naval special warfare has played a significant role in operation iraqi freedom, employing the largest number of seals and swccs in its history. nsw forces were instrumental in numerous special reconnaissance and direct action missions including the securing of the southern oil infrastructures of the al faw peninsula and the off-shore gas and oil terminals; the clearing of the khawr abd allah and khawr az zubayr waterways that enabled humanitarian aid to be delivered to the vital port city of umm qasr; reconnaissance of the shatt al-arab waterway; capture of high-value targets, raids on suspected chemical, biological and radiological sites; and the first pow rescue since wwii. additionally, nsw is also fighting the war on terrorism in other global hot spots including the philippines and the horn of africa.