The "Delta" Force, officially known as the 1st Special Operations Detachment/Delta, is one of the U.S. special operations units primarily focused on counterterrorism missions and airborne operations to free prisoners. This unit has undergone various name changes over the years; although it is likely to always be known as "SFOD-Delta," it was recently renamed to Combat Applications Group (CAG) and is now officially known as (ACE). It is a Tier One counterterrorism unit specifically aimed at killing or capturing high-value targets or dismantling terrorist cells, remaining highly flexible and capable of engaging in direct action missions, hostage rescue operations, and covert tasks that work directly with the armed forces, according to the "military" website.
Delta, established in 1977, operates under the command of the Joint Special Operations Command (JSOC), although it is administratively supported by the United States Army Special Operations Command (USASOC).
Notable declassified operations include "Eagle Claw" during the Iran hostage crisis in 1980, which was a rescue attempt that failed due to a mistake in aviation equipment/operational error, resulting in the death of eight Americans. Other significant operations include "Urgent Fury" to rescue prisoners in Grenada from Richmond Hill Prison and "Just Cause" in Panama to apprehend General Manuel Noriega while protecting approximately 35,000 Americans living there. The unit was also involved in the Gulf War during the invasion of Kuwait, and the "Gothic Serpent" operation in Mogadishu in 1993.
