February 5, 2016: Spain is expanding its Special Operations forces to include an organization dedicated to counter-terrorism. The existing Special Operations Command (SOC) includes small units from the army (commandos), navy (marine commandos) and the air force (air rescue and aerial support for all special operations units).

The new GOE unit (Grupo de Operaciones Especiales, or special operations group) includes commandos specializing in counter-terror operations as well as training similar forces foreign countries. GOE can also handle nuclear terrorists, disabling bombs, cyber-terrorism and civil affairs. The SOC only has a few thousand personnel, including support troops out of a total armed forces of 140,000.