OPERATION NEPTUNE SPEAR: UNITED STATES SPECIAL FORCES AND THE FIGHT AGAINST TERRORISM
On May 1, 2011, the oPERATION Neptune Spear took place: the military operation conducted by the United States government against terrorist leader Osama Bin Laden. The investigations lasted for years until US special forces initiated the operation that resulted in the death of the terrorist leader, considered the main mastermind behind the September 11, 2001 attacks in New York City. A cycle was being closed, but the consequences still remain in the understanding of this operation for the studies on international security. War is a classic subject of study in international relations, and in understanding it, efforts are made to classify the types of conflicts. In this line of thinking, research on so-called Irregular Warfare can be inserted. In the field of strategic studies, the topic of special operations and the training of specialized forces for the execution of these operations in irregular wars emerges. According to the Doctrine for Joint Special Operations (2003), "special operations are conducted in hostile, denied, or politically sensitive environments, to achieve military, diplomatic, informational, or economic objectives, employing military capabilities where conventional forces cannot operate." Initially, the role of special operations was limited to military operations, but the demands expanded to other government organizations. What was once restricted to situations of declared war has become a resource for peacekeeping or conflict prevention on an international scale, demonstrating the importance and perception of how the use of special forces impacts the formulation of strategies in international relations. The purpose of this project is to study, understand, and analyze the execution of special operations from the September 11, 2001 attacks in the US to the Neptune Spear Operation on May 1, 2011. The methodology will involve a case study approach and deductive method to critically analyze the role of special forces. The objective of this work is to provide a better understanding of the so-called special operations as a relevant object of study in international relations.