Preventing the Elimination of Key Security Force Assistance Resource: Collaborative Special Operations Forces Beyond Traditional Boundaries
In various parts of the world, US Special Operations Forces (SOF) have been instrumental in training and supporting local forces in their fight against terrorist groups and other adversaries.
In Ukraine, Ukrainian special operations forces successfully ambushed a Russian military convoy during the early weeks of Russia's invasion, disabling the lead vehicles and halting its progress. This action, coupled with further nights of destruction and crippling of the convoy, significantly hindered Russia's advance.
Meanwhile, in Iraq, the Iraqi Counter Terrorism Service (CTS) stood firm against the Islamic State, repelling attacks and acting as the primary force in the US-backed counteroffensive to liberate Islamic State-occupied territories. The CTS learned valuable lessons, integrating close air support into its operations, mastering urban combat, and employing combat engineering to breach minefields. This interdependent relationship between US advisors and the CTS facilitated the CTS's adaptation to a campaign of conventional warfare against an innovative adversary.
The US commitment to the CTS in mid-2014 provided a significant morale boost, and the celebration in the CTS headquarters was a testament to this. US trainers also took steps to avoid the issue of army clan brigades mostly not following any central direction and being unable to fight outside their localities, by deliberately recruiting members of Danab from multiple clans.
In Somalia, the regular army is so dysfunctional that African Union forces need to hold the country's major cities while the US-created and trained Danab ("Lightning") Brigade conducts the hard offensive ground fighting against al-Shabaab, an al-Qaeda-linked terrorist group.
Similar cases exist in Afghanistan, where regular army units disintegrated after the US withdrawal in August 2021, leaving only the commandos to fight against the Taliban. The US had created and trained the Somali Danab Advanced Infantry Brigade, which now conducts most offensive operations against al-Shabaab.
However, US advisors to conventional forces often had to work within cultural and political constraints. The over-the-horizon approach promoted by the Biden administration may not suffice in the long term and may prove counterproductive. In the early half of the Iraq War (2003-2007), US trainers acquiesced to, or practiced, promotion based on sectarian considerations in the Iraqi army.
The US concept of dedicated Security Force Assistance (SFA) conventional units in the security force assistance brigades remains important, but trainers must be aware of and correct these issues to ensure the success of their missions. The US Army's conventional forces have faced difficulties finding the right people for the job in SFA, highlighting the need for continuous improvement and adaptation in this area.
In conclusion, US Special Operations Forces have played a crucial role in training and supporting local forces in various parts of the world. From Ukraine to Iraq, Somalia, and beyond, their efforts have contributed significantly to the fight against terrorism and other adversaries. However, challenges remain, and the US must continue to adapt and improve its strategies to ensure the success of its missions.
