Special forces are highly trained military units that work in small groups, usually in secret. They often fight against terrorist organizations and guerrilla fighters. Guerrilla fighters move in roving bands, staging ambushes, sudden raids, and other small-scale attacks (see Guerrilla warfare ). Against such groups, small and mobile special forces teams can prove more effective than large-scale military forces armed with such bulky equipment as tanks and artillery. Almost every country with a military maintains special forces or can form them when needed.
In addition to fighting, special forces may rescue hostages. They may also conduct long-range scouting and intelligence (information) gathering. Some special forces units train foreign soldiers. Most special forces missions are kept secret. In some cases, the very existence of a special forces unit is kept secret.
Modern special forces first emerged during World War II (1939-1945). In that war, highly trained commandos performed scouting and sabotage missions behind enemy lines. The most active were British special forces in Europe, North Africa, and Burma (now also called Myanmar). But the United States and Germany also fielded special forces units.
One of the most famous special forces operations happened on live television in 1980. Iranian terrorists had seized London’s Iranian embassy. After the terrorists executed one of the hostages, masked commandos dressed in black stormed the building. The commandos belonged to the British Special Air Service, the country’s most elite military unit. In the end, two hostages died. Five of the six terrorists were killed. None of the special forces commandos died.
After the September 11 terrorist attacks in 2001, small units of American special forces were sent to Afghanistan. They worked with local tribal fighters to topple the Taliban government (see Afghanistan War ). The Taliban had harbored the al-Qa`ida terrorists who planned the terrorist attacks. Special forces also played important roles in the Iraq War (2003-2011). In 2011, special forces—a team of Navy SEALs—killed Osama bin Laden in a fortified compound in Pakistan. Bin Laden was the leader of al-Qa`ida, the terrorist network responsible for the September 11 attacks.
See also Army (Attack) ; Army, United States (Special units) ; Commando ; Wingate’s Raiders .
