Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.
Photo / Image: East Coast-based Naval Special Warfare Operators use a Submarine Exploration (SUEX) diver propulsion vehicle during a sustainment exercise in Virginia Beach, Va. (U.S. Navy photo by Mass Communication Specialist 1st Class Trey Hutcheson)
Executive Summary
This week’s SOF Weekly Brief examines the evolving role of Army special operations forces in large-scale combat operations and the activation of SPACEFOR-SOC, strengthening the integration of space capabilities into special operations. Additional developments include a reported U.S. Army deployment to Panama, continued Iranian threats to commercial shipping, renewed fighting in Yemen, and disruptions to Ukraine’s battlefield communications and drone operations. Other coverage addresses Russia’s Arctic military posture, U.S. counternarcotics operations, and emerging security challenges in Africa and the Middle East.
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Key Developments
- Kristi Noem is out as special envoy of “Shield of the Americas”
- Key ARSOF leaders provide insight at AUSA
- CRS report on Russia’s military presence in Arctic
- Attacks on shipping in Strait of Hormuz continue
- Ukraine ‘energy ceasefire’ dies a quick death
- Podcast – life and health after military service
SOF News
Space Force Activates Unit for USSOCOM. On October 7, a new component command for the Space Force was established for the United States Special Operations Command. The unit, SPACEFOR-SOC, will formalize space support to USSOCOM and special operations missions. The move institutionalizes how the Space Force organizes, trains, equips and presents forces for the special operations enterprise, placing SPACEFOR-SOC alongside sister service SOF components: U.S. Army Special Operations Command, Naval Special Warfare Command, Air Force Special Operations Command, and Marine Forces Special Operations Command. “Space Force activates SPACEFOR-SOC as service component command to Special Operations Command”, United States Space Force, October 14, 2026.
SOF and the ‘Big War’. Matt White writes about how the U.S. Special Operations Command leaders are planning what their small units will do in a large conflict. The Global War on Terror (GWOT) saw special operations forces in the lead for many of the activities that took place during the 20-year period. However, a war with Russia or China will see a much different role for SOF. Two Special Forces leaders were at the annual Association of the United States Army (AUSA) recently and voiced their opinion of SOF roles in large scale operations. They shed light on how Special Forces, Rangers, ARSOF aviation, Civil Affairs, PSYOP, and other units and elements would contribute to the big fight. “What would Special Operations Forces do in a really big war?“, by Matt White, Task & Purpose, October 16, 2026.
Retired Green Beret Gives Back to Community. U.S. Army Special Forces (SF) engineer and intelligence sergeant Rob Kinard retired from the Army and then contracted for several years for DTRA in Afghanistan. Now he runs a farm in western North Caraolina and has a growing mead enterprise. In addition, he works with the veterans community to stem veteran suicide. “Special Forces Retiree Gives Back, Finds Purpose through Good Times Mead”, Special Operations Association of America (SOAA), October 15, 2026.
IW and Adaptive Judgment. Decisions made at the team level under conditions of uncertainty can generate consequences that extend well beyond their immediate tactical effects. As a result, judgment becomes a decisive capability in IW. “Adaptive Judgment in Irregular Warfare: A Decision-Making Framework for SOF Leaders”, by Dr. Joseph Long, Irregular Warfare Initiative, October 17, 2026.
Time, Watches, and Irregular Warfare. Lumpy Lumbaca writes on how perceptions of the population in a conflict can change based on a what the projected outcome will be in the future and on the frame of reference for the observer. Memory supplies the past, interpretation supplies the present, and expectation supplies the future. Together, these things produce a judgment about where events are heading. “Who Truly Wears the Watches and has the Time in Irregular Warfare?”, Irregular Warfare Initiative, October 17, 2026.
TACP Airman Dies While Rappelling at Navy Football Game. A spokesperson for Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, confirmed that a service member assigned to the 6th Combat Training Squadron, Detachment 2, died from injuries sustained in the fall prior to the game between the University of Texas at San Antonio and the Naval Academy. The incident happened during a pregame rappelling demonstration. “Airman dies in rappelling demonstration at Navy football game”, Task @ Purpose, October 18, 2026.
China’s Army Rocket Forces SOF Units. The article examines the People’s Liberation Army Rocket Force’s special operations units, their organizational structure, and missions. Studying special forces in China’s nuclear and missile operations helps intelligence professionals and policymakers develop a clearer picture of China’s missile survivability and options to hold at risk its missile forces. “Special Forces in China’s Nuclear and Missile Operations”, by Alexander Richter, Small Wars Journal, October 15, 2026.
SOF History
On October 18, 1965, Special Forces Captain Larry Thorne (born Lauri Allan Torni) was killed in Vietnam. A Finnish soldier who fought the Soviets in WWII, Thorne, eventually joined the U.S. Army Special Forces. He died in a helicopter crash in Laos during a Operation Shining Brass mission while assigned to MACV-SOG. https://sogsite.com/major-larry-thorne/
On October 25, 1983, Operation Urgent Fury took place in Grenada. Several special operations units took part in the mission.
On October 19, 2001, two SF detachments infiltrate into northern Afghanistan to link up with the Northern Alliance. They were the first two U.S. Army teams inserted into Afghanistan to work with Northern Alliance Forces.
On October 19, 2001, Operation Rhino took place in southern Afghanistan. The 3rd Ranger Battalion conducted an airborne operation to seize Objective Rhino. This was part of a highly publicized U.S. effort to show that the United States could put boots on the ground anywhere in the world whenever it wanted.
Early on a Sunday morning, October 23, 1983, two terrorist truck bombs struck buildings in Beirut, Lebanon, housing American and French service members of the Multinational Force in Lebanon (MNF). The attack killed 305 people. (Wikipedia) https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1983_Beirut_barracks_bombings
National Security and Commentary
10th Mountain Division Counter Drug Mission in Panama. Hundreds of troops from the US Army’s 10th Mountain Division are deploying to Panama for forward staging at US Southern Command, to take the fight directly to drug traffickers and cartel networks operating in the region. A battalion from the 10th Mountain Division will begin training at the new jungle warfare facility in Panama, to be followed with training partner forces in Colombia and Honduras. “Pentagon Sends 600 Soldiers Into Latin America As Trump Turns Up Heat on Cartels”, by Jillian Butler, Daily Caller, October 15, 2026.
Kristi Noem is Out … Again. Noem was the former head of the Department of Homeland Security, but was fired in March 2026 after some controversial shootings by ICE agents. She was then provided a job as head of the “Shield of Americas” coalition but is no longer serving in that capacity.
CRS Report – Russia’s Arctic Military Posture, Congressional Research Service, CRS R49487, October 14, 2026, PDF, 12 pages. This publication by Andrew S. Bowen covers Russian Arctic policy, Russian military posture in the Arctic (map), the Northern Fleet, Aerospace Forces, ground forces, and U.S. policy and considerations for Congress. For more info on Arctic Security visit national-security.info.
Live Stream of Fort Hood Shooter Canceled. The execution of Nidal Malik Hasan will take place December 3rd, but it will not be livestreamed for public viewing. Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth stated that the execution by firing squad would be televised but that idea was quickly scuttled after fierce bipartisan criticism. Many critics said that the video of the execution would be widely spread on the internet by jihadist groups and used to fuel radicalization. President Trump announced that the livestreaming of the execution of Hasan was canceled. Hasan was an Army psychiatrist who walked into a medical building on November 5, 2009, and opened fire with a firearm. Hasan killed 13 people and wounded 32 others during the mass shooting.
SOUTHCOM Strikes. In early October the U.S. military struck another alleged drug-smuggling boat, killing four people. The campaign has now reportedly involved about 70 strikes and 235 deaths since September 2025. SOUTHCOM said intelligence confirmed the vessel was using a known trafficking route
Iran War and Regional Effects
Iran Continues to Strike Commercial Vessels. Oil tankers transiting the U.S.-sponsored route in the Strait of Hormuz (map) continue to be attacked with Iranian missiles and drones.
U.S. Strikes Commercial Vessel. CENTCOM said a U.S. fighter struck the stern of the Panama-flagged Ocean Molica, also known as Arika Sun, on October 10 after the vessel left an Iranian port and ignored blockade warnings. CENTCOM said the strike disabled propulsion without harming the crew. Reuters could not immediately obtain comment from the operator.
Yemen Update. Houthi forces are continuing their offensive in the western and southern outskirts of Taiz City. Heavy fighting took place on Sunday, October 18, 2026. Some media reporting states that the city has been encircled by Houthi forces since October 12. Saudi Arabia and the UAE appear to be coordinating their support in opposition to the Houthis and in their support for Yemen government forces and other groups fighting the Houthis. (Map of Yemen)
Yemen, Saudi Arabia, and China – And Chinese Missile Components. Saudi Arabia has excellent economic relations with China and is consider a privileged strategic partner. However, in the past several months the Houthis of Yemen have been launching missiles and drones against Saudi Arabia that have Chinese components. These Houthis strikes have damaged Saudi infrastructure and killed Saudi civilians. Irina Tsukerman provides a detailed account of the Chinese missile components provided to the Houthis in “The Geography of a Gathering Collapse in the Middle East”, The Washington Insider, October 17, 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
U.S. Sharing Intel Again. For a brief time, according to Ukrainian sources, the United States stopped sharing intelligence with Ukraine, the suspension is now over. Some Congressional leaders are asking the Department of Defense why and how this happened.
Restricting Ukraine’s Starshield Service. Reuters reported October 15 that instructions originating inside the White House caused the Pentagon-controlled Starshield service in Ukraine to be slowed. Ukrainian officials said terminals mounted on platforms moving faster than approximately 100 mph suffered disruptions, interfering with strike drones, battlefield logistics, and interceptor drones defending against Russian Shaheds. The precise decision-maker and duration remain unclear. A senior U.S. official denied that President Trump personally requested the restriction; the White House, Pentagon and SpaceX did not provide fuller explanations. The Starshield restriction exposes Ukraine’s commercial space dependency.
“Energy Ceasefire” Dies a Quick Death. Last week President Trump declared that Russia and Ukraine had agreed to a ceasefire on each others refineries. It was news to Ukraine and the deal was definitely a bonus for Russia; Ukraine has one refinery while Russia has 38. Both Ukraine and Russia quickly resumed strikes against each others energy infrastructure. The intent of President Trump was to cast blame on the rise of diesel prices in the U.S. to Ukrainian attacks on Russian refineries; deflecting attention away from the Iranian attacks on diesel refineries of the Gulf states.
Some Sanctions on Russia Ending. Trump signed an executive order Friday waiving sanctions on Russian energy, passed under the Lindsey O. Graham Sanctioning Russia and Iran Act. The measures were intended to apply increased pressure on the U.S. adversary to end its war in Ukraine and had passed with overwhelming bipartisan support. Waiving sanctions on Russia and limiting Ukraine’s ability to defend itself won’t bring peace according to an editorial by The Washington Post. “A New Level of Chaos in Trump’s Ukraine Policy”, October 17, 2026. (subscription)
Moscow Seeks a Summit to End War. Russian President Vladimir Putin has proposed a meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping next month to discuss Ukraine.
TPS Ends for Ukrainians. Within days after Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine, European countries opened their borders to Ukrainian refugees. The United States did the same, offering temporary protective status (TPS) to Ukrainians who were already in the U.S. for 18 months, which would allow them to live and work legally. TPS is a U.S. immigration benefit that allows eligible Ukrainians already in the U.S. when the conflict began to remain because of an ongoing armed conflict and unsafe conditions that prevent them from returning home. On October 19, 2026, that TPS ends for Ukrainians; it is technically set to expire for 100,000 Ukrainians in the U.S. However, the law gives the Secretary of Homeland Security, Senator Markwayne Mullin, a deadline to make a decision on whether to extend TPS for Ukrainians, yet no decision has been made. So, legally, TPS for Ukrainians is automatically extended for another six months. https://www.uscis.gov/humanitarian/temporary-protected-status/TPS-Ukraine
- 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.
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
Aid to Saudi Arabia. France has already committed to send defensive troops (air defense) to Saudia Arabia to protect vital energy infrastructure. Pakistan and Turkey have a military presence in Saudi Arabia as well. Egypt could soon join the mix to assist Saudi Arabia in defending against drone and missile attacks by the Houthis of Yemen. A decision is currently being discussed in Egypt’s’ parliament. In 2015, Egypt joined the Saudi-led coalition in Yemen for a limited time.
Pakistan and the Mecca Pact. In August, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey entered into a mutual defense agreement. The pact connects Saudi financial resources and Gulf influence, Turkish defense industrial capacity and NATO experience, and Pakistan’s large military, nuclear status, and longstanding regional security ties. Mujib Rahman writes on how the U.S. can benefit from Pakistan’s involvement in the Mecca Pact. “The Mecca Pact and Pakistan’s Bid to Become Indispensable”, War on the Rocks, October 14, 2026.
Congo Politics. Joseph Kabila, a former Congolese president, has joined up with the Rwandan-backed M23 rebel movement. The intent is to form a rebel coalition seeking to remove Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) President Felix Tshisekedi from power. A U.S. private military company was recently in the news after one of its one of its employees (a former New Zealand SAS member) and two of its employees were wounded (including UFC fighter Tim Kennedy). Several Congolese employees were also killed and wounded in the engagement with M23. The rebel group (M23) operates in the eastern border region (map) of the DRC.
Haiti Gangs in Rural Areas. Haiti’s armed gangs are extending their operations into rural and mountainous areas, thereby creating a security problem shaped by mobility, terrain, weak state presence, and criminal governance. “From Port-au-Prince to the periphery: The ruralization of Haitian gang violence”, Small Wars Journal, October 18, 2026.
Books, Podcasts, Videos, and Movies
Video – ARSOF in LSCO – Operational Integration for Decisive Advantage. LTG Gil Ferguson, Commanding General, United States Army Special Operations Command and BG Joseph W. Wortham, Commanding General, 1st Special Forces Command (Airborne), 1SFC take part in a panel discussion at the 2026 AUSA Warriors Corner. DVIDS, October 13, 2026, 36 minutes.
https://www.dvidshub.net/video/1026278/2026-ausa-warriors-corner-army-special-operations-forces-arsof-large-scale-combat-operations-operational-integration-decisive-advantage
Video – What Veterans Learned Too Late about Health & Life After Service. Erik Lawrence sits down with Soldier Systems Daily founder Eric Graves for a wide-ranging conversation about military service, Special Operations, entrepreneurship, veteran health, and the lessons that often don’t become clear until years after leaving the military. Eric’s military career began as a teenager and ultimately took him through the Army, Military Intelligence, Special Forces, the Air Force, Special Tactics, and assignments around the world before retiring after more than two decades of service. Along the way, he served with organizations including 3rd Special Forces Group and the 720th Special Tactics Group before eventually turning his experience and passion for the defense industry into Soldier Systems Daily. Veteran Wellness Podcast, October 12, 2026, one hour. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=H78ujOb5JKM
Book Review – Special Operations Success: Balancing Capabilities and Control. A book by James D. Kiras is reviewed by James Horncastle. Kiras has written extensively on SOF and modern warfare and in this book he applies a nuanced approach to determine SOF efficacy. The author’s book is likely intended for academics studying SOF but it will also be useful for practitioners and politicians in understanding SOF and their employment. Inter Populum, September 11, 2026.
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Upcoming Events
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