Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.
Photo / Image: East-coast-based U.S. Naval Special Warfare Operators (SEALs) perform a high-altitude low-opening jump during bilateral training with Croatian special forces, June 9, 2023. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 2nd Class Katie Cox)
Executive Summary
This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. Iran submits another peace deal, Trump decides to move troops out of Germany, Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine resigns, stalemate in Ukraine, K2 health concerns, and more. U.S. may begin to protect vessels in Strait of Hormuz.
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Key Outlooks
- Iran Introduces a new Phased Proposal
- Trump pulling troops from Germany?
- Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Resigns
- Pentagon Brief to Senate on FY 2027 Budget
- DoD is Advancing AI Integration
- History and Future of the Kurds
- Russia Suffered Net Loss of Territory in April 2026
- May 12th – Senate Hearing on SOF
SOF News
CENTAM Guardian 2026. Green Berets of the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) participated in an exercise in Ilopango, El Salvador in April 2026. CG 26 is an annual, multinational exercise that brings together military and security personnel from El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Belize, the Dominican Republic, and the United States. The exercise provides an opportunity for ensuring seamless interoperability in times of crisis and contingency response as well as providing a training opportunity in responding to future regional security challenges.
SOCOM: Fewer Cropdusters, More Drones. United States Special Operations Command is scaling back its planned purchases for the OA-1K Skyraider II to just 53 aircraft. Originally, 75 were planned for procurement; then it was scaled back to 62. The command is also looking at enhancing the capabilities of the MQ-9 Reaper by using it as a mobile control center for a network of small drones that can find targets or create communications pathways for special operators deep in the battlespace. “SOCOM Cuts Back on Skyraider, Wants 100 Small Drones to Pair with MQ-9s”, Air and Space Forces Magazine, April 27, 2026.
May 12 – Senate Hearing on SOF. The Senate Armed Services Committee’s Subcommittee on Emerging Threats and Capabilities is scheduled on May 12, 2026, to examine the funding future of USSOCOM. “Senate Examines Special Operations Command’s Critical Capabilities”, Legis1, May 2, 2026.
SOCOM and Naval Modernization. The Advancing Naval Capabilities through Holistic Opportunities and Resources (ANCHOR) effort aims to use other transaction agreements to develop prototype solutions related to six focus areas: unmanned systems; counter-unmanned systems; command, control, communications, computer, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR); “scalable effects”; human performance; and human-machine teaming. “SOCOM highlights 6 focus areas for naval capabilities modernization”, DefenseScoop, April 27, 2026.
10th SFG(A) and Ridge Runner. Elements of the 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) recently participated in the Ridge Runner exercise held in West Virginia in April 2026. Ridge Runner is a joint multinational training exercise that provides realistic, scenario-based training to strengthen readiness, sharpen unconventional warfare skills and enhance the ability of participating forces to operate in complex environments.
Green Berets Sink Ship with Naval Drone. “Green Berets from 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) remotely launched and controlled unmanned surface vessels during Exercise Balikatan 2026, using them to deliver shaped charges against a target vessel off the western coast of Itbayat, Philippines, on April 24 — and the drone boats they operated bear a close visual resemblance to systems associated with the Magura family of naval drones.” “U.S. Special Forces sink a ship with Ukrainian-designed drone boats”, Defence-Blog.com, May 2, 2026.
Pentagon Brief to Senate on FY 2027 Budget. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine testified before the Senate Armed Services Committee on Thursday, April 30, 2026 on the DoD budget request for FY 2027. The video of the testimony can be watched here, the Hegseth statement here, and the Caine statement here. The hearing covered a broad range of operational and strategic issues on Operation Epic Fury.
Balikatan 2026. U.S. and Philippine special operations forces successfully conducted Maritime Strike-North, a combined maritime live-fire training event during Exercise Balikatan 2026 off the western coast of Itbayat, Philippines, April 24, 2026. “Balikatan 2026: U.S. , Philippine special operations forces execute Maritime Strike-North”, DVIDS, April 29, 2026.
SOF History
On May 5, 1941, the first successful SOE infiltration into France took place; George Begue set up a circuit and met follow-on agents.
On May 17, 1944, the Battle of Myitkyina began. In the spring of 1944 the Allies were on the offensive in the liberation of Burma. The 5307th Composite Unit, a reinforced U.S. Army regiment known as “Merrill’s Marauders”, had circled and began attacking Myitkyina. The Japanese defenders were caught completely by surprise. While GALAHAD’s 3d BN feinted toward the north, the 1st Bn seized the Irrawaddy ferry terminal at Pamati on the right, a Chinese regiment overran the airstrip and probed toward Myitkyina itself, but was repulsed.
On May 15, 1975, CH-53 aircrews from the 21st Special Operations Squadron played a critical role in the recovery effort for the SS Mayaguez, an American merchant ship seized by Cambodian forces. U.S. Marines were inserted onto Koh Tang island by the 21st SOS helicopters under heavy fire. Three helicopters were shot down during the assault. Seven 21st SOS Airmen were lost during the final combat action of the Vietnam War era.
National Security and Commentary
K2 Airbase and Veteran Health Concerns. During the early years of the U.S. involvement in the Afghanistan conflict an airbase in Uzbekistan was used as a launching pad for the initial thrust of Special Forces units into Afghanistan and then later as a trans-movement point for later troop movements. It was also a base for a Special Forces battalion that had deployed teams across northern Afghanistan in 2002 – 2003. Years later, it would emerge that significant health concerns existed at Karshi-Khanabad. The Russians had once used this airbase for the storage of chemical weapons and hazardous materials. The history of how this affected U.S. veterans is described in “K2 Veterans Experiencing High Cancer Rate – VA Nonrespondent” and “K2 Vets, Cancer, and the VA”.
A years long lawsuit is part of a larger commitment to advocate on behalf of veterans. The Connecticut Veterans Legal Center and Stronghold Freedom Foundation (SFF) is part of this lawsuit. Working on behalf of these two organizations is the Yale Law School Veterans Legal Services Clinic (VLSC) which is seeking the disclosure of records documenting toxic conditions at the K2 airbase in Uzbekistan. “Clinic Case Seeking Records on Toxic Conditions at K2 Airbase Progresses”, Yale Law School, April 22, 2026.
DoD Testimony Before House. Both Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth and chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Air Force General Dan Caine testified before the House Armed Services Committee in Washington on Wednesday, April 29, 2026. They defended DoD’s $1.5 trillion fiscal year 2027 budget request. The budget includes a pay increase for service members. There will be a 5%, 6%, or 7% increase for military personnel depending on rank. Living conditions for military personnel will be improved, lethality of the force increased, and investments made in the defense industrial base. “Hegseth, Caine Say Budget Increases Lethality, Strengthens Defense Industrial Base”, Department of Defense, April 29, 2026.
Trump Pulling Troops from Germany? The same day (Wednesday, April 29, 2026) that President Trump talked to Putin he announced on Truth Social he is considering pulling U.S. troops out of Germany. This is the aftermath of a public clash with Chancellor Merz over Iran. About 35,000 U.S. troops are currently stationed in Germany. His initial statement said that it would be 5,000 troops; then later he indicated it would be much more. The air bases in Germany are an important part of the U.S. strategic defense plan that allows it to support operations in the Middle East, Africa, and beyond.
Iran War and Operation Epic Fury
Iran’s Latest Ceasefire Proposal. The latest details of Iran’s new 14-point proposal came out on Sunday and consists of three phases: (source Al Jazeera, citing a proposal delivered by Pakistan)
- Phase I. Convert the ceasefire into a full end to war. Iran reopens the Strait of Hormuz and clear the maritime mines with U.S. assistance. U.S. lifts blockade of Iranian ports. Reparations demand is reworded. An end to major force concentrations in the region.
- Phase II. Restricted uranium enrichment for 15 years. Resume after that with enrichment to 3.6% but no stockpiling of enriched uranium. Iran does not dismantle nuclear infrastructure or destroy facilities. Current enriched uranium transferred to other countries or diluted to civilian levels. Sanctions lifted.
- Phase III. Iran enters into strategic dialogue with regional states to build a region-wide security framework.
‘Project Freedom’. The United States will begin to protect neutral vessels through the Strait of Hormuz beginning Monday, May 4. The U.S. Navy will clear for mines and may possibly escort vessels. The U.S. is calling this a ‘humanitarian operation’. The U.S. says any attack on U.S. Navy ships will be a violation of the ceasefire. CENTCOM announced that the use of Burke-class destroyers, over 100 land and sea-based aircraft, and 15,000 personnel will be involved in ‘Project Freedom’. This initiative was earlier called the ‘Maritime Freedom Construct’. It will tell U.S.-flagged and other (neutral) vessels the safe lanes to navigate the Strait (no mines).
Sea Routes Redrawn. The ‘double blockade’ on the Strait of Hormuz as well as the Iran-backed Houthi threat along the Red Sea has reshaped maritime trade routes. Africa has become a hub of global container ship traffic. The Saudi port of Jeddah on the Red Sea has become a new regional hub where ships arrive via the Suez Canal. Cargo then leaves by truck to travel along desert highways to deliver goods to Bahrain, Kuwait, and other Gulf nations. A significant increase in maritime traffic is rounding the Cape of Good Hope in southern South Africa. “Iran War Redraws Sea Routes With Africa as the Pivot”, Barron’s, April 30, 2026.
Photo: A U.S Army Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW). (Spc. Chandler Coats, U.S. Army)
CRS Report – The U.S. Army’s Long-Range Hypersonic Weapon (LRHW): Dark Eagle. Over the past week the U.S. Central Commander requested the still under development U.S. Army Dark Eagle LRHW Missile. Iran has moved some of its missile launchers beyond the 300-mile range of most U.S. Army missile launchers. The Dark Eagle can reach out a lot further.
Tanker Attacked. Another tanker has been attacked in the Strait of Hormuz on May 3. The vessel was reportedly hit by multiple projectiles. All crew are safe.
Avoiding the Knife Fight – Defeating Iran’s Strait Strategy. “Mine warfare and small-boat swarms remain hard problems. Degrading Iran is not the same as securing Hormuz. The United States can win the campaign and still face tactical friction that delays commerce, raises insurance costs, and strains coalition patience.” Read “Avoiding the Knife Fight: Defeating Iran’s Strait Strategy”, Begin-Sadat Center for Strategic Studies, May 3, 2026.
- References for Epic Fury:
- Past SOF News posts on Epic Fury, Epic Fury Timeline, Iran Country Profile, Strait of Hormuz, Kharq Island, maps, ISW interactive map, OEFU Casualties, and CRS reports.
Ukraine Conflict
Acting U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Resigns. Julie Davis, the acting U.S. Ambassador in Kyiv, is leaving the State Department in June. According to some news reports she was growing frustrated with Trump’s dwindling support for Ukraine. She is retiring after a 30-year tenure as a career foreign service officer. Davis’s resignation follows that of her predecessor, Bridget Brink, who resigned for similar reasons early last year.
The People’s VPK of Russia. When the Ukraine war kicked off, Russia was surprised at the resistance offered by Ukraine. It had not planned for long-term sustainment of its forces and the need to mobilize more troops for the war effort. Along with the prolonged war and mobilization, Russian soldiers at the front ran into shortages of equipment. This included a wide range of items to include sleeping bags, radios, phones, small vehicles, and more. Russian volunteer organizations stepped into the void, raised money, bought supplies, and developed drone technology – all of which found their way to the front. The informal assistance efforts and bottom-up innovation was known as the People’s VPK. Samuel Bendett and Michael Kofman describe in great detail this volunteer effort. “The Strange Rise and Fall of Russia’s Crowd Sourced Defense Industry”, War on the Rocks, April 28, 2026.
Russian Military Strategy – At an Impasse. Russia’s battlefield strategy in Ukraine has plateaued and it cannot expect any significant progress on the in in frontline in 2026. Mykola Bielieskov explains in “The plateauing of Russia’s military strategy in Ukraine”, Epik.eu, April 28, 2026.
Net Monthly Loss for Russia. Russian forces in April 2026 suffered a net loss of territory controlled in the Ukrainian theater for the first time since Ukraine’s August 2024 incursion into Kursk Oblast. Read a full update from the Institute for the Study of War.
https://understandingwar.org/research/russia-ukraine/russian-offensive-campaign-assessment-may-3-2026/
$400 Million Released. After holding onto funds for months, the U.S. has finally (after public pressure) released millions of military aid to Ukraine. The $900 billion National Defense Authorization Act passed by Congress for fiscal 2026 authorized $400 million for Ukraine in 2026 and another $400 million in 2027 as part of the Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Apparently, one of the obstacles in sending the funds was Undersecretary Elbridge Colby. Perhaps DoD’s change of heart in deciding to release the funds had a little to do with Senator Mitch McConnell’s OPED in The Washington Post (April 28, 2026) entitled “Why is the Pentagon holding up Ukraine funds?”. (subscription)
33,000 Russian Drones Shot Down in March. Ukraine used interceptor systems to shoot down Russian drones of various types in March, a record monthly figure since Moscow launched its all-out invasion more than four years ago. Russia’s larger army has been held back by Ukraine’s cutting-edge and battle-tested drone technology. Ukraine has sunk a lot of effort in developing and deploying interceptor drones to stop Russian air attacks. “Ukraine says it shot down 33,000 Russian drones in March, a monthly record”, AP News, April 28, 2026.
May Day Parade. The annual parade in Moscow that usually features a lot of new military hardware will be missing the usual assortment of weapons. Russia has decided to scale back the celebration. There is some speculation for the reasons; could be they want to eliminate any potential military targets for Ukrainian drones.
- References:
- Weapons of Ukraine, Study of War Daily Report, Euromaiden Press Daily Report, Ukraine NGO Coordination Network (UNCN).
- Maps: Russia’s Invasion of Ukraine by the Institute for the Study of War and Critical Threats, Ukraine Maps by National Security Info, War in Ukraine by Scribble Maps.
Intel, IO, Cyber, AI, IW, Technology
Russian Disinformation in Africa. Russia’s well-funded effort to promote anti-Western narratives in Africa has set back U.S. and European efforts to advance democracy and confront rising jihadist movements. Several African nations have discontinued the presence of Western military forces in favor of Russian paramilitary groups such as the Wagner Group and now the Africa Corps. One example of the Russian disinformation effort is the African Initiative which is characterized as a covert information manipulation operation. During this same period the United States has cut back on its ‘soft power’ – USAID and Voice of America are prime examples. Read more in “Fighting the Tide: Russian Disinformation in Africa”, Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), April 27, 2026.
DoD and Classified Networks AI Agreements. “The War Department has entered into agreements with seven of the world’s leading frontier artificial intelligence companies, SpaceX, OpenAI, Google, NVIDIA, Reflection, Microsoft, and Amazon Web Services to deploy their advanced AI capabilities on the Department’s classified networks for lawful operational use. These agreements accelerate the transformation toward establishing the United States military as an AI-first fighting force and will strengthen our warfighters’ ability to maintain decision superiority across all domains of warfare.” “Classified Networks AI Agreements”, U.S. Department of Defense, May 1, 2026.
Mythos AI – A Generational Risk. Artificial intelligence (AI) is already accelerating life-changing breakthroughs, but it also poses generational risks. A transformation of similar magnitude to the Second Industrial Revolution is taking place. There will be a contest among nations for computational power, data dominance, and algorithmic superiority. Nations that lead in AI will grow faster, govern differently, fight differently, and project more influence. “Mythos, not the Iran war, is the most significant geopolitical warning of our time”, by Frederick Kempe, Atlantic Council, April 30, 2026.
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.
Around the World
Russian PMCs: Security Threat to Hosts. The realignment of several African nations from Western military assistance in confronting jihadist movements to Russian private military corporations has not gone well. These PMCs will very likely impede African progress toward economic prosperity. Wagner Group influence operations have been successful in spreading anti-Western narratives; which are making Western-friendly policy shifts and economic assistance less likely. Read Weilong (David) Kong’s article in “Russian Private Military Companies May Become a Security Threat to their Hosts in Africa”, Irregular Warfare Center, April 27, 2026.
Disengagement and Re-engagement in Mali. James Paterson, Ph.D., a research associate at the Lowy Institute, writes on the current situation in Mali where jihadists and separatists joined together in a comprehensive attack on Mali security and government locations around the country on April 25-26, 2026. He examines the history of the Western security-centric approach over the past two decades and notes that re-engagement, if it should occur, should have a different look. One that treats the causes of jihadist movements rather than the symptoms. “Western Withdrawal, Jihadist Expansion: How the Sahel Became Ground Zero for Global Terrorism”, War on the Rocks, April 29, 2026.
Mali Betrayed by Russians. One senior Malian official stated that Russia’s Africa Corps left Malian troops in the lurch when they negotiated a withdrawal from the city of Kidal, a strategic city, in northern Mali. The Russians departed Kidal for Gao, leaving Kidal under the full control of JNIM and the FLA. The withdrawal is a major reversal for the regime. Malian forces, aided by Russian paramilitaries, had recaptured Kidal in November 2023 after years of control by Tuareg rebels. “Malian official accuses Russian forces of ‘betrayal’ after Kidal falls to rebels”, RFI.FR, April 28, 2026.
Afghanistan and the Iran War. The war in Iran is wreaking havoc on Afghanistan, which is already impoverished under the Taliban. Now things are getting worse. The two conflicts on Afghanistan’s borders are pushing the already economically weak nation toward bankruptcy and famine. Iran became the country’s top trading partner in 2025, overtaking Pakistan. “How the Iran War Created a Crisis in Afghanistan”, by Arjun Singh, The National Interest, April 24, 2026.
History and Future of the Kurds. Pasar Sherko Abdullah examines the history of the Kurds and the various times in the past that Kurdistan’s fate was determined by outsiders. He argues that the Kurds, for the most part, realize that an independent Kurdish nation is not possible at this time; but that autonomy is something to aspire for. “The Kurds: Realism over Separatism”, Small Wars Journal, April 28, 2026.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Book Review – Masters of Mayhem. A Landmark Study in the Birth of Modern Unconventional Warfare. James Stejskal delivers a masterful exploration of the origins of modern special operations and unconventional warfare. Far from being another biographical treatment of T.E. Lawrence, this exceptional work examines the collective efforts of the British Military Mission (BMM) that operated in the Arabian Peninsula during World War I, revealing how a small cadre of irregular warfare specialists pioneered tactics and operational concepts that would shape military doctrine for generations to come. Review by Doug Livermore, The Drop Online, Special Forces Association, April 2026.
CTC Sentinel. The April issue of The Sentinel by the Counter Terrorism Center of West Point is now online. https://ctc.westpoint.edu/ctc-sentinel/
Prism. The spring 2026 issue of the flagship journal of the U.S. Department of Defense Irregular Warfare Center is now online. This 248 page PDF features 18 articles. The usual topics are found: SOF, IW, information operations, autonomous weapons, soft power, counter threat financing, hybrid warfare, cognitive warfare, and more.
https://irregularwarfarecenter.org/wp-content/uploads/2026-VOL11-NO2-PRISM.pdf
Spotlight. The April 2026 issue of the Irregular Warfare Center’s Spotlight is now online. (PDF, 2 pages).
https://d34w7g4gy10iej.cloudfront.net/pubs/pdf_76827.pdf
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