Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.
Photo / Image: Staff Sgt. John Rosine, 20th Special Operations Squadron special missions aviator, observes the landscape on his assigned CV-22 Osprey at Melrose Air Force Range, Melrose, N.M., Sept. 26, 2023. (U.S. Air Force Photo by 2nd Lt. Merit Davey)
Executive Summary
This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. It is a significant week for the international SOF community; the Global SOF Foundation and USSOCOM are hosting SOF Week 2026 in Tampa, Florida. President Trump returned from his visit to China; questions remain about the future U.S. relationship with Taiwan and whether China will pressure Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz. The conflict with Iran continues with little progress in ceasefire negotiations. The Department of Defense has abruptly cancelled a U.S. Army brigade 9-month deployment to Poland.
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Key Outlooks
- Report: AI in Future Warfare
- AI Targeting: the illusion of precision
- U.S. forces strike ISIS leaders in Nigeria
- U.S. Aircraft losses in Operation Epic Fury
- Hegseth testifies before Congress
- UAE and Saudi Arabia were striking targets in Iran
- Ukraine War continues to be a stalemate
SOF News
OSS – Foundation of CIA and SF. The Office of Strategic Services (OSS) created during World War II was shut down at the end of the war. Within a couple years it was realized that the capability residing in the OSS needed to be part of the United States security structure. The OSS shaped the doctrine, mindset, and unconventional warfare capabilities later carried forward by both the CIA and modern U.S. Special Forces. “How the OSS Shaped Special Operations Forces and CIA of Today”, by Steve Balestrieri, SOFREP, May 10, 2026. (subscription)
Rescue Squadrons Receive Awards for Kabul NEO. Two Air Force rescue squadrons received the Presidential Unit Citation award for heroism displayed during the Kabul non-combatant evacuation operation (NEO) in August 2021. A ceremony was held on April 17, 2026, at Davis-Monthan Air Force Base in Arizona. The units were part of a 176-member Personnel Recovery Task Force (PRTF) that evacuated U.S. and Afghan noncombatants. In addition to the PRTF more than 500 AF aircrews and hundreds of support airmen on the ground participated in the NEO – called Operation Allies Refuge. “Air Force Rescue Units Awarded PUCs for Afghanistan Evacuation”, by Matthew Cox, Air and Space Forces, May 11, 2026.
Fighter Jets Support SOF on the Ground. Though the history of the early months of Operation Enduring Freedom has been commemorated in films, documentaries and books alike, one aspect has received little attention: how and when fighter jets began to use their air-to-air cannons in an air-to-ground setting to support Operational Detachment Alphas (ODAs) spread throughout the country. The tactic first came into use in November 2001, when two F-14D Tomcats from U.S. Navy Fighter Squadron 213, the Fighting Blacklions, were called to support a small cadre of Green Berets from ODA 595 in northern Afghanistan’s Darya Suf Valley as they beat back a Taliban assault with their Northern Alliance counterparts. “Tomcat’s Air-to-Air Cannon Became Air-to-Ground Strafing Asset to Support Green Berets in Afghanistan”, Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), May 13, 2026.
SOCOM to Test SkyFi Prototype. SkyFi’s Sovereign Intelligence Platform for US Special Operations Command is designed to allow commanders in the field to task a commercial satellite for near-real time imagery. USSOCOM is having SkyFi test a software platform that will work via a plug-in to the Android Tactical Assault Kit (ATAK) on mobile phones and tablets. “SOCOM to test SkyFi satellite imagery-to-tablet prototype“, Breaking Defense, May 11, 2026.
SOF Leaders Frustrated With Inability to Modify Equipment. U.S. special operations leaders expressed frustration at a recent Congressional hearing about manufacturers’ proprietary agreements that block them from making quick upgrades to military equipment. SOF commands are bound to the vendor of many systems because of proprietary issues. This means SOF can not make the rapid adaptations of equipment, putting SOF units at a disadvantage with their adversaries. “US special operations leaders frustrated by inability to modify their own equipment”, Military Times, May 13, 2026.
Why SOF Thrives in Ambiguity. Special operations forces are uniquely suited for high-pressure, chaotic environments. Their intensive training prepares them for navigating disorder and deliver operational solutions. “Masters of Chaos Theory: Why SOF Thrives in Ambiguity”, Special Warfare Journal, May 15, 2026.
Ranger Students Getting Bayonet Training. Fort Benning just added a new Bayonet Assault Course and it is being integrated into the Ranger Assessment Phase. The course made its debut during the Best Ranger Competition held recently. “Ranger Class First to Take on Modern Bayonet Assault Course”, Soldier Systems, May 15, 2026.
SOF History
On May 19, 1935, T.E. Lawrence died. He was one of the first practitioners of modern unconventional warfare during World War I and is referred to in the history books as ‘Lawrence of Arabia’. He was a British archaeologist, diplomat, writer, and military officer. He played a crucial role as a liaison during the Sinai and Palestine Campaign and Arab Revolt against the Ottoman Empire during World War I.
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 20, 1960, the 7th Special Forces Group was activated on Fort Bragg, North Carolina. It was reorganized from the 77th Special Forces Group.
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.
On this day in U.S. Army SF history, 29 May 1997, Green Berets pave the way for U.S. marines and the evac of thousands of civilians in Operation Noble Obelisk. https://sof.news/history/operation-noble-obelisk/
On May 19, 2002, 50 Green Berets from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne), commanded by Lt. Col. Robert M. Waltemeyer, land at Tbilisi, Georgia, a former Soviet republic. The SF Soldiers trained 2,000 elite Georgian troops as part of a counterterrorism effort that sent thousands of allied and partner nation troops to Afghanistan.
National Security and Commentary
Army Cancels Bde Deployment to Europe. The “Black Jack” 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team’s nine-month long deployment to Poland has been canceled. The advance team from the 1st Cavalry Division (Fort Hood) was already in Poland and the equipment is in transit. Lots of money spent up front on the canceled deployment for 4,000 soldiers. There was no reason for the cancellation provided by the Department of Defense. A May 1 Pentagon memo reportedly stopped the move. “US Army abruptly cancels deployment of 4,000 soldiers to Poland”, by Patricia Kime, Army Times, May 13, 2026.
U.S. Surveillance of Cuba. The number of drones and planes flying around the Carribean Sea in the vicinity of Cuba has grown significantly in the past few months. “More U.S. Spy Planes and Drones are Surveilling Cuba”, The New York Times, May 13, 2026.
U.S. Forces Strike ISIS Leaders In Nigeria. U.S. Africa Command oversaw an operation to strike Abu-Bilal al-Minuki. He was a senior ISIS General Directorate of Provinces Emir, the number two for ISIS globally — responsible for overseeing the planning of attacks, directing hostage-taking and managing financial operations.
Remains of Second Soldier Recovered. Two soldiers participating in the African Lion 26 exercise in Morocco went missing on May 2, 2026 near the Cap Draa Training Area. They were on a recreational hike on a cliff along the edge of the ocean and were swept away. The first soldier’s remains, Lieutenant Kendrick Lamont Key Jr., were recovered a few days ago. The second soldier’s remains were recovered on May 12, Spc. Mariyah Symone Collington. Read more in a press release by U.S. Army Europe and Africa, May 13, 2026.
Iran War and Operation Epic Fury
The Senate rejected a Democrat-led measure to end the war in Iran, with a 50-49 vote. Three Republicans joined Democrats in support. The Democratic-sponsored resolution under the 1973 War Powers Act would have halted the conflict with Iran unless Congress formally authorizes further military action.
Pentagon Briefing Before Congress– Video: The CENTCOM and AFRICOM commanders testified on the FY27 defense authorization requests in a hearing before the Senate Armed Services Committee (HASC) in Washington, D.C. on May 14, 2026. Video by DVIDS Hub, May 14, 2026, 2 1/2 hours
The Congressional Research Service published a report entitled “U.S. Aircraft Combat Losses in Operation Epic Fury: Considerations for Congress“, CRS IN12692, May 13, 2026
https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IN12692
- Four F-15E Strike Eagle fighters
- One F-35A Lightning II
- One A-10 Thunderbolt II
- Seven KC-135 Stratotankers
- One E-3 Sentry AWACS aircraft
- Two MC-130J Commando II special operations aircraft
- One HH-60W Jolly Green II CSAR helicopter
- Twenty-four MQ-9 Reaper drones
- One MQ-4C Triton drone
Iran’s Missile Status. Secret new assessments say Iran has operational access to 30 of its 33 missile sites along the Strait of Hormuz. Many of the missile sites have been rebuilt. “U.S. Intelligence Shows Iran Retains Substantial Missile Capabilities”, The New York Times, May 12, 2026. (subscription
A Little History on Clearing Sea Mines. “In 1990, during Operation DESERT SHIELD, the buildup to the first Gulf War, the United States began to amass a naval presence not seen since World War II. The Navy deployed eight aircraft carriers, three amphibious ready groups, and numerous smaller warships to the Persian Gulf alone. Prior to this, no aircraft carrier had entered the Gulf since 1974, because the Navy considered the water space too constricted for carrier operations. It perceived the chief threat to warships operating in the Gulf to be from the Iraqi air force—USS Stark had been hit by two Iraqi air-launched Exocet missiles just three years before during the Iran-Iraq War. But in the fall of 1990, the Navy encountered an unanticipated threat from floating mines.” “Set & Drift – Disposing of Sea Mines in Operations DESERT SHIELD: Developing EOD Doctrine in Wartime”, Naval War College Review, Volume 79, Number 2, Spring 2026, PDF, 9 pages. https://digital-commons.usnwc.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi
UAE Striking Targets in Iran. According to reporting by The Wall Street Journal, the UAE has reportedly conducted strikes on Iranian targets. One of them was an oil refinery on Iran’s Laven Island. It has been Iran’s biggest target – on the receiving end of ballistic missiles, cruise missiles, and attack drones. Now the UAE is an active combatant in the war. The UAE’s military is well-equipped with Western-made jet fighters and surveillance networks. “The U.A.E. Has Been Secretly Carrying Out Attacks on Iran”, The Wall Street Journal, May 11, 2026. (subscription)
Saudi AF Strikes on Iran. Open-source reporting also indicates Saudi aircraft may have participated in retaliatory strikes, following Iranian strikes on their oil, civilian, and military infrastructure in late March.
- 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
The Russia-Ukraine war over the past week has been marked by an escalation in long-range drone strikes, renewed pressure along contested front lines, and stalled ceasefire diplomacy. Following the collapse of a short U.S.-brokered three-day ceasefire tied to Russia’s Victory Day commemorations, Russian forces resumed large-scale drone and missile attacks against Ukrainian urban centers, energy infrastructure, and transportation nodes, while Kyiv responded with one of its largest drone strike campaigns of the war targeting Moscow and multiple Russian regions.
Ukrainian officials continue to emphasize an attritional strategy focused on degrading Russian logistics, air defense systems, and rear-area infrastructure through increasingly sophisticated UAV operations. Russian ground forces are reportedly preparing for a broader summer offensive while continuing incremental advances in eastern sectors, although Ukrainian units have conducted localized counterattacks in parts of Zaporizhzhia and near the Kharkiv-Sumy border region.
European NATO states, particularly Poland and Finland, have elevated air defense readiness levels amid concerns about regional spillover from intensified Russian strike activity. Overall, the conflict remains characterized by high-tempo drone warfare, contested ceasefire negotiations, and a continued shift toward deep-strike and attrition-based operations on both sides.
Read more in “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment, May 17, 2026“, Institute for the Study of War, May 17, 2026.
- 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
Kash Patel: FBI Now in the AI Age. The director of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Kash Patel, has provided his view on how the FBI has now entered the artificial intelligence (AI) age. He is quite proud of the progress the FBI has made under the current administration. Apparently, AI had an almost zero role at the FBI.
“When I was first sworn in as ninth director of the FBI, one of my top priorities was to modernize the bureau with new, cutting-edge technology that would allow us to better serve and protect the American people. When I arrived, the FBI was running on archaic patchwork systems without AI, effectively putting a 2025 car battery into a vehicle from 1985. Our infrastructure was a Commodore 64 when it needed to be a supercomputer. No more Band-Aids on gunshot wounds. Wholesale change was necessary.”
Read more from Patel at “We Brought the FBI out of the past and into the AI age”, Fox News, May 11, 2026.
Report: AI and the Future. A recent report by RAND Corporation argues that the U.S. military might need to change important aspects of how it traditionally operates in order to exploit artificial intelligence’s potential in warfighting. The report also provides three broad recommendations. “How Artificial Intelligence Could Reshape Four Essential Competitions in Future Warfare”, RAND Corporation, January 2026, PDF, 79 pages.
Human Mind- Decisive Terrain. The United States is far behind both Russia and China in viewing the implications of cognitive warfare as separate from information operations. Read more in “Cognitive Warfare – The Human Mind is the Decisive Terrain of Future Conflicts”, Mad Scientist Laboratory, U.S. Army, May 7, 2026.
IW for Conventional Forces. Policymakers have sought to increase conventional forces’ training in irregular warfare (IW) tactics. Over the last six years, numerous directives and authorizations have attempted to broaden specialization in IW, ensuring that not only special operations forces (SOF), but the entirety of the conventional force, have competency in detecting and using IW. “Bring Irregular Warfare to the Conventional Forces”, Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), May 11, 2026.
AI Targeting: The Illusion of Precision. Jessica Dorsey and Luke Moffett argue that as artificial intelligence (AI) becomes more deeply embedded in military operations, war risks becomes not only faster and more lethal, but also more expansive and less visible. “Warification and the Illusion of Precision: AI, Targeting, and Increasing Civilian Harm”, Articles of War, Lieber Institute West Point, May 13, 2026.
Strategic Competition
New U.S. Bases in Greenland? U.S. officials have been in regular talks with Denmark to expand its military presence in Greenland according to a new report by the BBC. The talks are about three new bases in the south of Greenland that would play a major role in the monitoring of Russian and Chinese maritime activity in the GIUK Cap – the ocean space between Greenland, Iceland, and the United Kingdom. “US in closely-guarded talks to open new bases in Greenland”, BBC, May 11, 2026.
Russia’s Ghost Fleet. using fake ownership, hidden tracking, and aging ships are all part of how Russia quietly moves oil and money around the world. European nations have increased the inspection and detention of shadow-fleet vessels that move through the English Channel and the Baltic Sea. In response, Russia has been using military ships to escort the shadow vessels that transport sanctioned Russian oil. It is estimated that almost 20% of the worlds oil and product tankers are part of the shadow fleets of various nations – principally Russia and Iran. Read a very comprehensive report on this topic entitled “The shadow fleet is undermining the maritime order more brazenly than before”, Atlantic Council, April 22, 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
Venezuela Still On Trump’s Mind. One might think that a visit to China, the current Iran conflict, plans for Cuba, having an increased presence in Greenland, trying to end the Ukraine war, and downgrading the U.S. relationship with NATO might keep President Trump busy. However, he apparently is still very much concerned with Venezuela. Click here to see the entire Trump Truth Social post that the White House reposted on Twitter/X on May 13, 2026. (partial view below)
Lessons of Mali. The attacks by JNIM and Tuareg separatist in late April 2026 was the largest joint insurgent-separatist offensive since 2012. The attacks forced Russia’s Africa Corps from parts of northeast Mali and re-established Tuareg control over key cities in Mali’s north. The April attacks hold important lessons for the United States as it seeks to reengage in the Sahel in its pursuit of economic and counterterrorism interests. See “Lessons for the United States in the Militant Attacks that Killed Mali’s Defense Minister”, by Oge Onubogu, Center for Strategic & International Studies, May 5, 2026.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Video – Brits Jumping Into Tristan da Cunha. An Army specialist team parachuted onto Tristan da Cunha to deliver critical medical support after it was confirmed that one British national on the island was suspected of contracting Hantavirus. The team parachuted in from an RAF A400M onto the island with medical personnel in tandem and oxygen supplies and medical equipment. The remote island, with a population of 221, is located deep in the South Atlantic, has no airstrip, and is normally only accessible by boat. The team deployed to the island after the UK Health Security Agency confirmed one suspected case of Hantavirus involving a British national on the island. The team of six paratroopers and two military clinicians were from the 16 Air Assault Brigade. “Military conducts daring parachute drop to deliver critical medical support to Tristan da Cunha”, Gov.uk, May 10, 2026. Video posted by the UK Ministry of Defence, on X, May 11, 2026. https://x.com/DefenceHQ/status/2053875235884056701
Book Review – The Mission: The CIA in the 21st Century. The book is a survey of the history of the agency based on more than 100 on-the-record interviews with CIA directors and officers. In covers the CIA’s activities in the Global War on Terror and the diversion into paramilitary operations. The author has concerns of how much the U.S. intelligence community has been reduced in size and importance over the past year or so. “Bookshelf: The CIA in the 21st Century”, The Strategist, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, May 14, 2026.
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Upcoming Events
May 18-21, 2026
SOF Week 2026
Global SOF Foundation
Tampa, FL
May 21, 2026
Halo Happy Hour at SOF Week
Green Beret Foundation
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May 21, 2026
Rosendin Golf Tournament
Navy SEAL Foundation
Dana Point, CA
May 23-25, 2026
Ruck Up for the Regiment
Special Forces Trust
Southern Pines, NC & Virtual
May 28-31, 2026
Det A / PSSE Annual Reunion
Knoxville, TN
May 30, 2026
Bullets & Bourbon
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Laurens, SC
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