Terrorism

Policy Analysis on Terrorism

A hotel building in Kabul damaged by a bomb claimed by the Islamic State affiliate ISKIP - source: Reuters

The Next Afghan Jihad? Taliban Efforts to Contain ISKP

Join us for an expert conversation exploring the growing threat of Islamic State terrorism in, and originating from, Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. Watch a live webcast starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT) on Thursday, September 28, 2023.

September 28, 2023, starting at 11:00 a.m. EDT (1500 GMT)

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Aaron Y. Zelin
Amira Jadoon
Andrew Mines

Podcast cover art: Breaking Hezbollah's Golden Rule, Season 2

Audio

Articles & Testimony

Podcast: Breaking Hezbollah's Golden Rule

Season 2

Listen to the new season of a podcast series shining a bright light on the global terrorist and criminal activities that Lebanese Hezbollah would rather keep hidden from view.

Sep 18, 2023

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Is a New Israel-Hezbollah War Looming?

After many years serving as Iran’s mercenaries in regional wars, Hezbollah leaders now feel compelled to resume their aggressive approach to Israel.

Sep 9, 2023

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David Schenker

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

ISKP Goes Global: External Operations from Afghanistan

Two decades after the 9/11 attacks, Taliban-ruled Afghanistan is once again becoming a haven for terrorist activities abroad—but this time by a local Islamic State branch.

Sep 11, 2023

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Rayan al-Kildani in a gaudy fake gold chair

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Rayan al-Kildani Pretends to Have a Personal Audience with the Pope

A serious Iraqi human rights abuser sank to new depths to build his credibility after being rejected by the country's Christian leadership.

Sep 8, 2023

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Yaqoub Beth-Addai
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

Families of Islamic State fighters in Syria - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Trends in the Return and Prosecution of ISIS Foreign Terrorist Fighters in the United States

An in-depth update on Washington's complicated but crucial efforts to repatriate fighters and their families from northeast Syria and other hotspots.

Aug 29, 2023

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Tanya Mehra
Merlina Herbach
Devorah Margolin
Austin Doctor

Photo showing an Israeli tank and UN peacekeeping forces on the border with Lebanon.

Video

Brief Analysis

Israel-Lebanon Border Tensions: Hezbollah Provocation, IDF Response, and the Potential for Conflict

Three experts discuss the worsening situation on the ground and assess whether a new war is likely in the near term.

Aug 25, 2023

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Hanin Ghaddar
Assaf Orion
Matthew Levitt

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Nujaba Claims Victimization by Coordination Framework Militia-Politicians

Tensions between Iraq's "resistance" groups are on the rise, with Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba claiming that its online platforms and street protests are being targeted.

Aug 21, 2023

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Hamdi Malik
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight

A United States Air Force trainer works with soldiers of the Nigerian Armed Forces - source: U.S. government

Brief Analysis

Niger Coup Threatens U.S. Strategy on Counterterrorism and Russia

An entrenched military junta could jeopardize America’s primary CT partner in West Africa, create ripple effects for security beyond the Sahel, and give Russia’s Wagner Group a new opening on the continent.

Aug 16, 2023

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Ben Fishman
Anna Borshchevskaya
Aaron Y. Zelin

A Beirut money changer handles Lebanese pound and U.S. dollar notes - source: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Economic and Security Conditions in Lebanon

Lebanon’s current problems stem from persistent economic and political corruption, and Hezbollah remains the de facto enforcer of this mafia-like status quo.

Jul 2023

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Guns, Drugs, and Smugglers: A Recent Heightened Challenge at Israel’s Borders with Jordan and Egypt

A dataset covering case-by-case information underscores the problems that authorities in each country face as they cooperate to clamp down on criminals and secure their shared frontiers.

Jul 2023

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Matthew Levitt
Lauren von Thaden

Fikra Forum

Sinjar: Challenges and Resilience Nine Years after Genocide

The ninth anniversary of the Yazidi Genocide in Sinjar, Iraq is drawing near, a tragedy in which thousands of Yazidis were murdered, Yazidi women and children were enslaved, and Yazidi villages and compounds were destroyed by ISIS in August 2014.

Jul 25, 2023

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Izat Noah

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Profile: Iraqi Basij

Formed by Ashab al-Kahf and Harakat Hezbollah al-Nujaba, this Persian-named violent protest movement has been used to carry out threats against the U.S. embassy in Baghdad.

Jul 20, 2023

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Amir al-Kaabi
Hamdi Malik
Michael Knights

◆ Militia Spotlight: Profiles

A woman at the Al-Hawl (or Al-Hol) detention camp in Syria - source: Reuters

Video

Articles & Testimony

The Problem with al-Hol: The Future for ISIS-Affiliated Families

Watch this video explainer detailing the challenges arising from the tens of thousands of foreign detainees awaiting repatriation in Syrian camps.

Jul 18, 2023

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Devorah Margolin

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Ashab al-Kahf's "Iraqi Basij" and the Threat Against the U.S. Embassy in Baghdad

The militia entity has created a new Persian-named protest group and called on mobs to storm the embassy compound.

Jul 17, 2023

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Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Militia Propagandists Comment on Tsurkov Kidnapping

The March kidnapping has been widely attributed to Kataib Hezbollah, while most militia commentators link the incident to supposed Israeli spying.

Jul 7, 2023

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Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

Infighting Between Northern Hashd Units Requires IRGC-QF Mediation

Iran's senior Revolutionary Guard operator in Kirkuk and religious-political leader Ammar al-Hakim were recently brought in to mediate between feuding state-paid militias.

Jul 6, 2023

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Michael Knights
Amir al-Kaabi
Hamdi Malik

◆ Militia Spotlight

Photo showing fighters from the Somali terrorist group al-Shabab.

Brief Analysis

More Emirati Military Involvement in Somalia Could Help Curb al-Shabab

The United Arab Emirates has much to offer if it chooses deeper military involvement in the fight against al-Shabab, but it would need to coordinate closely with other actors, especially the United States, to optimize its contribution.

Jun 27, 2023

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Ido Levy

Brief Analysis

The Future of Repatriation from Northeast Syria

From potential SDF trials to Assad’s steady normalization, the widening number of “known unknowns” has increased the urgency of taking action on Islamic State detainees.

Jun 26, 2023

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Devorah Margolin

Palestinians throw stones near the West Bank border with Israel.

Maps & Graphics

Brief Analysis

The Danger of Violent Escalation in the West Bank

The West Bank is rapidly becoming Israel’s most active front, with terrorist incidents increasing, extremist settler groups rampaging in response to the murder of Jews, and near-daily clashes becoming more intense as Israeli forces arrest armed youths planning further attacks.

Jun 23, 2023

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Ehud Yaari

Supported by the

Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence

The Washington Institute's Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence serves as Washington's premier center for the study of international terrorism.

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Featured experts

Matthew Levitt

Matthew Levitt is the Fromer-Wexler Fellow and director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at The Washington Institute.

Devorah Margolin

Devorah Margolin is the Blumenstein-Rosenbloom Fellow at The Washington Institute.

Aaron Y. Zelin

Aaron Y. Zelin is the Richard Borow Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy where his research focuses on Sunni Arab jihadi groups in North Africa and Syria as well as the trend of foreign fighting and online jihadism.

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Terrorism

Policy Analysis on Terrorism

Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence

Featured experts

Regions & Countries

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Terrorism

Policy Analysis on Terrorism

Jeanette and Eli Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence

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