Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.
Photo: A Marine Corps UH-1Y Venom crew chief assigned to Littoral Combat Force-24 fires an M134 minigun during a maritime interdiction operation while underway in the Pacific Ocean, Sept. 2, 2026. The vessel of interest was boarded and cleared before being destroyed. U.S. military forces are deployed to the U.S. Southern Command area of responsibility supporting Joint Task Force Western Hemisphere, War Department-directed operations and the president’s priorities to disrupt illicit drug trafficking, deter malign actors and protect the homeland through continuous presence. (Photo by Cpl. Daniel Garcia, USMC)
Executive Summary
This weekly briefing summarizes the most significant events affecting special operations forces, irregular warfare, intelligence, and national security during the past week. The Ukraine War continues with no marked advances for either side in the conflict. The war between the U.S. and Iran has picked up in tempo over the last several days with the U.S. now targeting Iranian government oil tankers for the first time. Piracy has picked up off the shores of Somalia, and Turkey is among the countries responding to the threat.
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Key Developments
- Cartels increase use of car bombs and drones
- Mobile Ad IDs have been giving away U.S. troop locations in the Middle East
- A former SF battalion surgeon is going back into space
- The Secretary of the Army Dan Driscoll resigns
- Bowe Bergdahl’s conviction restored
- Russia has increased its use of jet-powered drones
SOF News
Disabling MAIDs. USSOCOM recently disabled mobile advertising identifiers on its Windows devices, while the Air Force and Army have taken similar measures. The disclosures followed reports that commercially available location data may have helped adversaries target U.S. forces in the Middle East. Lawmakers requested a Pentagon investigation on September 4. “US military turns off ad trackers on devices amid Middle East targeting reports”, Reuters, September 4, 2026.
Lethality and an Educated SOF Warrior. A sergeant major serving at U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) provides an essay about lethality and education. He believes SOF operators should strive to use all available tools, processes, and systems to not only imagine the possible battlefields of the future but also proactively position themselves effectively within them. “The Educated Operator: Rethinking Lethality in Special Operations”, War on the Rocks, September 1, 2026.
Sustainment of SOF. Casey Phillips, a logistics officer who has held several positions within Special Forces, provides an article about sustaining special operations forces during Large-Scale Combat Operations (LSCO). The future of SOF utility depends on treating sustainment not as a rear-echelon afterthought, but as an asymmetric weapon of influence. This article explores the imperative to integrate Irregular Warfare (IW) into sustainment operations to achieve a compounding relative advantage. Ultimately, if SOF is to survive current institutional restructuring and serve as the critical “connective tissue to allies and partners,” it requires a proactive, offensive posture designed to build partner resilience and resistance long before the first shot is fired. “Victory’s Shadow: The Strategic Imperative of SOF Sustainment in Irregular Warfare”, Small Wars Journal, September 1, 2026.
SOAA’s Phoenix Program. An initiative by the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) is providing transitioning special operations forces (SOF) members with corrective exercise training to help redress service-related wear and tear and functional medicine support to uncover and treat the complex health implications SOF veterans face. The Phoenix Program aims not simply to help veterans recover from the wear and tear of service, but to equip them to remain healthy, capable, and engaged long after they leave the military. “Phoenix Program Brings Whole-Person Care to Transitioning SOF”, Special Operations Association of America, September 1, 2026.
Former 10th SFG(A) Surgeon to Go Back Into Space. Army Col. Frank Rubio will serve as a mission specialist on an upcoming Artemis III mission. Rubio is no stranger to making history in orbit. He holds the American record for the longest single spaceflight, having spent 371 consecutive days aboard the International Space Station during Expeditions 68 and 69 from September 2022 to September 2023. He has served as an Army aviator, as a member of the Black Knights parachute team, and was the battalion surgeon for 3rd Battalion, 10th Special Forces Group. He served as a UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter pilot and accumulated more than 600 hours of combat and imminent-danger time during deployments to Bosnia, Afghanistan, and Iraq. “Army Astronaut Selected for NASA’s Historic Artemis III Mission”, DoD, June 10, 2026.
SOAA Interviews Chris Miller. Former Acting Secretary of Defense Chris Miller is interviewed about the highlights of his Special Forces career and his thoughts on the future of special operations. He begins with his start in the Army, transition to Special Forces, and then in 2001 with the beginning of the Global War on Terrorism (GWOT). In the interview he goes on to talk about soldier transition, women in the force, and care for veterans. “From the Battlefield to the Pentagon: Chris Miller on the Future of Special Operations”, Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), September 3, 2026.
Strategic Effects of SOF. This article argues that strategic effects are most likely to occur when limited-scale operations combine deliberate planning, effective technology integration, and an appropriate form of operational effect. Rather than viewing strategic outcomes as the direct result of tactical success alone, the article suggests that they occur through a combination of factors that shape how an adversary responds to military action. By examining these factors, the article seeks to contribute to a better understanding of how special operations can generate disproportionate outcomes in contemporary warfare. The author is a Ukrainian military officer and graduate student at the Naval Postgraduate School. His research focuses on information operations, gray-zone conflict, and strategic influence in modern warfare. “Designing Strategic Effects: Special Operations in Contemporary Warfare”, by Yevhen Kovalchuk, Small Wars Journal, September 2, 2026.
CA in Kyrgyzstan. A U.S. Civil Affairs team aligned under Special Operations Command Central (SOCCENT) conducted a tactical mountaineering and combat casualty care training engagement with members of the Kyrgyz State Border Service (SBS) near Tash-Komur, Kyrgyzstan, in June 2026. “USSOF Training with CENTCOM partners remain fundamental to successful operations”, DVIDS, September 4, 2026.
SFA, FID, and SOF and Overlapping Concepts. Vibeke Gootzen and Lysanne Leeuwenburg, two researchers in the Irregular Warfare and Special Operations team at the Netherlands Defence Academy, write about the many and varied concepts relating to the training, advising, and assisting of foreign armed forces or non-state actors. They argue that the plethora of terms incites confusion and ambiguity. For instance, the many types of concepts have names like Security Force Assistance (SFA), Military Assistance (MA), Security Assistance (SA), Security Cooperation (SC), Security Sector Reform (SSR), Building Partner Capacity (BPC), Foreign Internal Defense (FID), Unconventional Warfare (UW) and Proxy Warfare (PW). Read more on this topic in “Train, Advise, Assist: Mapping a Crowded Conceptual Field”, Small Wars Journal, September 4, 2026.
International SOF
Turkish Commandos Kill Somali Pirates. Turkish commandos working from a frigate off the coast of Somalia retook the cargo ship Lutuf, which had been seized nearly two weeks ago by Somali pirates. In a statement from Turkey’s Ministry of Defense, they confirmed that the ship had been transporting supplies to the TURKSOM Military Base in Somalia when pirates seized it. “Turkish Commandos Retake Cargo Ship Killing 14 Somali Pirates”, Maritime-Executive, August 30, 2026.
NATO SOF in the High North. Operation Atlantic City concluded September 4 on Norway’s remote Jan Mayen island. Norwegian, British, and U.S. forces connected sensors, command-and-control nodes, precision fires, maritime surveillance, and air mobility. Participants included Royal Marine Commandos, an AFSOC MC-130, HIMARS personnel, and U.S. Navy elements. Jan Mayen sits north of the Greenland–Iceland–United Kingdom gap. The exercise demonstrated how small expeditionary forces could establish a temporary sensing and sea-denial node in austere Arctic terrain. “High North advantage – U.S. Marines, Allied Forces Deploy to Jan Mayen”, DVIDS, August 20, 2026.
USSF and Indonesian SOF. U.S. Green Berets from the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) conducted joint training with Indonesian special operations forces in South Sumatra, Indonesia, in September 2026. Some of the training involved small unit tactics. In addition, 1st SFG(A) personnel trained with HH-60 Pave Hawk crew members in hoist rescue operations in inaccessible terrain. During Super Garuda Shield 2026, U.S. SOF conducted high-altitude free-fall insertions with their Indonesian counterparts.
SOF History
On September 14, 1962, HQ Detachment (Provisional) 5th Special Forces Group (Abn) arrived in Vietnam. In October 1964, the 5th Group assumed control of all Special Forces operations in Vietnam.
On September 10, 2000, 1 PARA, the RAF, and the SAS conducted Operation Barras to free five British soldiers held captive in the war-torn West African country of Sierra Leone. They were held by the West Side Boys. Lynx, Chinook, and Hind helicopters took part in the successful operation. https://www.nam.ac.uk/explore/operation-barras
On September 7, 2004, the Special Operations Combat Diver Device was approved for issue and wear. On September 14, 2004, the Scuba Diver Badge was discontinued in lieu of a new Special Operations Diver Badge. In addition, the Special Operations Diving Supervisors Badge was authorized.
On September 14, 2009, JSOC conducted Operation Celestial Balance in Somalia. Two AH-6s and two MH-6s carrying Navy SEALs attacked a two-car convoy carrying a key leader of an al-Qaeda cell responsible for the U.S. embassy bombings in 1998 in East Africa. A key leader, Saleh Ali Saleh Nabhan, was killed as well as other members of al-Qaeda and al-Shabaab.
National Security and Commentary
CRS Report – Air Force Fighter Force Structure Congressional Research Service, CRS R49338, September 4, 2026, PDF, 22 pages. https://www.congress.gov/crs_external_products/R/PDF/R49338/R49338.1.pdf
Driscoll Resigns. Army Secretary Dan Driscoll resigned on Monday, August 31, 2026, as the Secretary of the Army. He had served for approximately 18 months. Before leaving office he met with President Trump to express his concern about the state of the Army and its stalled modernization programs. According to some news reporting, Driscoll has had a rough relationship with Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth. Adam Telle was subsequently named acting Army secretary. The president appointed Adam R. Telle as the acting secretary of the Army. Telle is primarily a congressional and executive-branch policy specialist rather than a military veteran. He has more than 20 years of government and congressional experience working for Republicans.
Operation Southern Spear – One Year Anniversary. U.S. officials say the large-scale military and counternarcotics campaign launched in the Western Hemisphere in September 2025 has been largely successful thus far. One official said U.S. Southern Command’s counternarcotics operations over the past year have driven record reductions in illicit maritime activity, with a 65% reduction in the Western Caribbean, a 60% reduction in the Eastern Caribbean, and a nearly 50% reduction in key areas of the Eastern Pacific. From April 1 to June 30 of this year, the U.S. military conducted airstrikes on 19 vessels suspected of being affiliated with designated terrorist organizations, with approximately 56 individuals killed or presumed dead. The previous quarter saw 12 vessels struck, killing 40 suspected narco-terrorists. During the last quarter, eight U.S. Navy and Marine Corps vessels, a P-8 patrol and reconnaissance aircraft squadron and the Marine Corps’ 22nd Marine Expeditionary Unit were deployed in support of the operation. “Officials Provide Progress Update on Major Operation 1 Year After Its Launch”, U.S. Department of Defense, September 2, 2026.
Army Drone Unit Erased. A bipartisan group of lawmakers is pushing the Army to explain why it is shuttering a specialized drone battalion less than a year after establishing it, a move that comes as conflicts across the world have become increasingly defined by unmanned aerial systems and electronic warfare. The battalion was learning tactics and skills from Ukraine’s more-than four-year fight against Russia and applying them to the U.S. Army. “The Army shut down a specialized drone unit. Legislators want to know why”, Defense News, September 3, 2026.
Marine Corps Growth. The Marines are looking to grow their foce by 6,500 billets. The increase will accelerate four areas: combat power projection and sustainment, integrated technology, all-domain effects, and training capacity. “Marine Corps Develops Plan to Grow Force by More than 6,500”, Soldier Systems, September 3, 2026.
Bowe Bergdahl’s Conviction Restored. A federal appeals court restored Bowe Bergdahl’s conviction on Tuesday, undoing a 2023 decision that wiped away the court-martial of the former U.S. Army soldier who walked off his base in Afghanistan, kicking off an intensive search that wounded other troops. “Court overturns 2023 ruling that wiped Bowe Bergdahl’s conviction”, Military Times, September 3, 2026.
Retiring the Compass Call EC-130H. The EC-130H was developed from the Lockheed C-130H Hercules, and was extensively modified to undertake airborne electronic warfare missions. Its main role was to disrupt enemy C4 (Command, Control, Communications, Computers) networks and mount offensive counterinformation attacks. The EC-130H flew for the first time in 1981. The EC-130H aircraft had reached the limits of their programmed depot maintenance lives and were being operated under waivers because of their planned retirement. The replacement aircraft for the EC-130H is the EA-37B Compass Call. “The Sun Sets on Compass Call: The EC-130H Flies for the Final Time”, by Rin Sakurai, The Aviationist, September 3, 2026.
Iran War and Operation Epic Fury
SEALs and Clearing Mines in the Strait. One of the principal reasons commercial shipping elected not to transit the Strait of Hormuz was the presence of Iranian sea mines. Over a four-month period, U.S. Navy vessels, Navy SEALs, and unmanned sea drones conducted a mission to clear the mines. U.S. forces deployed robotic boats and submersibles using high-resolution sonar arrays to search for sea mines. Once a sea mine was located, divers would approach the mines and destroy them with explosive charges. The objective of the operation was to make the strait safer for commercial vessels. “US Navy SEALs conducted covert four-month mission to clear Strait of Hormuz mines – report”, The Jerusalem Post, September 7, 2026.
U.S. Hits Iranian Targets. U.S. Central Command reported on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, that U.S. forces began striking Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) targets in Iran. U.S. forces targeted IRGC air-defense sites, radar systems, naval assets and facilities, mine-laying capabilities and communications sites. The strikes followed recent attempted attacks by the IRGC against commercial shipping in the Strait of Hormuz and against American service members deployed to the region. Many of the U.S. attacks were against targets located along Iran’s coastline. Over 100 targets were hit by the U.S.
U.S. Strikes Iranian Oil Tankers. For the first time, the United States has attacked Iranian government-owned oil tankers on Saturday, September 5, 2026. A U.S. official said the move was part of a new policy to further deter Iranian attacks on tankers that move through the strait. One Iranian tanker was permanently disabled and tow others completely destroyed. In the past several days Iran has attacked at least three commercial tankers and targeted U.S. warships (an aircraft carrier and guided-missile destroyer). “U.S. strikes Iran tankers under new “tanker for tanker” policy”, Axios, September 1, 2026.
Interceptor Missile Production Stepped Up. Two framework agreements with General Dynamics and Lockheed Martin will significantly increase the production of the Terminal High Altitude Area Defense (THAAD) and Patriot Advanced Capability (PAC-3 MSE) interceptor programs. The production capacity of Patriots will be tripled and the production capacity of THAADs will quadruple. (DoD Press Release, August 31, 2026)
- References for Epic Fury:
- Past SOF News posts on Epic Fury
- NSI Resources: Epic Fury Timeline, Iran Country Profile, Strait of Hormuz, Kharq Island, maps, OEFU Casualties
- Congressional Research Service (CRS) reports
- Institute of the Study of War interactive map
- See also a map utility – Maritime Attacks in the MENA Region (since 2017) by the Washington Institute
Ukraine Conflict
CRS Report – U.S. Security Assistance to Ukraine Since 2022. The Congressional Research Service updated IF12040 on August 31, 2026. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF12040
Russia’s Jet-Powered Drones. Ukraine reported that Russia employed more than 2,800 jet-powered drones during August—five times the July total. Ukrainian officials placed interception rates at approximately 60 percent for jet-powered systems, compared with 90–95 percent for conventional piston-powered drones. The Institute for the Study of War (ISW) assessed that jet-powered models constituted roughly 56 percent of Russia’s August drone packages. Faster drones compress warning and engagement times, strain short-range defenses, and increase demand for distributed sensors and inexpensive interceptors. These lessons apply directly to SOF operating sites and partner forces with limited air-defense coverage. “Russian Offensive Campaign Assessment”, ISW, September 1, 2026.
- References:
- Weapons of Ukraine, Study of War Daily Report, Euromaidan 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
Starshield AI’s Grok for GenAI.mil. Starshield AI’s Grok for Government has been launched for GenAI.mil, expanding the suite of frontier AI capabilities for the DoD’s premier generative AI platform. Personnel will gain access to advanced capabilities, including deep-thinking inference, adaptive reasoning modes (Auto, Fast, and Expert), customizable workspaces, persistent projects and reusable “playbooks” that capture and scale institutional knowledge. “Department of War Launches Starshield AI’s Grok for Government on GenAI.mil”, DoD, August 31, 2026.
IW Concepts and Terminology. Chad Machiela, a retired Special Forces Warrant Officer (CW5), argues that organizing U.S. agencies and organizations for unified irregular warfare requires shared language and concepts to enable coordination among them. The results of recent conflicts demonstrate the costs of failing to establish a common language and objectives prior to commencing operations. “Whole-of-Government Irregular Warfare Requires a Common Language”, Small Wars Journal, September 4, 2026.
Strategic Competition
China in the Caribbean. Chinese investment across the Caribbean over the past two decades has been framed as development assistance, commercial expansion, or participation in global infrastructure initiatives. These efforts are often presented as mutually beneficial economic partnerships for small island states with limited domestic capital. However, when viewed through the lens of irregular warfare (IW), these investments take on a different meaning. In this view, they are not solely economic activities. Instead, the investments are components of a broader strategy of strategic positioning, influence building, resource access, and the cultivation of long-term access. “China’s Irregular Warfare Strategy and Actions in the Bahamas”, by Britany Carroll, Irregular Warfare Center, August 31, 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
The End of the PKK Insurgency. Dr. Sertac Canalp Korkmaz, a security affairs specialist at the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey from 2019 to 2024, writes about how the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) finally announced it would dissolve and lay down its arms. The announcement marked a potentially decisive step toward ending an insurgency that lasted four decades and cost tens of thousands of lives. He claims it was a result of increased use of surveillance and strikes as well as serious negotiations. “Cornered, Not Conquered: Turkish Intelligence and the End of the PKK Insurgency”, Irregular Warfare Initiative, September 4, 2026.
Kurdish Reconciliation. Riccardo Gasco and Samuele C.A. Abrami write on how Turkey has managed the Kurdish problem, with both the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). “The Fruit of Patience: How Regional Shifts Ripened Turkey’s Path to Kurdish Reconciliation”, War on the Rocks, September 4, 2026.
Cartels Increase Use of Car Bombs and Drones. Drug cartels in Mexico are increasing their use of car bombs as well as bomb-carrying unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs). Mexican cartels began using explosives more extensively about five years ago against security forces or competing cartels. The Trump administration has designated eight of the Mexican cartels as foreign terrorist organizations.“Why Mexican cartels are increasingly using car bombs and other explosives”, by Maria Verza, Associated Press, September 4, 2026.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Video – Badger Six Fight for post-9/11 Afghan Counterparts, The Afghanistan Project, August 28, 2026, YouTube, 51 minutes. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Justin Sapp was a member of Team Alpha, the CIA’s original eight-man team of analysts, linguists, warriors, and tribal experts that went into Afghanistan to defeat al Qaeda in the days immediately following Sept. 11, 2001. Justin talks about Team Alpha and other early American units’ reliance on their Afghan counterparts in the earliest post-9/11 efforts inside Afghanistan. He also describes the work of Badger Six, a nonprofit created by Team Alpha members and supporters to assist the families of Afghan partners who aided the team and now face uncertainty because of stalled green-card and U.S. Refugee Admissions Program processing. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZV_hTmzNcnU
Sentinel. The September 2026 issue is now available online. Summar of trip to Normandy, France for the 82nd Anniversary of D-Day, AFN – the Voice of Home, and more. https://www.specialforces78.com/chapter-78-newsletter-for-september-2026/
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Upcoming Events
September 11, 2026
9/11 Memorial Stair Climb
Navy SEAL Foundation
Cleveland, OH
September 11, 2026
TPC Colorado Golf Tournament
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
Berthoud, CO
September 12, 2026
8th Annual Scotty Wirtz Memorial Golf Tournament
Navy SEAL Foundation
High Ridge, MO
September 13, 2026
8th Annual Boston Frogman Swim
Navy SEAL Foundation
Boston, MA
September 14, 2026
1st U.S Volunteer Cavalry Regiment – Rough Riders Golf Tournament
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
Tampa, FL
September 30, 2026
Narrative Strategy Symposium
HS Today and Narrative Strategies
Arlington, Va
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