Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.
Photo / Image: A Polish special operations forces soldier participates in Trojan Footprint 26 near Warsaw, Poland, May 16, 2026. Exercise Trojan Footprint is a multinational, joint-combined exercise that provides an opportunity to test the capabilities and interoperability of the special operations forces elements of NATO Allies and partners. The Polish special operations unit was training with an element of the 19th Special Forces Group (Airborne) (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Glenn Brennan)
Editorial Note: Publishing of articles by SOF News the next several days will be minimal as the Editor is attending the “CIWAG Maritime Symposium” held in Newport, Rhode Island this week presented by the Center on Irregular Warfare and Armed Groups at the U.S. Naval War College.
Executive Summary
This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. Three members of the SOF community received the Medal of Honor. The anticipated signing of the MoU between the U.S. and Iran did not happen in Switzerland as scheduled. As of Sunday, the Strait of Hormuz remains shut. USSOCOM released a video about a recently published SOF Cancer Study. Pete Hegseth has some harsh words for our NATO allies at the Brussels conference.
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Key Outlooks
- One Special Forces Soldier and two Force Recon Marines were awarded the Medal of Honor
- Meeting with Iran DID NOT happen on Friday in Switzerland
- Iran closes the Strait of Hormuz once again
- Congress seeks funding to replace SOF A/C lost in Operation Epic Fury
- Summertime is the period for lots of change of command ceremonies
- Eight die in B-52 crash
- Commentary – arming indigenous groups
- Several videos worth watching
SOF News
Three MoHs Awarded to SOF Community Recipients. One Special Forces Soldier and two Force Recon Marines were recipients of the Medal of Honor during a ceremony at the White House on Thursday, June 18, 2026. The recipients included Special Forces Major Nicholas Dockery and Force Recon Marines Colonel John Ripley and Major James Capers Jr. “Three Americans. Three Conflicts. One Medal.“, Medal of Honor Museum, June 18, 2026.
Congress Seeks Funds to Replace SOF A/C. Two MC-130J Commando IIs and four MH-6 Little Birds were lost during the mission to rescue an F-15E Strike Eagle crewmember who was downed over Iran in April. The aircraft were intentionally sabotaged by US commandos on the ground after the two MC-130Js became mired in the soft sand of an improvised runway. The Little Birds were on the two transporters. More than 40 aircraft have been lost in the Iran conflict, including multiple fighter types, an E-3, several KC-135 tankers and several MQ-9A drones. “US Congress pursues funding to replace MC-130Js and Little Birds lost in Iran rescue operation”, FlightGlobal, June 18, 2026.
22nd MEU(SOC) Completes 10-Month Deployment. Marines and Sailors of the 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit (Special Operations Capable) began returning home in early June after completing a nearly 10-month deployment in support of Operation SOUTHERN SPEAR and U.S. Southern Command’s priorities of countering illicit threats, strengthening regional partnerships, and protecting the homeland. “22nd MEU(SOC) Concludes 10-Month Deployment”, DVIDS, June17, 2026.
SOCOM Looks for New Drone Trainer. The U.S. Special Operations Command is looking to acquire a synthetic data generation tool that will train computer vision (CV) models for unmanned systems. The initiative will improve how drones spot, analyze, and track targets using artificial intelligence (AI). “USSOCOM Opens Search for AI-Enabled Drone Vision Trainer”, The Drone Front, June 16, 2026.
3rd SFG(A) Changes out Cdrs. Col. Carl Benander relinquished command to Col. Anthony Heisler during a change of commander ceremony on Thursday, June 18, 2026. Read a news story on the CoC ceremony (DVIDS, June 18, 2026)
SOF and Big Army Need to Train Together. A retired CSM, Charles V. Sasser, Jr., highlights the role of NCOs deconflicting conventional and SOF unit actions on the battlefield. “Special Operations Forces and Big Army Must Learn to Fight Together Before the Next War”, SOFREP, June 18, 2026.
1st SFG(A) CCWOs Change Out. Chief Warrant Officer 5 Robert Prokopowicz has left the position of Command Chief Warrant Officer of the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) and Chief Warrant Officer 5 Eli Gumm is now the 1st SFG(A) CCWO.
Hypervelocity Rifle for SOCOM. An experimental high-velocity ammunition for the M4 carbine could extend the life of this legacy rifle. The new round would be more lethal at extended ranges and would also provide more capability for rifles with much shorter barrels. “SOCOM Wants Hypervelocity Rifle System to Shoot Experimental Rounds”, by Hope Seck, SANDBOXX News, June 16, 2026.
Dick Meadows Recognized by 7th SFG(A). On June 11, 2026, the 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne) dedicated the “Meadows Range” in honor of legendary Green Beret Maj. Dick Meadows during a ceremony at Camp Bull Simons, Florida. The event paid tribute to the extraordinary career of a Green Beret whose service spanned from 1947 and lasted several decades. “7th SFG(A) Dedicates Meadows Range on Camp Bull Simons”, DVIDS, June 11, 2026.
SOCAFRICA CoR Ceremony. U.S. Special Operations Command Africa held a change of responsibility ceremony to formally transition the command’s senior enlisted leadership from U.S. Air Force Chief Master Sgt. Evan Serpa to U.S. Army Command Sgt. Maj. Daniel Payne at Kelly Barracks, June 15, 2026. (DVIDS, June 14, 2026)
27th SOW CoC Ceremony. Col. Brett Cassidy is the new commander of the 27th Special Operations Wing at Cannon Air Force Base, New Mexico. A June 18, 2026, change of command ceremony took place where Col. Robert Johnston passed the reins to Cassidy. Cassidy is a career Special Operations and air mobility pilot with more than 2,300 flight hours in CV-22 and C-130 aircraft. (DVIDS, June 18, 2026)
International SOF
UK SOF To Receive New 4x4s. The United Kingdom Ministry of Defence has awarded a £19.7m ($26.1m) contract for 270 Recce Strike Vehicle 4x4s under Project Niala. The award to Sonic Communications includes associated support for “11 Brigade (11X) mobility”, but key details are redacted. “UK MoD acquires 270 4x4s for special operations forces”, Army-Technology.com, June 19, 2026.
Egyptian SOF at Flintlock. The Egyptian Thunderbolt (Sa’aka) special operations forces took part in the special operations exercise recently conducted by U.S. Special Operations Command Africa. The event took place over several days in the countries of Libya and Cote d’Ivoire. More than 30 countries participated. “Multinational Exercise FLINTLOCK – 2026”, sis.gove.eg, May 10, 2026.
Ex-SAS Men’s Lager Passes Selection. Three former SAS sergeant majors have launched a new lager that promises to be a great pint for former UK servicemembers. “Spec-Ops: Ex-SAS men’s lager passes selection on mission to boost veteran community”, Forces News, June 17, 2026.
Caucasian Eagle 2026. Georgia is hosting the “Caucasian Eagle 2026” exercise that includes Georgian, Turkish, and Azerbaijani special operations forces. The joint exercise is held every year and each country takes turn hosting the event. “Georgia Hosts Caucasian Eagle 2026 Exercises”, civil.ge, June 17, 2026.
FINSOF and ESTSOF Train Together. Throughout the year, FINSOF and ESTSOF conscripts have trained in each other’s operational environments, gaining valuable experience and expertise while strengthening interoperability between the units. “Finnish and Estonian Special Operations Forces Conscript Units Strengthen Interoperability Through Reciprocal Training Activities”, maavoimat.fi, June 16, 2026.
SOF History
June 27 – PTSD Awareness Day.
On June 22, 1955, the first authorized appearance of the Green Beret took place.
On June 24, 1957, the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) was activated. One 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
On June 30, 1972, the 8th SFG (A) was redesignated as the 3rd Bn 7th Special Forces Group (Airborne), in Panama.
On June 29, 1990, the 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) was reactivated to cover Special Forces operations in EUCOM’s African region.
On June 28,2005, Operation Red Wings took place.
National Security and Commentary
UFC Terrorist Plot. The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) arrested Abraham Hermosillo Alvarez, a Mexican illegal alien, in Omaha, Nebraska on June 14, for his alleged involvement in the plot to carry out a mass-casualty attack against government officials and other attendees at Sunday’s event at the White House. Four other co-conspirators were arrested over the weekend in Ohio, Missouri, and California. “Alleged Ringleader of UFC Terrorist Plot is a Mexican Illegal Alien”, Department of Homeland Security, June 18, 2026.
8 Die in B-52 Crash. Eight people were killed in a B-52 Stratofortress crash at Edwards Air Force Base, California. It crashed shortly after takeoff; on board were military personnel, government civilians, and government contractors. Two of the eight were employees of Boeing. The B-52 was conducting a radar modernization test mission.
Flu Strikes Lackland AFB. Servicemembers at Lackland AFB have been infected with influenza over the past three weeks. The outbreak occurred in a training environment where servicemembers work and live in close proximity to each other. “Flu sickens some 160 troops at Lackland Air Force Base in Texas”, The Washington Post, June 18, 2026.
PACOM vs. INDOPACOM. Last week, the Department of Defense announced that the Indo-Pacific Command would be re-named to Pacific Command. Colin Karotam examines the reasons why DoD took this step. “The Likely Reasons for INDOPACOM becoming PACOM Again?”, The Strategist, Australian Strategic Policy Institute, June 18, 2026.
Iran War and Operation Epic Fury
Meetings Postponed. The meetings between the U.S. and Iran on Friday in Switzerland did not take place due to ‘logistical constraints’. Iran cites the recent clashes between Hezbollah and Israel. The U.S. says there are some ‘logistical details’ to be ironed out. On Saturday, Iran indicated that its negotiators were making their way to Switzerland. VP Vance was reportedly on his way to Switzerland as well.
U.S. Central Command Statement on X (Twitter) on Thursday, June 18, 2026:
“Today, U.S. forces lifted the blockade on all maritime traffic entering and exiting Iranian ports and coastal areas, in accordance with the President’s direction. American forces are not impeding the transit of vessels to or from Iranian ports. All U.S. military blockade enforcement efforts have ceased. Our great Naval Ships will remain in the general area to make sure that all aspects of the agreement are adhered to, obeyed, and in full force and effect.”
Terms of the Iran-U.S. MoU. U.S. Senior officials provided an early look at the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) that was signed by Iranian and U.S. officials. The Associated Press provided a look at the elements of the MoU. “Read the transcript of the deal between the US and Iran”, AP News, June 17, 2026.
Lebanon Ceasefire. Israel and Hezbollah agreed to renew a ceasefire on Thursday afternoon. Israel will remain in its ‘security zone’ in southern Lebanon. The buffer zone extends some six miles into Lebanon along the length of the countries’ shared border.
Strait Closed Again by Iran. On Friday, June 19, 2026, Iran once again closed the Strait of Hormuz citing the lack of withdrawal of U.S. naval forces from the Persian Gulf and Middle East region and Israel’s presence in Lebanon and ongoing Israeli strikes against Hezbollah. Iran stated that all ships must not approach the Strait of Hormuz.
- 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
Medical Care and the Russo-Ukrainian War. Ukraine’s experience has reshaped combat medicine through necessity, resilience, and improvisation. The central question is no longer whether NATO can observe these lessons, but whether it can build a system bold enough to capture, test, scale, and field them at wartime speed. John Quinn provides an explanation in “Good Medicine is Combat Power: Clinical Innovation and the Lessons of the Russo-Ukrainian War”, War on the Rocks, June 18, 2026.
Russian Logistics Targeted by Ukrainian Drones. The supply lines of Russian troops have been increasingly targeted by Ukrainian drones over the past year. This has slowed down the Russian offensive in the past several months and is causing some supply issues in Crimea. “Ukraine is shredding Russian supply lines. The US should pay attention”, Task & Purpose, June 18, 2026.
Russian Manpower Advantage Wanes. Military recruitment for Russia’s armed services is down by 20% in the first quarter of 2026 when compared to 2025. This is happening despite some very lucrative enlistment enticements. Nearly 500,000 Russian soldiers have died in the war prompting hundreds of thousands to leave the country to avoid being drafted. The shortage of men has resulted in fewer recruits for the army as well as a labor shortage for Russia’s factories. “Russia’s overwhelming manpower advantage against Ukraine is starting to wane”, CNN.com, June 14, 2026.
TrophyLab. Ukraine is giving allies full access to captured Russian military tech through its new TrophyLab platform to help the free world build better defenses. Every missile, drone, and vehicle seized on the battlefield is now a source of knowledge for western Allies. Allied governments, labs, and defense tech manufacturers will have access to deep technical data, reports, and equipment vulnerabilities. https://trophylab.mod.gov.ua/en/
- 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
More Drama with DNI. President Trump pulled his nomination of Jay Clayton to be the nation’s top intelligence official hours before the Congressional confirmation hearing in an early morning announcement in a social media post. He delayed the nomination which clears the way for Bill Pulte, a close ally of the president with no national security experience, to assume oversight of the nation’s 18 intelligence agencies.
IW and Cognitive Domain. Erol Yayboke and Nickolas Wilcox provide an analysis that frames a critical challenge within irregular warfare: how to better leverage data and AI tools to win the cognitive domain. Despite repeated battlefield success, the U.S. fails to align military, diplomatic, economic, and cognitive tools toward a coherent end state in many conflicts. “Irregular Warfare: Winning the Cognitive Domain”, Center for Strategic & International Studies (CSIS), June 2026.
Commentary – Arming Indigenous Groups. Mark Grdovic, a retired Special Forces officer, explores the concept of arming indigenous groups as a viable tool of the U.S. government. He argues that it is a valuable tool – provided it is in the proper circumstances. He lists some criteria in the form of six questions. Grdovic examines the case of the Kurds in Syria, Iraq, Turkey, and Iran. “Understanding the Potential Value and Risks of Arming Indigenous Groups in Support of US National Objectives”, Substack, June 14, 2026.
Army Software Factory and WOs. A new entity of the Army Transformation and Training Command is the Army Software Factory. This unit provides an upskilled technical force that enables the Army to be better prepared for software-centric and dynamic contested environments. The Army is encouraging exceptional NCOs to become warrant officers in the software operations fields. “Army Software Factory NCOs Become Warrant Officers”, Soldier Systems, June 19, 2026.
Strategic Competition
Hegseth Speaks at NATO Summit. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth opened his address to the NATO summit in Brussels with some harsh words for our NATO allies. The SECDEF said “NATO has been a paper tiger and a one-way street,” in his opening statement. And his speech continued along that path to the very end of his address to our allies. “Remarks by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth at the 2026 NATO Defense Ministerial in Brussels”, Department of Defense, June 18, 2026.
U.S. Troop Level for NATO to be Reviewed. The Department of Defense plans a review of its posture and footprint in Europe to determine how the U.S. is supporting NATO, how partners are supporting NATO and whether what’s happening on the ground reflects what President Donald J. Trump and Secretary of War Pete Hegseth believe the NATO alliance should be. The review could last up to six months with input from both U.S. and European military commands. The U.S. is stepping back from being the leader of NATO. “War Department Review to Ensure ‘NATO 3.0’ Becomes Europe-Led Defense Alliance”, U.S. Department of Defense, June 18, 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
Niger Attacks. The Al Qaeda-linked JNIM has carried out attacks in Niger – targets including the international airport and an army base. The region’s ‘coup belt’ consisting of Niger, Mali, and Burkina Faso is struggling to contain jihadist terrorism and insurgents. One constraint on the growth of the jihadist movements is the competition between JNIM and ISIS-Sahel.
Somalia Humanitarian Update. An operational overview of the humanitarian situation in Somalia is provided in this report by OCHA (UN). “Somalia – Operational Overview – May 2026”, June 19, 2026.
Veterans Corner
GWOT Memorial. The Global War on Terrorism Memorial Foundation has revealed the design of the GWOT Memorial. The initial design concept was provided in a YouTube video posted on June 10, 2026. The proposed memorial has received some praise and a lot of criticism. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qMbJt0-hHNg
Senate NDAA Markup. The FY 2027 National Defense Authorization Act has cleared both the House and Senate Armed Services committees. This article by the Military Officers Association of America (MOAA) examines the fine print looking at the key provisions that could affect military pay, health care, housing, and other support programs for servicemembers and retirees. (MOAA, June 16, 2026). https://www.moaa.org/senatendaa26
“Take Care of America’s Veterans Act”. Congressional Republicans introduced legislation that they say will improve the care that veterans receive from the federal government. Some critics say the legislation will actually degrade veterans benefits and employee’s rights. While some parts of the bill will expand veterans benefits, there are provisions that will cut $60 billion in benefits – affecting, in part, veterans suffering from hearing loss and sleep apnea. Veterans groups – including the VFW – are questioning some provisions of the Republican legislation. “GOP’s VA overhaul bill narrows some employees’ rights, spurs privatization, union says”, Government Executive, June 16, 2026.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Video – “SOF Cancer Study”. U.S. Special Operations Command released findings from its initial SOF Cancer Study, which found an 18% higher overall cancer incidence rate among SOF personnel compared to a matched non-SOF population, driven primarily by higher rates of melanoma and testicular cancer. The study also found that cancer diagnoses within the SOF community often occur at a younger age and are associated with higher survival rates. USSOCOM is working with Defense Health Agency epidemiologists and medical experts to review screening protocols, improve health communication efforts, and develop follow-on studies to better understand these findings. USSOCOM, DVIDS, June 19, 2026. https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1011581/sof-cancer-study
Video – Trojan Footprint. This European exercise brought together 24 allies and partners to train on special operations across all five operational domains. NATO, YouTube, June 15, 2026, 1 minute.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_nMeFjAyJr4, 3 minutes, YouTube
MoH Ceremony Videos:
- Major Nicholas Dockery (SF) is awarded the Medal of Honor for extraordinary heroism in service to the nation. DOW Rapid Response, Twitter, June 18, 2026, 1:31 mins. https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2067721443127787522
- Colonel John Ripley (Force Recon) is posthumously awarded the nation’s highest military decoration – the Medal of Honor.
https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2067721016546132008 - Major James Capers, Jr. (Force Recon) was awarded the Medal of Honor by President Trump.
https://x.com/DOWResponse/status/2067720364147311004
Video – “The Strength of a Nation”. The strength of a nation is found in those willing to serve something greater than themselves. For generations, Green Berets have answered that call—standing on the front lines, defending freedom, and carrying the weight of our nation’s most challenging missions. Their service doesn’t end when they come home. By the Green Beret Foundation, YouTube, June 19, 2026. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=awyVvLZiaMg
Video – “7th Special Forces Group – Who We Are”, DVIDS, June 8, 2026, 2 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1009820/7th-special-forces-group-airborne-who-we-video
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