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

Photo / Image: AC-130 Gunship DoD Photo.

Executive Summary

This weekly briefing summarizes developments in special operations forces (SOF), global conflicts, intelligence, and national security from the past week. Several articles below focus on SOF Week 2026, one of the premier annual gatherings of the global special operations community held in May 2026.

It appears that negotiations may be moving toward a temporary agreement regarding the Iran conflict. Not all the details are known. As usual, the supporters and detractors of the deal have jumped in with their opinions of the proposed agreement. It will not likely achieve all of the objectives of the Trump administration, but could bring a halt to the conflict and ‘open’ up the Strait of Hormuz relieving the pressure on the global economy.

The tide could be turning to Ukraine’s favor in the more than four-year conflict due to Ukraine’s ability to out-class the Russians in drone warfare. The Special Forces Association is holding their annual conference in Fort Walton Beach in early June. Turkey continues to expand its influence in the Horn of Africa, assisting Somalia with its armed forces training. An ex-CIA official was arrested for having about $40 million in gold bars in his house that belonged to the CIA.

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Key Outlooks

• U.S.-Iranian agreement in the works and in ‘final stages’
• SOF Week 2026 recorded its largest attendance to date.
• Ukraine continues leveraging drone warfare to offset Russian advantages.
• Security conditions in Mali remain unstable amid jihadist and rebel activity
• Missile expenditures during Operation Epic Fury are raising concerns about U.S. munition inventories
• U.S. conducts ‘self-defense’ strikes in Iran
• Ebola outbreak in Africa
• U.S. Embassy in Bamako, Mali issues security alert
• Five U.S. personnel injured at Kuwait air base during Iranian attack