SOF News

Story by Staff Sgt. Austin Baker, 3rd SFG(A). If you listen to the briefings, you’d think international partnerships are only built around a formal table and greeting with formal handshakes. On the ground, in the dense heat of Côte d’Ivoire, we built them with a worn-out soccer ball, a makeshift goal made out of two cinder blocks, and a patch of deep red dirt.

Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts. Photo / Image: CV-22 from the 8th Special Operations Squadron flies over the Emerald Coast outside Hurlburt Field. (AFSOC photo). This weekly briefing summarizes the most significant events affecting special operations forces, irregular warfare, intelligence, and national security during the past week.

The Pentagon has removed the names of four service members who died in Jordan and Iraq in the past week from the official list of casualties (lists 14 as of 2130 ET July 23, 2026) in the current Iran War. On Wednesday, July 22, the casualty list had 18 American service members killed during the war in Iran. By Thursday, it was reduced to 14 KIA.

By Matthew Olay, Pentagon News. The fourth and final line of effort in the 2026 National Defense Strategy calls for the supercharging of the defense industrial base; and within that effort is a call to grow nontraditional vendors.

The Editor of SOF News is attending the “Strategic Resources in Competition: Critical Minerals & Rare Earth Elements” conference taking place in Reston, Virginia this week. So there will be a small break in posting articles and sending out the newsletter. The Irregular Warfare Initiative (IWI) and the Special Operations Association of America (SOAA) are hosting the two-day conference. The gathering will be focused on the role of critical minerals and rare earth elements in strategic competition.

U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) has reported that two U.S. service members in Jordan were killed in action. One service member is currently missing (as of July 18). Four American service members were medically evacuated to Jordanian hospitals. They have since been discharged. Other personnel were evaluated for minor injuries but have since returned to duty. The identities of the fallen service members will be withheld until 24 hours after the next of kin have been notified.

By Shaun Chittick. Background This essay provides an account of the British raid on the port of Saint Nazaire, France toward the end of March 1942. The intent of the raid was to render the drydocks at Saint Nazaire inoperable and deny the German Navy the only safehaven capable of repairing a damaged Tirpitz.

Looking for upcoming Special Operations community events this August? Here are notable SOF events happening across the community, including nonprofit fundraisers, networking events, and industry gatherings.

Curated news, analysis, and commentary on special operations, intelligence, irregular warfare, national defense, and global conflicts. Photo / Image: B-52 Refueling during combat flight supporting Operations Epic Fury on March 26, 2026. CENTCOM Facebook. This weekly briefing summarizes the most significant events affecting special operations forces, irregular warfare, intelligence, and national security during the past week.

Iran recently attacked three commercial vessels transiting the Strait of Hormuz (SoH) including Marshall Islands-flagged M/T Al Rekayyat, Saudi Arabia-flagged M/T Wedyan, and Liberian-flagged M/T Cyprus Prosperity. They were likely taking the U.S. designated southern route through the strait that follows the coast of Oman. The vessels were two crude oil tankers and one LNG tanker. U.S. Central Command has responded to these attacks with retaliatory strikes against Iranian military targets.