The COS – History of the French Special Forces

The Commandement des opérations spéciales (COS) was established by a decree of Defence Minister Pierre Joxe on 24 June 1992. Based in Paris, this joint headquarters is responsible for conceiving, planning and conducting military special forces operations. These missions, which fall outside the framework of conventional military action, aim to achieve objectives of strategic interest — particularly in terms of opening theatres of intervention, deep operations, high-value targets, and counter-terrorism. Walter Bruyère-Ostells traces its genesis and shows how the COS organises itself and conducts its first missions, notably earning its spurs in Afghanistan in 2003. Henceforth regarded as belonging to the circle of the world's finest special forces, its units work increasingly closely with their Anglo-Saxon counterparts. In the 2010s, with the rise of counter-terrorism operations, the special forces undergo further evolution in their missions. This work describes the COS not only as a laboratory for new equipment and innovative methods of action for the armed forces, but also as an ideal vantage point for understanding the transformations of warfare over the past thirty years. Indeed, by virtue of their position at the heart of crisis and conflict theatres, and their operational flexibility, special forces are the first to adapt to new forms of conflict.

The book also examines the COS within the political-military chain that initiates and conducts operations. Placed under the direct authority of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CEMA) — enabling a short decision-making loop and tight political-military oversight — the COS maintains relations with conventional force headquarters that are sometimes marked by tension. Unlike the numerous studies already devoted to these "soldiers of the shadows" as a whole, or to one of the prestigious army, navy or air force units that comprise them (1er RPIMa, 13e RDP, marine commandos and CPA 10 in particular), this work draws on largely unpublished sources — declassified for the first time — supplemented by oral testimonies from several COS and CEMA commanders and special forces operators, gathered by the author. It thereby recounts the major feats of arms of the COS since its creation (in Afghanistan, Somalia, Niger, Libya, Côte d'Ivoire, Iraq, Mali…). The definitive reference work.