Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.
Photo / Image: U.S. Green Berets assigned to 3rd Special Forces Group (Airborne) readies to exit a Boeing CH-47 Chinook while conducting a high-altitude, low-opening freefall insertion during Exercise Radiant Shield on Fort Bragg, North Carolina, June 23, 2026. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Jillian Hix)
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 Special Operations Association (SOA) has its 50th Anniversary Reunion taking place in October. USSOCOM has a new nutrition program for its operators. A new Greenland deal provides the U.S. with two new locations to base troops. Yemen is stepping up the pressure on Saudi Arabia.
Do you receive our newsletter? If not, you can sign up here and enjoy it two or three times a week with your morning coffee (or afternoon tea depending on where in the world you are).
Key Developments
- UN report on Afghanistan
- UAE – Punching above its weight
- Ukraine blunts Russia’s spring summer offensive
- Fighting breaks out in northern Ethiopia . . . again
SOF News
SOF’s Aquatic Pioneer. Dr. Christian J. Lambertsen was a pioneer in underwater operations. While a student at the University of Pennsylvania, he developed a closed-circuit underwater rebreather. A true innovation, it allowed the swimmer to remain underwater for longer periods and prevented detectable bubbles from escaping to the surface. In 1942, Lambertsen demonstrated the system to representatives of the wartime Office of Strategic Services (OSS), who recognized its combat potential. In 1944, he was assigned to the OSS Maritime Unit where he instructed swimmers in the use of the Lambertsen Rebreathing Unit (LARU). Read more in “Dr. Christian J. Lambertsen – Aquatic Pioneer”, ARSOF History, September 2026.
SOF RACER. United States Special Operations Command has launched a new consortium to help companies new to government contracting deliver defense capabilities to warfighters faster. The Special Operations Forces Rapid Acquisition Consortium for Emerging Requirements – or SOF RACER – is a partnership with GovSignals, an artificial intelligence company and BMNT, a consulting agency. The intent is to provide a simpler and faster way to pitch, develop, and deliver capability to USSOCOM. “SOCOM Launches Rapid Acquisition Consortium”, National Defense Magazine, September 23, 2026.
SOA 50th Anniversary Reunion. The Special Operations Association’s Golden 50th Anniversary Reunion will take place on 12-15 October 2026 at the Orleans Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas, Nevada. https://specialoperations.org/soa/
JFK Special Warfare Museum. The U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School at Fort Bragg, North Carolina documents the history and legacy of U.S. Army Special Operations Forces (ARSOF). “A Soldier’s Place in History: JFK Special Warfare Museum”, SOF News, September 16, 2026. Story by Fernando Piquet Padin originally published by U.S. Army.
USSOCOM Nutrition Platform. United States Special Operations Command has awarded Teamworks Tactical Solutions a sole-source contract to run its nutrition platform for special operators. The program connects up to 55 performance dietitians to SOCOM operators. A previous nutrition program used by USSOCOM was with the Air Force Research Laboratory’s STRONG Lab.
SFAS – A Tough Selection Process. For most Green Beret hopefuls, getting through Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) in a single attempt is a point of honor. But for one prospective Green Beret, taking on the first component of the Green Beret pipeline three times shaped him into a more effective leader, teaching him to “learn through failure.” “Three Tries at Special Forces Assessment and Selection”, Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), September 22, 2026.
Medics Train on AFSOC Aircraft. Medics assigned to the 31st Combat Air Base Squadron from Hurlburt Field trained on casualty care, accountability, communications, and movement under operational conditions on the C-146A Wolfhound and MC-130J Commando II. “Hurlburt, Nellis Airmen integrate multimodal patient movement to regenerate combat power”, DVIDS, September 8, 2026.
International SOF
UK Royal Marines Train with Navy SEALs. Commandos from each side of the Atlantic Ocean recently took part in joint naval boarding and compound clearing drills in Virginia. The maritime special operations training, conducted as part of Resolute Strike, tested interchangeability of tactics, equipment, and processes. The members of 42 Commando had already spent a month training in southern Mississippi where they participated in riverine and jungle raiding drills. 42 Commando is an elite, highly specialized unit with the UK’s Royal Marines, and it trains in high-threat boarding, ship protection, counter-piracy, and joint personnel recovery. The unit is based in Plymouth, Devon, and can deploy globally on short notice. “UK’s and USA’s Best Naval Special Operators Just Completed Training Together”, by Peter Suciu, The National Interest, September 26, 2026.
North Korean IW Doctrine Update. North Korean is assisting Russia in its fight with Ukraine in many ways – ammunition, equipment, and troops for the frontline. North Korean is taking away lessons learned from the fight – having deployed its special operators for some frontline war experience. Some of the lessons learned from the war are the use of drones and an updating of its irregular warfare doctrine. “North Korea’s Irregular Warfare After Ukraine”, by Anton Ponomarenko, War on the Rocks, September 25, 2026.
Czech Republic SOF. Special operations forces members from the Czech Republic took part in Exercise Deep Strike at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center, Germany, in August 2026. Deep Strike is a pivotal training initiative designed to enhance force readiness by operating in geographically dynamic and complex scenarios, including denied environments with contested electronic warfare spaces.
SOF History
On October 3, 1943, the 5307 Composite Group – Merrill’s Marauders was established.
On October 6, 1964, Project DELTA (B52) was formed. The program was initially known as Project LEAPING LENA which was established on May 15, 1964. LEAPING LENA was a program for the Green Berets to train LLDB teams for missions into Laos. Project DELTA was the first of the three special reconnaissance units with a Greek letter formed by U.S. Military Assistance Command, Vietnam (MACV).
Project DELTA
On October 1, 1974, the 2 Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment was established. On October 3, 1984, the 75th Ranger Regiment and 3/75th was established.
On October 3, 1993 – Operation Gothic Serpent, Battle of Mogadishu took place. It would end on October 4. https://sof.news/history/operation-gothic-serpent/ At the end of the battle a U.S. helicopter pilot was missing which would prompt a days-long search for until he was released by Somali insurgents. https://sof.news/conflicts/gothic-serpent-super-64/
On October 1, 2012, the Army Special Operations Aviation Command (USASOAC) was activated at Fort Bragg.
On October 4, 2017, four soldiers of the 3rd Special Forces Group died in an ambush in Niger.
On September 28, 2018, Maj. Gen. (Ret) Sidney Shachnow died at age 83. He served 39 years in the U.S. Army; much of it in Special Forces. https://www.specialforceshistory.info/bios/sidney-shachnow.html
National Security and Commentary
A New Greenland Agreement. At one time, under the 1951 agreement with Denmark, the U.S. had seventeen bases in Greenland, which the U.S. had access for as long as NATO exists. At the height of the Cold War we had over 10,000 personnel based in Greenland, now the number is about 150 to 200. As the Cold War wound down, the U.S. closed all but one base – Pituffik Space Base (once known as Thule Air Base). The new agreement, which amends and supplements the 1951 agreement, will allow the U.S. to re-establish two bases – Narsarsuaq and the other at Mestersvig. The agreement also reaffirms Greenland’s sovereignty as a part of the Kingdom of Denmark as well as recognizes the renewed strategic importance of Greenland. The White House released a the text of the new agreement on September 22, 2026.
This agreement will bolster U.S. military presence there but keep the island under Danish control, after months of threats by the U.S. president to use military force to seize the semi-autonomous territory of a NATO ally. This new agreement does not supersede the original security treaty concluded between Copenhagen and Washington in 1951, but supplements it. It also builds on the 2004 Igaliku amendments and reaffirms many of the rights that Washington already held under both texts. The new agreement also spells out a number of additional privileges that were available to the United States on request but were never formally guaranteed in writing.
One U.S. base to be re-opened, Narsaruaq located at the southern tip of Greenland, was previously used extensively by the United States. The U.S. Army built the military airfield at Narsaruq in 1941 and named it Bluie West One. It served as a critical refueling and transit stop for U.S. aircraft flying between North America and Europe during World War II. The U.S. operated the base through the early Cold War before closing it down and transitioning it to the Danish government in 1958. It is now a civilian airport. The second base that will be opened is located at Mestersvig on the north-east coast of Greenland and is not known as a historical U.S. military base. It has a gravel airstrip and has long been used as a base of operations for the elite Danish special forces unit, the Sirius Dog Sled Patrol.
MQ-9A Reaper. The Congressional Research Service has updated its information paper on the MQ-9A Reaper. The Reaper is part of the Predator aircraft series, the origins of which date to the early 1980s, which has included the Air Force MQ-1A/B Predator (now retired), the Army MQ-1C Gray Eagle, and other variants. In 1999, General Atomics began developing a Predator B model as an internal project. The Air Force’s inventory of MQ-9A Reaper aircraft has declined as the Air Force has divested older-variant MQ-9As and lost aircraft in accidents and combat operations. A number of Reapers have been lost over the past several months in the conflict with Iran. “Air Force MQ-9A Reaper: Background and Issues for Congress”, CRS IF13318, updated September 23, 2026, PDF, 3 pages. https://www.congress.gov/crs-product/IF13318
Iran War and Operation Epic Fury
A New War Front in the Iran War. The Houthis have rapidly advanced south on the western Yemeni coast in their early September offensive. In addition, they are actively targeting Saudi Arabian oil facilities and pipelines. As allies with Iran, the Houthis are complicating the security environment in the Middle East and adding to the global economic pressure from the U.S.-Iran War. The Strait of Hormuz is already bottled up by overlapping Iranian and U.S. restrictions; now the Bab al-Mandab Strait is under strain as well. Read more about the advances on the ground by the Houthis and the security implications for the region in “Closing the New War Front in Yemen”, International Crisis Group, September 18, 2026.
Map: OpenStreetMap contributors edited with ChatGPT. Click here for a larger image.
Houthi Goals. The Houthis want to legitimize their control over north-west Yemen, lift the Saudi-led blockade, positioned themselves with the ability to control the Bab el-Mandab Strait, and possibly make further territorial gains in the east and center of Yemen. The north-south divide of Yemen dates back to when there was a north and south Yemen – one that was colonized by the British (south) and the other was ruled by the Ottoman Empire (north) and local rulers. Both countries merged in 1990. In addition, as a proxy state of Iran, they support Iran’s war against the United States and Israel.
France is Stepping Up. French military units will be sent to help Saudi Arabia protect a vital oil export facility on the Red Sea. Soldiers, radar systems, and defense systems will help protect the oil and energy export hub in Yanbu. This move is in response to recent missile and drone attacks by Houthi forces on the port’s infrastructure. The port serves as a crucial western terminal and alternative export route for Saudi crude oil and refined products. The French move is to secure this specific site rather than engage in active combat or enter a wider regional conflict.
Berbera Port and the Red Sea. Somaliland is attempting to gain worldwide recognition of its independence from Somalia. Thus far it is only recognized by Israel. However, its seaport of Berbera is gaining in strategic significance as the Houthis are flexing their muscles in the Red Sea and the Bab al-Mandab Strait. Located on the Horn of Africa, Berbera is an entry point to Africa and an important trade center. Israel and the United Arab Emirates recognize the importance of Berbera and both have established a military presence. Read more in “Inside Somaliland: How Berbera Port is central to the Red Sea’s power struggle”, Middle East Eye, September 20, 2026.
Causalities Now at 861. With the addition of 29 U.S. sailors and eight Marines, the total number of personnel wounded since the start of hostilities has risen to 861, database shows. “Pentagon quietly adds dozens to tally of troops wounded amid Iran war”, The Washington Post, September 25, 2026. (subscription)
- 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
Ukraine’s Counteroffensive. The big story over the past several days is the ongoing Ukrainian Corps-level military moves in northern Donetsk Oblast near Lyman over the past few months. Ukraine claims at least 75 square kilometers have been cleared of Russian infiltration routes. This has reduced the Russian northern salient that was vital to encircling Ukraine’s fortress belt in western Donbass. (see map above) Read more in “An Overture to Victory: Operation Vivaldi and Ukraine’s Path to Battlefield Decision”, by Robert G. Rose, Modern War Institute at West Point, September 24, 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
FBI Hacked. The Federal Bureau of Investigation’s computer system has been breached according to the cybercrime group ShinyHunters. The group claims it stole personnel data, including the names, phone numbers, and addresses of over 5,000 employees.
CIA’s Red Cell. On September 12, 2001, George Tenet, then director of central intelligence, tasked a new team to “tell me what others don’t” and to challenge conventional wisdom on terrorism. The Red Cell gained a reputation for checking assumptions, asking “what if” questions, and providing opposing explanations or differing opinions on future events. “Navigating a More Uncertain World: Lessons from CIA’s Red Cell”, by Maria Langan Riekhof and Dr. Robert Ovelman, The CIPHER Brief, September 24, 2026.
Strategic Competition
More U.S. Troops for Lithuania? There are reports that two American battalions may be headed to the Baltic States in the near future. This will be part of a regular troop rotation. One will be a combat battalion with Abrams tanks and the other will be an engineer battalion. “Two US Army battalions to arrive in Lithuania in October, minister says”, LRT, September 24, 2026.
Critical Minerals and Africa. The United States government is pushing an initiative to become more independent the sourcing and processing of critical minerals. The U.S. has designated 60 minerals as critical – including lithium, cobalt, rare earths, and graphite due to their essential role in energy transition and defense technologies, as well as the geopolitically vulnerable supply chains. The Sahel region of Africa is emerging as a strategic node for critical minerals extraction. Read more in “US minerals diplomacy tests Sahel countries’ partnership choices“, Institute for Security Studies (ISS), February 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
UN Report on Afghanistan. The United Nations Secretary General submitted a report to the General Assembly Security Council on the current situation in Afghanistan. The report summary is below:
“After five years of Taliban rule, the de facto authorities continued to centre governance on promoting the Taliban leader Haibatullah Akhundzada’s vision of an Islamic system and loyalty to him. Armed opposition groups conducted limited attacks that did not significantly challenge the control of the de facto authorities, while cross-border hostilities between Afghanistan and Pakistan continued, with reports of civilian casualties, displacement and damage to critical infrastructure.
Through the comprehensive approach, and working groups on counter-narcotics and the private sector established under the Doha process with the aim of building confidence, advancing Afghanistan’s reintegration into the international system and meeting its international obligations, the United Nations facilitated engagement between the de facto authorities and the international community. Taliban policies continued to raise serious human rights concerns, including denial of rights affecting women and girls, restrictions on both men and women, arrests of journalists, reported violations of the general amnesty protecting members of the previous Government, and the continued imposition of corporal punishment. The Taliban also maintained their ban on national female staff and other Afghan women entering United Nations premises.
Food insecurity, malnutrition and public health concerns persisted, while operational constraints, funding gaps and restrictions affecting women humanitarian workers continued to impede the delivery of assistance. Humanitarian needs remained acute amid severe funding shortages. The 2026 Afghanistan Humanitarian Needs Response Plan remained significantly underfunded, at 29.9 per cent ($513 million of $1.7 billion required).”
UAE – Punching Above Its Weight. The United Arab Emirates is a country of 1.3 million citizens ranking number 86 globally in population among countries. In land mass it ranks number 114 in total surface area. However, this small country has an outsized economic and diplomatic capability. It has the sixth-largest oil and gas reserves in the world and the second-largest national pool of sovereign wealth fund capital. It projects its influence through trade and commercial networks and has and interventionist security posture around the Middle East and North Africa. This article provides details on the UAE’s influence and activities in the Red Sea area and North Africa. “Little Venice, little Sparta: the UAE’s statecraft meets the war on Iran”, by Cinzia Bianco, European Council on Foreign Relations, September 21, 2026.
Fighting in Northern Ethiopia. Fighting has once again broken out between Ethiopian federal troops and Tigrayan fighters ending a peace pact that had stopped a two-year war in 2022. The rebel forces are from the Tigray People’s Liberation Front (TPLF) located in Ethiopia’s northernmost regional state. The civilian death toll from the 2020-2022 conflict was estimated to be 500,000 people. The TPLF and six other opposition groups announced they are attempting to overthrow the governing Prosperity Party that was recently elected in contested June elections. “Renewed fighting in northern Ethiopia effectively shatters 2022 peace deal that ended war”, Associated Press, September 24, 2026.
Veterans Corner
Vets and Dental Benefits. A recent report by the Government Accountability Office (GAO) provided information about the Department of Veterans Affairs program that offers dental benefits to eligible veterans. Congress has considered expanding eligibility to veterans who’ve been diagnosed with heart disease. The VA committed to spend $3.1 billion on dental care in FY 25 and expects costs to increase. The GAO report found that in FYs 20-25, the number of veterans eligible for dental benefits increased about 70%, to 2.3 million. Expanding eligibility to those with heart disease could add over 600,000 to the total. It may also require more dentists, hygienists, and dental clinic space. “Veterans Health Care: Information on Eligibility for and Use of Dental Benefits”, GAO, September 23, 2026, PDF, 79 pages.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Video – How the CIA captured Carlos the Jackal, SpyCast, International Spy Museum, September 25, 2026, YouTube, 44 minutes. He was one of the world’s most notorious terrorists in the 1970s and ’80s, inspiring movies, books, and future terrorists. In his new book, The Jackal: The Rise and Fall of Carlos, the World’s First Super-Terrorist, journalist Joby Warrick profiles the mercenary terrorist and details how American and French intelligence took him down. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pHJCM1lvGw
SOA Newsletter. The September 2026 issue of the Special Operations Association Newsletter is online.
https://mailchi.mp/specialoperations.org/nov2022-soa-newsletter-6753039
Book Review – The Pickle Factory. Twelve years after the Central Intelligence Agency initially rejected its publication, a scathing book skewers a top-secret spying program. The book is penned by an ex-CIA nonofficial cover officer (NOC) and is billed as a work of fiction. However, like many fictional novels about the CIA, there seems to be a certain amount of truth in it. NOCs are undercover operatives and intelligence officers who work covertly overseas for long periods of time with no “official” cover. “Ex-CIA officer’s novel alleges grave dysfunction in deep-cover operations”, by Zach Dorfman, The Washington Post,, September 27, 2026.
Video – Unheeded Intelligence Warnings. A former U.S. Marine discusses his unheeded intelligence warnings about the Taliban’s resurgence while at NATO HQ. He also addresses major shortcomings in our Afghanistan mission. Andres Caceres-Solari is interviewed by Beth Bailey. The Afghanistan Project Podcast, September 21, 2026, YouTube, 1 1/2 hours.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EbGDwS7V2zQ
Video – Special Forces Commanders Release Their Plan for What’s Next, The Jedburgh Podcast, YouTube, September 24, 2026, one hour. The Command Team of the U.S. Special Forces Command discuss whether the legendary 12-man ODA is still the right formation for the wars of 2030 and 2040, and why the future may not require changing its core, but building new capabilities around it. Robotics and unmanned systems are rapidly becoming part of that evolution, including the development of specialized technical expertise designed to keep pace with technology that can change in a matter of weeks.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bwg6plxf2as
SOF News Book Shop
View our selection of books about special operations forces at the SOF News Book Shop.
Upcoming Events
September 30, 2026
Salute to SOF
Honor Foundation
Washington, DC
October 2, 2026
Veterans Fishing Adventure Golf Tournament 2026
Veterans Fishing Adventure
Fort Belvoir, VA
October 3, 2026
Join Forces: Texas Style
Special Operations Warrior Foundation
Dallas, TX
October 6, 2026
Global SOF Symposium Europe
Global SOF Foundation
Rome, Italy
October 8, 2026
Denver Trident Tribute
Navy SEAL Foundation
Englewood, CO
October 8, 2026
Austin Benefit Dinner
Honor Foundation
Austin, TX
October 17, 2026
William J. Donovan Award Dinner
OSS Society
Washington, D.C.
December 9-10, 2026
SOF & Irregular Warfare Symposium
DSI Group
Tampa, FL
SOF News is not a ‘money-making’ enterprise, but we do have administrative, operating, and publishing expenses. Individuals and businesses provide the funds to defray these expenses. Their contributions are deeply appreciated. Learn how you can support SOF News.
