Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts.

Photo / Image: MARSOC Marine from Special Operations Task Force West provides security at LZ in Nahr-e-Saraj district, Helmand province. (Photo by Cpl. Kyle McNally, 28 Mar 2012).

Executive Summary

This week’s SOF Weekly Brief highlights the completed U.S. military withdrawal from Iraq, renewed Iran-related tensions, Ukrainian battlefield gains, international SOF activity, and significant defense-policy developments. Other items include Special Forces recruiting success, expanded hostile fire pay, Ethiopia’s renewed conflict, sanctions on Iran, and emerging regional security concerns.

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

• Brief on UAE
• Noori film on Amazon Prime
• 8th Psychological Operations Group inactivates
• China’s influence grows in Afghanistan
• Camp As Sayliyah stays open
• SF refining combat diving
• New Air Force berets
• Tibetan resistance
• U.S. military mission in Iraq ends
• Iran/Hormuz shipping attacks and negotiations
• U.S. Middle East force buildup
• Renewed war in Ethiopia/Tigray
• SF recruiting reaches 15-year milestone
• International maritime SOF activity in the North Atlantic