Latest news with #USASOC
Newsweek
22-07-2025
- Newsweek
Army Warns of Terror Threat in Florida
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. U.S. Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) sent out a letter warning about a "potential terrorist threat" in Florida. The letter was sent to retired senior officials living in Florida who had worked previously for the Defense Department (DOD) in Syria or Iraq. Colonel Allie Weiskopf, U.S. Special Operations Command director of public affairs, told Newsweek: "The military receives reports of threats all the time. In this case, Army Special Operations wanted to ensure the right personnel were tracking." Neither the nature of the threat nor a terrorist group was mentioned in the letter. Close-up US ARMY badge taken at the U.S. military training area Grafenwoehr, headquarters of the 7th Army Training Command on March 11th, 2022. Close-up US ARMY badge taken at the U.S. military training area Grafenwoehr, headquarters of the 7th Army Training Command on March 11th, 2022. Frank Hoermann/SVEN SIMON/picture-alliance/dpa/AP Images Why It Matter Colonel Allie Scott explained to The New York Times that this kind of letter is not uncommon, but that the threat was deemed credible enough to issue the warning. USASOC was involved in strikes across Syria and Iraq targeting the Islamic State group and Al-Qaeda. Many of those involved in those strikes have remained unidentified for fear of retaliation. What To Know The letter sent on July 15 is a "Duty to Warn" letter. It was posted to social media by Marine and blogger Kagan Dunlap, and initially confirmed by USASOC to The New York Times and Task & Purpose on July 17. The warning, sent by Colonel Mark A. Katz, USASOC provost marshal, states that the threat does not involve current USASOC personnel, but it should "reinforce the importance of vigilance and situational awareness." The MacDill Air Force Base in Florida is home to the headquarters of the U.S. Special Operations Command and Central Command. The US Southern Command is also headquartered in Florida, at a location in Miami. In early 2025, the FBI said that the driver involved in the New Year's Eve car-ramming attack in New Orleans, which killed 14 people, had an Islamic State flag in his vehicle. What People Are Saying The letter states: "This message is to inform you of a recent 'Duty to Warn' notification regarding a potential terrorist threat targeting retired senior officials who previously served in the Department of Defense with roles in the Syria/Iraq theater. The current geographic focus of this threat is Florida." Colonel Allie Weiskopf, U.S. Special Operations Command director of public affairs, told Newsweek: "We can't name specific people or terrorist organizations, and we always encourage our service members and retirees to be vigilant." Colonel Allie Scott told Task & Purpose: "I would say that there was information that was credible enough to provide this level of reporting to our formation." Scott further explained: "We issued that warning, as we do with all credible threats, we issued those to our formations because, of course, the security and safety of all our personnel is important." What Happens Next Retired military personnel living in Florida should report any suspicious activity to local law enforcement. Other personnel should remain vigilant, the letter states.
Daily Mail
20-07-2025
- Daily Mail
Florida hit by terrorist threat against retired commanders
Retired US special forces operatives living in Florida have been warned they could be targets of a credible terrorist threat, in a chilling alert issued by the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The alarming notice — which has been shared on social media — was quietly circulated to former senior military personnel who served in Iraq and Syria, and specifically cautioned those now residing in the Sunshine State. While officials declined to identify the terrorist group or country of origin behind the threat, the warning was deemed serious enough to warrant a 'duty to warn' notification. Col. Allie Scott, a spokesperson for the command, told the New York Times that such notifications are not uncommon, and issued when there's credible information that retired service members could be in danger. She declined to provide additional details, citing operational sensitivity. The warnings are usually issued when there is intelligence relating to a potential threat of intentional killing, serious bodily harm, or kidnapping, and when the cost to alerting those in danger is low. The threat does not apply to active-duty special operations personnel, but they were advised to stay alert both on and off base, and to immediately report any suspicious behavior. The provost marshal, Col. Mark A. Katz, who signed the warning, urged current troops to inform any retired comrades living in Florida of the situation and to remain vigilant. 'We encourage all personnel to remain alert to their surroundings, both on and off post, and to report any suspicious activity to appropriate authorities,' says the alert. Florida is home to thousands of retired elite military personnel, many of whom settled there after serving with the Tampa-based US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). Pictured: Members assigned to U.S. Special Operations Command execute a simulated rescue mission during a Special Operations Forces (SOF) demonstration in Downtown Tampa, Florida, May 18, 2022. That was the nerve center for missions against ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terror networks in the Middle East. US commandos have played a key role in clandestine raids, drone strikes, and counterterror operations in Iraq and Syria for decades, often anonymously, due to fears of retaliation. The Pentagon has long acknowledged the possibility of foreign actors or jihadist networks seeking revenge against American forces — even on US soil. Andrew Sullivan, the executive director of No One Left Behind, a non-profit that supports locals who assisted America's War on Terror, said ex-service members faced 'urgent and dire' dangers. 'The terrorist threat emanating from Syria is so strong that some retired American veterans in Florida are at risk of reprisal because of their service in Syria or Iraq,' Sullivan posted on social media. The nature of this latest threat remains unclear, but the warning has raised eyebrows in security circles and renewed concerns about the long arm of extremist groups seeking payback for US military campaigns abroad. Military sources say anyone connected to past operations — whether officers, contractors, or retired advisors — should now be on high alert. For those who served in the shadows, the war may not be over.
Daily Mail
18-07-2025
- Politics
- Daily Mail
Florida hit by 'credible' terrorist threat as retired Pentagon commanders are warned they could be 'targets'
Retired US special forces operatives living in Florida have been warned they could be targets of a credible terrorist threat, in a chilling alert issued by the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC). The alarming notice — which has been shared on social media — was quietly circulated to former senior military personnel who served in Iraq and Syria, and specifically cautioned those now residing in the Sunshine State. While officials declined to identify the terrorist group or country of origin behind the threat, the warning was deemed serious enough to warrant a 'duty to warn' notification. Col. Allie Scott, a spokesperson for the command, told the New York Times that such notifications are not uncommon, and issued when there's credible information that retired service members could be in danger. She declined to provide additional details, citing operational sensitivity. The warnings are usually issued when there is intelligence relating to a potential threat of intentional killing, serious bodily harm, or kidnapping, and when the cost to alerting those in danger is low. The threat does not apply to active-duty special operations personnel, but they were advised to stay alert both on and off base, and to immediately report any suspicious behavior. The provost marshal, Col. Mark A. Katz, who signed the warning, urged current troops to inform any retired comrades living in Florida of the situation and to remain vigilant. 'We encourage all personnel to remain alert to their surroundings, both on and off post, and to report any suspicious activity to appropriate authorities,' says the alert. Florida is home to thousands of retired elite military personnel, many of whom settled there after serving with the Tampa-based US Special Operations Command (SOCOM). That was the nerve center for missions against ISIS, Al-Qaeda and other terror networks in the Middle East. US commandos have played a key role in clandestine raids, drone strikes, and counterterror operations in Iraq and Syria for decades, often anonymously, due to fears of retaliation. The Pentagon has long acknowledged the possibility of foreign actors or jihadist networks seeking revenge against American forces — even on US soil. Andrew Sullivan, the executive director of No One Left Behind, a non-profit that supports locals who assisted America's War on Terror, said ex-service members faced 'urgent and dire' dangers. 'The terrorist threat emanating from Syria is so strong that some retired American veterans in Florida are at risk of reprisal because of their service in Syria or Iraq,' Sullivan posted on social media. The nature of this latest threat remains unclear, but the warning has raised eyebrows in security circles and renewed concerns about the long arm of extremist groups seeking payback for US military campaigns abroad. Military sources say anyone connected to past operations — whether officers, contractors, or retired advisors — should now be on high alert. For those who served in the shadows, the war may not be over.
Yahoo
12-04-2025
- Yahoo
US special operators are going all in on drones so that a human never has to make 'first contact' with the enemy
US special operations forces are working with a lot of different drones. Operators said the speed of technological innovation requires constant learning. Each type of uncrewed system has a different purpose, but the goal is to acquire a lot of it for cheap. FORT BRAGG, North Carolina — I play a lot of video games, and the simulator in front of me looked familiar enough: a handheld controller hooked up to a laptop. Picking up the controller with confidence, I figured my years of gaming would give me an advantage. I was ready to fly my drone through an abandoned city, or so I thought. The controls for movement — up, down, front, back — were extremely sensitive, far more than I expected. I tried flying my drone into an empty, concrete building. I shakily skirted the edge of it and landed on the street. Then I just flew up and down for a bit, crashing a few more times as I went along. "I'm not very good at this," I said. The US Army special operator who had been attempting to coach me, agreed, telling me that I probably wouldn't make a good drone pilot. The good thing is that I don't need this particular skill, but the soldiers preparing for future fights and modern war need it as much as they do small arms skills and fieldcraft. Drones are fast becoming an unavoidable part of warfare. The operator took the controller and effortlessly flew in and out of small windows in buildings. He cut sharp corners and soared through the open air. He made it look easy. It's not. US special forces have been leading the charge on acquiring drones and training with them, working closely with industry partners on what capabilities are needed and then honing the skills required to operate them effectively. At the US Army Special Operations Command's Capabilities Exercise at Fort Bragg in North Carolina last week, drones were everywhere. Small quadcopters, uncrewed ground vehicle systems, robot dogs, loitering munitions, and more were on display. Operators and officials cited a number of reasons as to why uncrewed systems seemed to be such a priority. Pointing at one of wheeled drones, Bryan Boyea, the ground robotics capabilities manager with USASOC's robotics division under its force modernization center, said that the goal was to "eliminate first contact ever being a human being." The drone, Boyea noted, allowed operators to extend their eyes and ears on the battlefield. Another, smaller drone — white and flatter to the ground — was nearby. This one, he said, is mostly for reconnaissance and intelligence purposes, gathering information on potential enemies in both urban and subterranean environments instead of a human being or military dog. The drones are among the smaller ground equipment available to special operators, portable so teams can pick them up and carry them around. The bigger one weighs around 30 pounds. First-person-view, or FPV, quadcopters were sitting nearby. These are smaller uncrewed aerial systems, lightweight and used for either intelligence-gathering or dropping smaller payloads. One of the key attributes of these types of drones, operators said, was their adaptability — being able to change the sensors and payloads based on the mission requirements. They're also highly mobile, relatively easy to learn, and — ideally — scalable, meaning operators could use them in swarms. A variety of companies are involved in producing different types of drones, and one operator said an important project is ensuring that the technology can work together with other systems via similar software. Because the technology is developing so quickly, there's often a debate surrounding whether learning drones is an additional duty for operators — or an entirely new job in itself. One Army special forces operator, who requested anonymity for security reasons, said the difference may come down to the type of drone. A small ground drone with limited controls, it's likely that "anybody can pick that up in like 20 seconds," he said. But a quadcopter, for example, something that requires more flight skill and maintenance, "that's a job." Some other uncrewed aerial systems, or UAS, such as UVision's Hero loitering munition and AeroVironment's Switchblade, were on display as well. Loitering munitions are one-way attack drones that loiter in an area before striking a selected target. UVision's Hero has smaller and larger models; the former is easier to transport for forward-deployed operators, while the latter requires a launching platform and is designed for greater ranges. The Switchblade, also a loitering munition, has been used by the US military for over a decade and saw heavy use in conflicts in the Middle East. They're designed to be small, although larger models do exist as well. This technology, much like FPV quadcopters, has been employed extensively in Ukraine. Multiple robot dogs — quadruped ground drones — were also at the CAPEX, including one toting a rifle on its head. One such model was from Ghost Robotics. These drones have been a growing interest for militaries around the world as ways to enhance the reach and reconnaissance of soldiers, as well as keep humans and military dogs out of harm's way. Controlled by an operator, a robot dog's resting position looks, well, like a dog sitting. After it rises, it can move around on its four legs, twist and turn to look around, and run. When the camera at the front of it points in a direction, it does sort of feel like a dog looking up. Operators, who requested anonymity for security reasons, told Business Insider the biggest challenge with all these drones is quickly learning all of the different controls and specifications. Operators said it's becoming a bigger requirement, and it falls in line with SOF's larger shift towards great-power competition and preparation for the possibility of a war with a near-peer or peer-level adversary, a fight that could see prolific drone use, as well as countermeasures like electronic warfare. It's a process bringing in new warfighting technologies, but one operator said "we're very good at integrating and training with the teams to make sure everyone's on the same wavelength when it comes to how we're going to integrate sUAS [small uncrewed aerial systems] and UGVs into the battlefield and onto a team." Read the original article on Business Insider
