SOF News Update for 20161217 – Russian SOF key to Aleppo victory, large drug seizure by SOF / DEA in Afghanistan, MARSOC brother’s in arms, Russian mercenaries in Syria, JSOC’s CEOTF, dune buggies for CANSOF, and more.
Russian SOF Plays Key Role in Syria. A news report by Thomas Grove explores the role that Russian special operations forces played in the Syrian ground offensive to take the large city of Aleppo. The city was under siege for over four years but the rebel forces holding the city appear to be defeated. Russian air power and SOF were present. Read “Russian Special Forces Seen as Key to Aleppo Victory”, The Wall Street Journal, December 16, 2016. (paywall subscription my be required).
JSOC’s Counter-External Operations Task Force. The Joint Special Operations Command is taking the fight to the terrorists on a global level. Read more in “Special Operations: More Mystery Options for JSOC”, Strategy Page, December 2016.
Large Drug Seizure in Afghanistan. U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), U.S. special operations forces, and Afghan counternarcotics police seized over 20 tons of drugs in Afghanistan. It is the largest known seizure of heroin . . . ever . . . anyplace. Read “DEA: Heroin Haul Largest Ever in Afghanistan, ‘If Not the World'”, ABC News, December 15, 2016.
Two Brothers assist with MARSOC Foundation. Two brothers spent five years together in Marine special operations. Both have since separated from the military but work as ambassadors for the MARSOC Foundation. TCPalm, Dec 15, 2016.
Hereford, UK Hosting Defense Conference. The home of the British Special Air Service (SAS) will be hosting a national security and defense conference on Feb 1, 2017. Hereford Times, Dec 15, 2016.
Russian Mercenaries in Syria. Read this intriguing article entitled “Russia’s Paramilitary Mercenaries Emerge From The Shadows”, Radio Free Europe, December 16, 2016.
CANSOF To Get New Dune Buggies. It appears that Canadian Special Operations Forces Command (CANSOFCOM) will be receiving almost 100 off-road vehicles that can carry troops equipment, mount a weapons turret, and be transported by Chinook helicopters and cargo transport planes. Read “For $20M, Canadian special forces will get fleet of combat vehicles that resemble dune buggies on steroids”, National Post, December 15, 2016.
(Featured image from USSOCOM 2016 Factbook.)
