A black operation or black ops is a covert or clandestine operation by a government agency, a military unit or a paramilitary organization; it can include activities by private companies or groups. Key features of a black operation are that it is secret and it is not attributable to the organization carrying it out. [1]
A single such activity may be called a black bag operation; [1] that term is primarily used for covert or clandestine surreptitious entries into structures to obtain information for human intelligence operations. [2] Such operations have been carried out by the FBI, [3] CIA, [4] KGB, Mossad, MI6, MI5, ASIS, COMANF, DGSE, AISE, CNI, MSS, R&AW, DGFI, SVR, FSB, Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade, ISI and the intelligence services of other states. [2]
The main difference between a black operation and one that is merely secret is that a black operation involves a significant degree of deception, to conceal who is behind it or to make it appear that some other entity is responsible (e.g. false flag operations). [5] [6]
Black may be used as a generic term for any government activity that is hidden or secret. For example, in the United States, some activities by military and intelligence agencies are funded by a classified " black budget", of which the details, and sometimes even the total, are hidden from the public and from most congressional oversight. [7] [8]
A black operation or black ops is a covert or clandestine operation by a government agency, a military unit or a paramilitary organization; it can include activities by private companies or groups. Key features of a black operation are that it is secret and it is not attributable to the organization carrying it out. [1]
A single such activity may be called a black bag operation; [1] that term is primarily used for covert or clandestine surreptitious entries into structures to obtain information for human intelligence operations. [2] Such operations have been carried out by the FBI, [3] CIA, [4] KGB, Mossad, MI6, MI5, ASIS, COMANF, DGSE, AISE, CNI, MSS, R&AW, DGFI, SVR, FSB, Kuwait 25th Commando Brigade, ISI and the intelligence services of other states. [2]
The main difference between a black operation and one that is merely secret is that a black operation involves a significant degree of deception, to conceal who is behind it or to make it appear that some other entity is responsible (e.g. false flag operations). [5] [6]
Black may be used as a generic term for any government activity that is hidden or secret. For example, in the United States, some activities by military and intelligence agencies are funded by a classified " black budget", of which the details, and sometimes even the total, are hidden from the public and from most congressional oversight. [7] [8]