Top Elite Special forces in the world

 

10. Gruppo di intervento special, Italy (GIS, Italy)

Country – Italy

Size – at least 100 commandos

Headquarters – Livorno

Popular Engagements – Operation Alba, Kosovo war, War in Afghanistan, Years of Lead

Motto – Nei secoli fedele (“Faithful through the centuries”), Silenziosi come la notte veloci come la folgore (“As silent as the night, as fast as the lighting”)

Current Commander – Colonel Gianluca Feroce

Overview – The Gruppo di Intervento Speciale (GIS) is the special force of the Italian armed forces. They are responsible for both military and civil operations. The unit is famed for its counter terrorism operations and VIP, executive and dignitary protection security services. In addition to this, the unit has also participated in several wars including Balkans, Afghanistan, Iraq, Horn of Africa, etc.

9. Alpha Group, Russia

Country – Russia

Size – Around 250 to 300 commandos

Type – Spetsnaz

Popular Engagements – First Chechen War, Second Chechen War, Moscow theatre hostage crisis, Beslan School hostage crisis

Role – Special operations, Counter terrorism, Hostage rescue, Law enforcement, Special reconnaissance

Current Commander – Col. Valery Kanakin

Overview – The official name of the Alpha Group special force from Russia is Directorate “A” of the FSB Special Purpose Center (TsSN FSB). This force is dedicated to counter-terrorism which prevents and responds to violent acts in public transportation and buildings. As of 2018, nine officers of Alpha have been awarded the title Hero of the Russian Federation. The unit has already performed some crucial tasks for the government of the Russian Federation.

8. British Special Air Service Group (SAS), Britain

Country – United Kingdom

Size – Three regiments

Headquarters –RHQ, Stirling Lines, Hereford, United Kingdom

Popular Engagements – Operation Husky, Operation Crusader, Operation Avalanche, Operation Candytuff.

Motto – Who dares wins

Commander – Field Marshal The Lord Guthrie

Overview – The Special Air Service (SAS) is a special forces unit of the British Army. Established way back in the year 1941, the unit played an instrumental role in the 2nd world war. Even now, the unit plays an important role in the security of the United Kingdom. There are many roles that are played by this commando unit such as counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, direct action and covert reconnaissance.7. Joint Force Task 2 (JTF 2), Canada

Country – Canada

Size – Classified

Headquarters – Ottawa

Popular Engagements – Kosovo War, War in Afghanistan, Operation Impact

Motto – ‘deeds not words’

Current Commander – Michael Rouleau

Overview – Joint Task Force 2 is an elite special operations force of the Canadian Armed Forces, serving under the Canadian Special Operations Forces Command. The unit has already participated in many counter terrorism operations both in the country and abroad. The Government of Canada doesn’t declassify much of the details about this force. But, it is true that Joint Force Task 2 or JTF 2 is playing an important role in securing the interest of Canada.

6. Special Service Group (SSG), Pakistan

Country – Pakistan

Size – Classified

Headquarters – Ghazi Base, Tarbela, Attock-Punjab

Popular Engagements – Kashmir Conflict, Siachen Conflict, Soviet Afghan war, etc.

Motto – I am Vailant

Current Commander – Major Adil Rehmani

Overview – Special Service Group or SSG is the special force unit of the Pakistan Army. They are also known by the name “Maroon Berets”. The force got this name due to the headgears of its commando. Strategic Forces Command (ASFC) of the Pakistan Army has the responsibility of managing the SSG. The Pakistan Army and government do not provide much information about the activities of SSG. Apart from Kashmir conflict, the Unit has also played important roles in operations like Afghanistan Conflict, Soviet Afghan War, Sectarian Conflicts in Pakistan, etc.

5. National Gendarmerie Intervention Group (GIGN), France

Country – France

Size – Approx. 1000

Headquarters – Satory, Yvelines, France

Popular Engagements – 2015 Île-de-France attacks (2015), Air France Flight 8969 hijacking (1994), Ouvéa cave hostage recovery (1988), Grand Mosque seizure (1979)

Motto – A commitment for life

Current Commander – Ghislain Réty

Overview – GIGN, France was made in the year 1973 in the wake of Munich massacre. This unit of French Armed Force plays a vital role in counter-terrorism, hostage rescue, protection of government officials, and targeting organized crime.

4. Sayeret Matkal, Israel

Country – Israel

Size – Classified

Headquarters – Southern Israel

Popular Engagements – Yom Kippur War, Operation Entebbe, South Entebbe, First Intifada

Motto – Who Dares Win

Current Commander – NA

Overview – The official name of Sayeret Matkel is General Staff Reconnaissance Unit 269. It is the prime special force unit of the IDF (Israel Defense Force). It is equivalent to the U.S. Army’s 1st SFOD-D (Delta Force) and it is directly subordinate to the Special Operations Branch of the IDF’s Directorate of Military Intelligence. According to many experts, this unit of Sayeret Matkal is modeled after the British Army’s Special Air Service (SAS).

3. MARCOS, India

Country – India

Size – Around 2000 (exact number remains classified)

Headquarters – INS Karna, Vishakapatnam, India

Popular Engagements – Operation Cactus, Operation Leech, Operation Pawan, Kargil War, Operation Black Tornado, Operation Cyclone, Counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir

Motto – The Few, The Fearless

Nicknames – Magarmach (The Crocodiles), Dadhiwala Fauj (The bearded army)

Overview – Officially named the “Marine Commando Force” (MCF) is popularly known as MARCOS. Founded in the year 1987, the force has already participated in specialized operations like operation cactus, operation leech, Kargil war, Operation Black Tornado, etc. Specialized in Maritime operation, Marcos is capable of undertaking operations in all types of terrain. The force regularly takes part in joint exercises.

2. Navy Seals, USA

Country – United States of America

Size – Not Known

Headquarters – Naval Amphibious Base Coronado

Popular Engagements – Operation Just Cause, Operation Nifty Package, Somali Civil War, Operation Red Wing, Operation Desert Storm,

Motto – “The Only Easy Day Was Yesterday” “It Pays To Be A Winner”. “Never Out of the Fight”.

Current Commander – Eric T. Olson

Overview – “Navy Seals” is one of the finest special force units in the world. This unit gained a lot of fame in the year 2011 when they killed Osama Bin Laden in Abbottabad. Seals are trained to conduct small-unit special operation missions in maritime, jungle, urban, arctic, mountainous, and desert environments. Typically, Seals deal with capturing or eliminating high level targets or gathering intelligence behind enemy lines.

1. Special Forces, USA

Country – USA

Size – Exact Numbers not known

Headquarters – MacDill AFB, Florida, USA

Popular Engagements – Operation Earnest Will, Invasion of Panama, Gulf War, Unified Task Force, Operation Gothic Serpent

Role – Functional Combatant Command

Current Commander – General Richard D. Clarke, USA

Overview – United States Special Operations Forces (SOF) are the special forces of the United States of America (USA). It works under the United States Department of Defense’s United States Special Operations Command (USSOCOM) within the United States Armed Forces. Unlike other special forces, the number of members in this special force is very high. This unit is involved in many important tasks such as direct action, special reconnaissance, counter-terrorism, foreign internal defense, unconventional warfare, psychological warfare, civil affairs, and counter-narcotics operations