Armed Groups
101 entities tracked across Lowdown briefings. Page 1 of 2.
123rd Separate Territorial Defence Brigade
Ukrainian brigade that confirmed the Kinburn Spit ground-robot landing.
Ukrainian brigade that confirmed the Kinburn Spit ground-robot landing.
24th Marine Expeditionary Unit
US Marine Corps rapid-response expeditionary force; ran the June 2026 Guantanamo readiness drills.
US Marine Corps rapid-response expeditionary force; ran the June 2026 Guantanamo readiness drills.
31st Marine Expeditionary UnitForward-deployed US Marine unit; its Tripoli ARG remains part of the Gulf build-up.
Forward-deployed US Marine unit; its Tripoli ARG remains part of the Gulf build-up.
36th Armoured Division
IDF armoured division in southern Lebanon; deputy commander wounded in Hezbollah IED on 18 June, first IDF death since MOU.
IDF armoured division in southern Lebanon; deputy commander wounded in Hezbollah IED on 18 June, first IDF death since MOU.
37th Separate Airborne Assault Brigade
Belarusian airborne brigade being completed near Gomel, roughly 40km from Ukraine.
Belarusian airborne brigade being completed near Gomel, roughly 40km from Ukraine.
75th RangersUS Army elite light infantry regiment; first to integrate live FPV drones into Best Ranger Competition.
US Army elite light infantry regiment; first to integrate live FPV drones into Best Ranger Competition.
82nd Airborne DivisionUS Army airborne division: America's Guard of Honor, now forward-deploying to the Middle East.
US Army airborne division: America's Guard of Honor, now forward-deploying to the Middle East.
98th DivisionIDF division deployed to southern Lebanon during the 2026 conflict.
IDF division deployed to southern Lebanon during the 2026 conflict.
Angolan Navy
Naval branch of the Angolan Armed Forces, the Marinha de Guerra Angolana.
Naval branch of the Angolan Armed Forces, the Marinha de Guerra Angolana.
Army Air and Missile Defense CommandUS Army command responsible for air and missile defence operations.
US Army command responsible for air and missile defence operations.
Australian Defence Force
Australia's combined armed forces, comprising army, navy, and air force.
Australia's combined armed forces, comprising army, navy, and air force.
Autonomous Warfare CommandPlanned four-star US combatant command for autonomous and robotic systems.
Planned four-star US combatant command for autonomous and robotic systems.
Bahrain Defence Force
Bahrain's national armed forces, host of the 1 July regional security dialogue.
Bahrain's national armed forces, host of the 1 July regional security dialogue.
Baltic Fleet
Russia's naval force in the Baltic Sea, headquartered at Kronstadt and Kaliningrad.
Russia's naval force in the Baltic Sea, headquartered at Kronstadt and Kaliningrad.
Basij
IRGC paramilitary militia; Iran's primary instrument of domestic coercion and wartime enforcement.
IRGC paramilitary militia; Iran's primary instrument of domestic coercion and wartime enforcement.
Belgian Engineer Divers
Belgian military divers who will operate the new ROVs.
Belgian military divers who will operate the new ROVs.
Belgian Explosive Ordnance Disposal ServiceBelgium's bomb-disposal service, a recipient of the ROV order.
Belgium's bomb-disposal service, a recipient of the ROV order.
Belgian Naval Mine Warfare GroupBelgian navy's mine-warfare unit, a recipient of the ROV order.
Belgian navy's mine-warfare unit, a recipient of the ROV order.
Belgian Special Forces GroupBelgium's special forces unit, a recipient of the twelve-ROV order.
Belgium's special forces unit, a recipient of the twelve-ROV order.
Brazilian Army
Land branch of Brazil's armed forces, the Exército Brasileiro.
Land branch of Brazil's armed forces, the Exército Brasileiro.
British Army
UK's land warfare service; procuring autonomous drones and ground vehicles via fast-track routes in 2026.
UK's land warfare service; procuring autonomous drones and ground vehicles via fast-track routes in 2026.
Charles de Gaulle
French Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, flagship of the Marine nationale.
French Navy nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, flagship of the Marine nationale.
Code 9.2Ukrainian drone operations unit credited with striking the Chonhar Bridge on 7 June 2026.
Ukrainian drone operations unit credited with striking the Chonhar Bridge on 7 June 2026.
Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent ResolveMultinational military headquarters that commands the coalition campaign against Islamic State
Multinational military headquarters that commands the coalition campaign against Islamic State
ELDYSA
Greek Patriot PAC-3 battery deployed to Saudi Arabia, now in live combat against Iranian missiles.
Greek Patriot PAC-3 battery deployed to Saudi Arabia, now in live combat against Iranian missiles.
French Army 1st Artillery RegimentFrance's oldest artillery regiment, based at Bourogne; fields the army's last LRU rocket launchers.
France's oldest artillery regiment, based at Bourogne; fields the army's last LRU rocket launchers.
Giants Brigades
Pro-government Yemeni force fighting the Houthis on the Red Sea coast.
Pro-government Yemeni force fighting the Houthis on the Red Sea coast.
Givati BrigadeIsraeli infantry brigade; suffered the death of a female soldier in a Hezbollah drone attack on a south Lebanon border position.
Israeli infantry brigade; suffered the death of a female soldier in a Hezbollah drone attack on a south Lebanon border position.
Hezbollah
Iran-backed Lebanese militia and political party; dismissed the June 2026 Lebanon framework as null.
Iran-backed Lebanese militia and political party; dismissed the June 2026 Lebanon framework as null.
HMS BarhamRoyal Navy battleship sunk 25 November 1941; loss kept secret until January 1942.
Royal Navy battleship sunk 25 November 1941; loss kept secret until January 1942.
HMS DragonRoyal Navy Type 45 air-defence destroyer, home after a seven-month Middle East deployment.
Royal Navy Type 45 air-defence destroyer, home after a seven-month Middle East deployment.
HMS YorkRoyal Navy cruiser disabled at Suda Bay in 1941
Royal Navy cruiser disabled at Suda Bay in 1941
HouthisYemeni armed movement in Sanaa; blockades Israeli and Saudi shipping via radio warnings alone.
Yemeni armed movement in Sanaa; blockades Israeli and Saudi shipping via radio warnings alone.
Indian Army
India's land force, about 1.25 million active troops; raising drone-strike regiments and batteries.
India's land force, about 1.25 million active troops; raising drone-strike regiments and batteries.
Iranian ArmyIran's conventional armed forces; issued 9 May 2026 Hormuz warning to sanctions-compliant states.
Iran's conventional armed forces; issued 9 May 2026 Hormuz warning to sanctions-compliant states.Iraqi Army
Ground, air, and counter-terrorism forces of the Iraqi state, rebuilt after the 2003 US-led invasion and subsequently tested by the ISIS insurgency.
Ground, air, and counter-terrorism forces of the Iraqi state, rebuilt after the 2003 US-led invasion and subsequently tested by the ISIS insurgency.
Iraqi Shia militiasIraqi Shia armed groups under IRGC guidance, named in Saudi's August targets warning.
IRGC NavyIran's Revolutionary Guard naval arm; claims a Hormuz closure CENTCOM denies is in effect.
Iran's Revolutionary Guard naval arm; claims a Hormuz closure CENTCOM denies is in effect.
IRGC Quds ForceIran's IRGC extraterritorial arm directing proxy militias across the Middle East
Iran's IRGC extraterritorial arm directing proxy militias across the Middle East
IRIS DenaIranian frigate torpedoed by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean, March 2026.
Iranian frigate torpedoed by a US submarine in the Indian Ocean, March 2026.
Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC)Iran's ideological military force; de facto governing authority and Hormuz toll-keeper since 2026.
Iran's ideological military force; de facto governing authority and Hormuz toll-keeper since 2026.
Israel Defense Forces (IDF)Israel's national military; fighting in Lebanon and Iran simultaneously since February 2026.
Israel's national military; fighting in Lebanon and Iran simultaneously since February 2026.
Japan Ground Self-Defense Force
Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is the land branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for territorial defence; it ordered Red Cat Black Widow drones in 2026.
Japan's Ground Self-Defense Force (JGSDF) is the land branch of the Japan Self-Defense Forces, responsible for territorial defence; it ordered Red Cat Black Widow drones in 2026.
JIATF-401Pentagon counter-drone task force; home of Lattice platform and Gauntlet II red team
Pentagon counter-drone task force; home of Lattice platform and Gauntlet II red team
JSOCUS military's elite special operations command; primary counter-terrorism and direct action force.
US military's elite special operations command; primary counter-terrorism and direct action force.
Kataib HezbollahIran-backed Iraqi Shia militia; declared it "will not remain neutral" in the US-Iran war. Part of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces.
Iran-backed Iraqi Shia militia; declared it "will not remain neutral" in the US-Iran war. Part of Iraq's Popular Mobilisation Forces.
Lebanese Armed Forces (LAF)Lebanon's national army; now the designated deployment and handover force in the Israel-Lebanon de-escalation.
Lebanon's national army; now the designated deployment and handover force in the Israel-Lebanon de-escalation.
M23
A Rwandan-backed armed group that has controlled large areas of eastern DR Congo, including South Kivu, since February 2025, with no public-health or outbreak-management apparatus.
A Rwandan-backed armed group that has controlled large areas of eastern DR Congo, including South Kivu, since February 2025, with no public-health or outbreak-management apparatus.
Main Missile and Artillery DirectorateDirectorate of Russia's ground forces responsible for missile and artillery procurement, designated under INKSNA on 4 August.
Directorate of Russia's ground forces responsible for missile and artillery procurement, designated under INKSNA on 4 August.
MC-130JUSAF special operations transport aircraft used for covert infiltration, exfiltration, and aerial refuelling.
Milicias de Tropas Territoriales
A Cuban part-time civilian paramilitary force under MINFAR, designated on 13 July as an instrument of repression.
A Cuban part-time civilian paramilitary force under MINFAR, designated on 13 July as an instrument of repression.
NasrHezbollah's southern regional command; suffered leadership casualties in Israeli strikes on 7-8 May 2026.
Hezbollah's southern regional command; suffered leadership casualties in Israeli strikes on 7-8 May 2026.
Nigerian Air Force
Nigeria's air arm; flies Turkish and Chinese armed drones against insurgents in the north-east.
Nigeria's air arm; flies Turkish and Chinese armed drones against insurgents in the north-east.
Nimitz-classUS Navy nuclear-powered supercarrier class; ten ships, 100,000 tonnes, primary US power-projection asset.
US Navy nuclear-powered supercarrier class; ten ships, 100,000 tonnes, primary US power-projection asset.
NOPONOPO (Nirouy-e Enteẓāmi-ye Vijeh, Special Units of Police) is Iran's special forces riot police unit, deployed for high-security and counterinsurgency operations.
NOPO (Nirouy-e Enteẓāmi-ye Vijeh, Special Units of Police) is Iran's special forces riot police unit, deployed for high-security and counterinsurgency operations.
Popular Mobilisation Forces (PMF)Iraqi state-sanctioned umbrella of mostly Shia paramilitary factions, many aligned with Iran.
Iraqi state-sanctioned umbrella of mostly Shia paramilitary factions, many aligned with Iran.
Radwan ForceHezbollah's elite special operations unit, trained for cross-border raids into Israel.
Hezbollah's elite special operations unit, trained for cross-border raids into Israel.
RAF Akrotiri
British sovereign air base in Cyprus; first British territory struck in the 2026 Iran conflict.
British sovereign air base in Cyprus; first British territory struck in the 2026 Iran conflict.
Republic of Korea Army
South Korea's land force, facing North Korea across the Demilitarised Zone.
South Korea's land force, facing North Korea across the Demilitarised Zone.
Royal Air ForceUK air force operating from British bases and host-nation locations abroad.
UK air force operating from British bases and host-nation locations abroad.