The Wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have seen a resurgence in the importance of the sniper as a means of defence and attack. This new study, based on detailed first-hand accounts, reveals the true story behind particular battlefield specialty. The years since 9/11 have seen major changes in the way snipers are employed on the modern battlefield, alongside an incredibly rapid evolution in their weapons, equipment and training. This book covers the 14 years of near-constant warfare since the dawn of this new century, documenting where, when and how snipers have been deployed; their rifles, optics and their ancillary equipment such as laser range finders; their training and tactics and accounts of real-life operations involving sniper teams. The wars of the 21st Century have reaffirmed the importance of snipers in both conventional and unconventional warfare, and this new study covers these developments in depth, as well as looking at the role of the sniper in the police and counter-terrorism environment.