The US Slides Deeper into the War in Syria

A Special Forces Operation Detachment-Alpha soldier on patrol. Image: US Army.

This week the US Department of Defense announced that it would send an additional 250 troops to Syria to serve in non-combat support roles. These come in addition to the approximately 50 Special Forces soldiers operating in Northern Syria in support of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). While still small, this new deployment marks the beginning of a move away from the ‘no boots on the ground’ policy of the Obama administration towards Syria.

While not explicitly stated, it is almost certain that these 250 troops being sent to the war-town country will be serving in support of the SDF. The reason for this is that this group is the US’s only successful partner on the ground in the fight against ISIS, and the only one far enough removed from the rebel/regime conflict in order to not cause diplomatic problems with Russia and Iran.

Furthermore, the US has recently constructed an airbase located in Rimelan in SDF-held northeast Syria, and local media there has already begun reporting the arrival of these US troops.

The primary question however is not who they will support, but rather in what manner. Significantly, it remains to be seen exactly how loosely the US defines the ‘support role’ provided by the troops.

While this is mostly talked about from the perspective of training local forces and calling in airstrikes from behind the front lines, this is not always the case. Experience over the last year in Iraq has shown that US troops do occasionally involve themselves in direct fighting with ISIS, and have suffered casualties from this. Moreover, footage has emerged in recent days of western Special Forces engaged in fighting on the front lines with the SDF during their offensive on Al-Shaddadi earlier this year.

With this in mind, it would appear that the US troops announced will play a mixed role; providing training and airstrike targeting support combined with at least some combat teams spearheading key advances. All of this will come in use as the SDF plans to conduct new offensives deep into ISIS-held territory, and into areas which are predominately ethnically Arab. There, support from the local population and tribes will be critical, and US assistance will help fold more non-Kurdish fighters into the SDF, garnering it greater international (and intra-Syrian) legitimacy

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Taking a wider view, the US decision to become more deeply involved in Syria comes alongside moves which suggest the country has decided on the SDF as its favored partner in the country, and the best bet to defeat ISIS. While Russia has raised some concerns with the deployment, it does not interfere significantly with its own objectives for now, and the country is in itself supporting a separate SDF pocket further west. Notwithstanding major changes in the situation on the ground, the deployment of small numbers of US soldiers to the region could become a more regular occurrence as the final push towards ISIS’s capital Ar-Raqqa picks up. 

Ankara categorically denies US special forces’ presence in Turkey

Turkish Foreign Ministry officials have categorically denied media reports suggesting that Washington has special forces stationed close to the Syrian border in Turkey.

Speaking on the condition of anonymity, sources denied the claim of British daily The Times that American and French special forces have been at İncirlik airbase in southern Turkey for weeks.

U.S. Defense Secretary Leon Panetta confirmed on Oct. 10 that a team of U.S. military planners was in Jordan to help the government grapple with Syrian refugees, bolster its military capabilities and prepare for any trouble with its chemical weapons stockpiles. 

"We have been working with Jordan for a period of time now ... on a number of the issues that have developed as a result of what's happened in Syria," Reuters quoted Panetta as saying in Brussels.

Panetta said those issues included monitoring chemical weapons sites "to determine how best to respond to any concerns in that area."  A U.S. official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the small team of planners were not engaged in covert operations and have been housed at the King Abdullah II Special Operations Training Center, north of the capital of Amman, since the early summer.

If It Works For Special Forces...

The U.S. Army is experimenting with Regionally Aligned Brigades (RABs). These are regular combat brigades that customize their training to prepare for likely service in a particular part of the world. The first brigade to be so trained (from the 1st Infantry Division in Fort Riley, Kansas) will be prepped for service in Africa. That means the brigade will be getting ready to work for AfriCom (Africa Command). That could include everything from sending teams to train troops, to joint training with African troops to peacekeeping or aiding in some catastrophe. If this experiment succeeds, the army will designate RABs for Southern (SouthCom in South America), Central (CentCom in the Middle East) and Pacific Commands (PacCom). RABs would be assigned to commands in numbers each of the commands feels is adequate.

This form of specialization has been going on for decades in the U.S. Army Special Forces. Troops in the seven Special Forces groups tend to spend their career in one group, the better to become experts in languages and culture in the regions each group specializes in.

The 1st Special Forces Group specializes in Southeast Asia, Korea, China and the Pacific in general. The 3rd Special Forces Group covers the Caribbean and West Africa. The 5th Special Forces Group specializes in the Middle East and South Asia (including Afghanistan and Pakistan). The 7th Special Forces Group specializes in Latin America. The 10th Special Forces Group specializes in Europe (especially the Balkans). There are two groups in the reserves. The 19th Special Forces Group covers the same territory as the 1st and 5th Groups. The 20th Special Forces Group covers the same territory as the 7th Group.

Special Forces have suggested several times in the past that the army try something like RABs, and the U.S. Marine Corps picked up on the idea years before the army actually did.

They either drop their weapons, or they drop their weapons

Responding to questions posed by the Turkish press while in Brazil, Prime Minister Erdoğan expressed that it was crucial the PKK relinquish their weapons, and stated, “The moment the PKK drops their weapons, it will no longer be an issue for security forces to continue operations.”

Responding to questions posed by the Turkish press while in Brazil, Prime Minister Erdoğan expressed that it was crucial the PKK relinquish their weapons, and stated, "The moment the PKK drops their weapons, it will no longer be an issue for security forces to continue operations."

The PKK seems to stage attacks when you are engaged in an intensive foreign policy program. This latest attack transpired while you were attending the G-29 summit. Will it be possible to reach a solution by 2015 when Turkey hosts the G-20 summit?

"It is impossible to provide a specific date, however if the separatist terrorist organization drops their weapons before 2015 then it may be a possibility. The co-chair of BDP says. 'The PKK should drop their weapons and the Turkish Armed Forces should stop operations.' The moment the PKK drops their weapons, it will no longer be an issue for security forces to continue operations. However, they shouldn't wait for our security forces to stop using weapons, because their own instruments are also weapons… Furthermore, weapons are not only used against the separatist terrorist organization, but they are also necessary to maintain public order. Over the past few days we have lost eight soldiers in the line of duty and 26 terrorists have been rendered ineffective. Truthfully, we do not want any of this. However, when we lose eight of our own soldiers, it is not possible for our security forces to remain with their hands tied behind their backs. Our public has expectations and our General Staff and our Armed Forces commanders go out to the region and reap results."

You have said that there are internal steps to be taken and if necessary you will take those steps. Is this the expression of a new perspective on reaching a solution?

"What I am saying is that we need to see it for ourselves. We need to see them drop their weapons and we will not take any steps until we do so. We have had so many different approaches geared towards this issue…"

Is the dropping of weapons a prerequisite?

"Yes, it is a prerequisite. Citizens are threatened when they vote and threatened for extortion. Our provincial and district chairmen are kidnapped and even killed. However, I can proudly say that none of them and not even their families are backing down."

Is an international consensus developing regarding reaching a solution?

"It is evidently clear that the separatist terrorist organization's position in the international platform is no longer what it was ten years ago. They are extremely weaker today. This is the result of our efforts to inform of the situation. The international community is now aware. Also the distance taken by Northern Iraq is no longer what it was in the past."

Barzani has made a series of statements that have pleased the Turkish public…

"Barzani has been extremely clear and he is influential in the Kurdish region. He wants the PKK to drop their weapons. Nechirvan comes to us saying the same thing. We need to keep our relations with Northern Iraq strong, which upsets both the PKK and the BDP, however we will continue."

Turkey’s Special Forces in pursuit of Syrian terrorists

The order for the recent PKK attack in Hakkari was given by Syrian national Fehman Hüseyin. Another Syrian İskender Derik was responsible for organizing the group that staged the attack. Yet another Syrian citizen Yılmaz Kürdo not only directly participated in the attack, he also directed it.

According to the information obtained, the recent attack which resulted in the deaths of eight Turkish soldiers was ordered by Syrian national Fehman Hüseyin, otherwise known as Bahoz Erdal, the man in charge of the PKK terrorist organization's Special Forces.

Upon Bahoz's orders, the attack was supposedly organized by Reşit Dostum, aka Mehmet Can Gürhan the man in charge of the Zagros State wing and yet another Syrian, İskender Derik. Meanwhile, Zagros regional leader and Syrian national Yılmaz Kürdo actively participated and led the attack staged by nearly 250 terrorists. Eight Turkish soldiers were killed in the attack, while 26 terrorists have been killed thus far in operations that are currently ongoing by Turkish security forces.

The Van Special Authority Public Prosecutor's office has begun an investigation into the attack, while military prosecutors are also looking into any form of fault or negligence. Security forces recovered a series of military maps from the pockets of terrorists killed.

The decision to stage the attack was supposedly made at the Hakurk Camp and the order directly given by Syria's Fehman Hüseyin. The approximately 200 to 250 terrorists who participated in the attack were supposedly picked out one by one by the organization's leaders. The terrorists staged the attack in three groups. The initial group that went in used heavy machinery to initiate the attack, while another group supposedly intended to infiltrate the military outpost.

The group threw hand grenades from five to ten meters' distance and then tried to crawl their way into the military post. Seven terrorists were killed from this group in live combat with security forces. An additional 13 from the initial group that attacked were also killed in combat.

OPERATIONS CONTINUE

General Staff troops as well as Gendarmerie and Special Forces Police teams consisting of commandos, as well as 5,000 soldiers and guards are currently tracking down the terrorists involved in the attack. Ongoing operations continue primarily in the border regions of Derecik, Samanlı, Dağlıca and Yeşiltaş, intending to render ineffective approximately 200 terrorists that are supposedly trying to cross into Iraq. Helicopters from the Tactical Infantry Division Command are transporting Special Forces to the region of operations between Şemdinli and Derecik. Meanwhile, cobra helicopters are opening fire along terrorist transportation routes. War planes are heavily bombing targets in the Zagros mountain region spanning from Hakurk, Avaşin and Zap to the Iranian border. The terrorist organization's Zap camp is being hit by long-range howitzers in addition to F-16 war planes.

GENERAL STAFF: WE ARE DETERMINED

The General Staff has issued an announcement that they are determined to continue operations. The announcement stated that the troops that were victims of the attack immediately responded, resulting in the terrorist group suffering serious casualties. The General Staff also released the current death toll of terrorists in ongoing operations as 26, killed with weapons in hand, and one terrorist, which was captured alive.

The Falklands War - SBS

Special Boat Service

The Special Boat Service (SBS) is the British Royal Navy's special forces unit. The service's motto is "By Strength and Guile". It forms part of the United Kingdom Special Forces, alongside the Special Air Service (SAS) and the Special Reconnaissance Regiment (SRR).

The SBS is an independent unit of the Royal Marines and is based with 1 Assault Group Royal Marines and the British Army's 148 Commando Forward Observation Battery in Royal Marines Poole, in Poole, Dorset.

Selection

To be eligible for SBS selection, a candidate must have at least two years regular service. Formerly candidates were from the Royal Marines or the Royal Navy, but now volunteers are taken from any arm of the services. In order to qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist, Candidates must first undergo Special Forces Selection with the SAS before continuing to SBS selection.

There is also an SBS Reserve (SBS(R)), and candidates must have previous military experience or have served at least two years in the Royal Marines Reserve before attending a Specialist course and gaining the specialist qualification of swimmer canoeist. SBS(R) provides individual reservists to serve with the regular SBS rather than forming independent teams.

Role

The SBS's role is not confined to seaborne and maritime operations; their responsibilities do not end at the tide line. The SBS usually provides the special forces element of 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines and is responsible for Maritime Counter-Terrorism operations, including the protection of oil rigs and vessels at sea.

It also has the responsibility for conducting coastal reconnaissance before amphibious operations. This involves conducting hydrographic surveys (surveying beaches and coastal waters to determine their suitability for amphibious landings) and landing small teams ashore covertly, to conduct reconnaissance patrols or set up coast-watch observation posts; as the SBS and Boat Troops of the SAS did in the Falklands war in 1982.

Training

Qualification as an SBS Swimmer Canoeist involves an extensive training course, building on the skills gained during SF Selection at Hereford. Training includes:

Diving both closed and open circuit - candidates swim underwater for miles in poor visibility completing complex navigational tasks and employment exercises.

Parachuting both HALO and HAHO

Demolition,

Infiltration of ships, in harbour and whilst under way, and oil platforms.

Canoeing - Use of the Klepper canoe during selection is extensive.

Further survival training in the wilds of Scotland.

Beach reconnaissance including photography

Maritime Counter-Terrorism activities

Those who pass the selection course qualify as a Swimmer Canoeist (SC3) and are then probationers.

Being trained as parachutists, SBS marines are distinguishable by wearing the Special Forces Parachute badge on the shoulder of the right sleeve on their uniforms.

Organisation

The SBS is thought to have a complement of around 100 "Swimmer Canoeists" at any one time. These are split into four squadrons.

C and X squadrons rotate through three specialist roles.

M squadron is the maritime counter-terrorism and shipboard operations unit. Within M-Squadron is the Black Group, the counter-terrorism team that uses helicopter-borne assaults.

Z squadron takes care of small watercraft and minisub insertions.

Personnel have previously been required to return to the main Commando force after the first three year tour, potentially returning again after a short period, it is thought that this requirement has been relaxed with some personnel remaining with the service as required.

History

1941: The Special Air Service was formed in World War II during the north African conflict. The SAS later formed a unit comprising eight-man sections of divers and canoeists to reconnoitre enemy fortifications from land or sea, raid enemy ports, and conduct sabotage operations against merchant shipping. Originally this unit was named the Special Boat Section to fool German radio operators listening in on British military communications. It was assumed that Wehrmacht operators would have little interest in a "Special Boat Section" when there was so much else going on.

1942 April: The British Royal Navy formed a frogman and manned torpedo unit called "Experimental Submarine Flotilla": see British commando frogmen for more about them and their deeds in 1942 to 1945.

1946: The SBS became part of the Royal Marines. It became part of the School of Combined Operations under the command of Blondie Hasler.

1951: Another two squadrons were formed from British troops in West Germany.

Two volunteer squadrons were later added. Their first missions were in Palestine (ordnance removal) and in Haifa (limpet mine removal from ships).

1950-1953: In the Korean War the SBS were in action along the North Korean coast. They gathered intelligence and destroyed railways and installations. The SBS operated first from submarines, and later from islands off Wonsan, behind enemy lines. They used two-man canoes and motorised inflatable boats.

1952: SBS teams were held at combat readiness in Egypt in case Gamal Abdal Nasser's coup turned more violent than it did.

1956: The SBS were alerted during the Suez Crisis, but did not see action.

1969 September: The SBS were alerted during a coup against king Idris I of Libya, but did not see action. Similar situations followed.

1961: SBS teams carried out reconnaissance missions during the Indonesian Confrontation.

1961: The SBS primarily gathered intelligence and trained other special forces during the Vietnam War

1961: Iraq threatened to invade Kuwait for the first time, so the SBS put a detachment at Bahrain.

later: The SBS was stationed in Gibraltar, where they gathered intelligence in case Franco's Spain decided to invade.

The SBS were involved in anti-drug operations in the Caribbean.

1972: The SAS and SBS came into the spotlight for a moment during their involvement with a bomb threat (which later proved to be a hoax) onboard the Cunard liner RMS Queen Elizabeth II, in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean.

1977: The SBS changed its name to Special Boat Squadron.

1979: 5 SBS became part of the Comacchio Company, which protected North Sea oil rigs.

1980: SBS members played a part in the 1980 Iranian Embassy Siege.

1982 March-June: In the Falklands War, 2 SBS took part in the liberation of South Georgia and 6 SBS reconnoitered in East Falkland. Their only losses were to friendly fire from the SAS.

1987: The SBS became part of the UK Special Forces group alongside the Special Air Service and 14 Intelligence Company.

1987: The SBS changed its name to Special Boat Service and was brought under the command of the Director of Special Forces.

1991: During the Gulf War, the SBS made raids on the Kuwaiti coast to draw Iraqi troops away from the land attack. The liberation of the British embassy in Kuwait was one of their most high-profile operations.

1999 or later: The SBS were involved in operations in East Timor.

2001 October: The SBS took part in the U.S. invasion of Afghanistan, where they secured Bagram Airbase.

2003: The SBS took part in the invasion of Iraq in 2003.

2005 March 14: The commanding officer of the SBS was killed in a training accident in Norway.

2006 June 27: One SBS Marine and one seconded Parachute Regiment officer were killed and one seriously injured in a Taliban ambush in Helmand province, southern Afghanistan. Throughout the Cold War, the SBS was organised to perform a "conventional " special forces role for the 3 Commando Brigade Royal Marines . However, in recent decades the SBS's role has become more and more devoted to counter-terrorist operations.

Present;  The SBS remain active and are also involved with the London Olympics.