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/972386/emerald-warrior-252-free-fall-insertion-and-farp-operation
New Book – Vigilance is Not Enough: A History of United States Intelligence. Mark M. Lowenthal has wrote a book about the development of U.S. intelligence over time. Published May, 2025. Available at Amazon.com.
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