special operations
Secret military actions
Special operations are military or covert missions requiring specialized training, tactics, and equipment—typically small-unit actions behind enemy lines, hostage rescues, counterterrorism strikes, or intelligence gathering.
Navy SEALs conduct special operations.
The term implies elite forces operating with unusual autonomy and secrecy.
Often shortened to spec ops.
- Navy SEALsElite maritime combat specialists
- hostage rescueFreeing people held against will
- infiltrationCovert entry into organization
- behind enemy linesWithin adversary's controlled area
- raidSudden armed incursion
amphibious assault · reconnaissance · direct action · night raid · black ops · surveillance · cyber warfare · need to know · commando · human intelligence · extraction · force multiplier · espionage · cryptography · counter-terrorism · counterinsurgency · sabotage · propaganda
- espionagespy, spies, double agent, double agents, spying
- Police Unitspatrol unit, SWAT, SWAT team, homicide unit, detective unit
- military sciencestrategy, tactics, warfare, military theory, combat training
- Doublespeakcollateral damage, enhanced interrogation, friendly fire, regime change, neutralize
- military interventioninvasion, military intervention, coalition forces, allied forces, ground forces
- military operationsoffensive, attack, marines, Desert Storm, raid
special operationsconventional warfare
Armed conflict using standard military forces
traditional warfare · conventional forces · mechanized warfare · armored warfare · frontal assault