Editing Special operations (section)

{{Short description|Specially designated military operations that are considered unconventional}}
{{For|the Russian government euphemism for invading Ukraine|Special military operation}}
{{Redirect|Spec Ops|the video game series|Spec Ops (series)|the Indian web series|Special Ops (Indian TV series)}}

[[File:Members of the U.S. Air Force Special Operations Command, assigned to the 23rd Special Tactics Squadron.jpg|thumb|[[United States Air Force]] [[United States Air Force Special Tactics Officer|Special Tactics]] operators in [[MultiCam]] uniforms training in [[Jordan]]]]

'''Special operations''' or '''special ops''' are military activities conducted, according to [[NATO]], by "specially designated, organized, selected, trained, and equipped forces using unconventional techniques and modes of employment."<ref name="NATO doctrine">{{cite journal|title=Allied Joint Doctrine for Special Operations|author=North Atlantic Treaty Organization|journal=NATO Standard Allied Joint Publication|date=13 December 2013|volume=AJP-3.5|issue=Edition A, Version 1|pages=1|publisher=NATO Standardization Agency|location=Brussels}}</ref> Special operations may include [[reconnaissance]], [[unconventional warfare]], and [[counterterrorism]], and are typically conducted by small groups of highly trained personnel, emphasizing sufficiency, stealth, speed, and tactical coordination, commonly known as ''[[special forces]]'' (SF) or ''special operations forces'' (SOF).