Terrorism

Policy Analysis on Terrorism

IRGC Designation: From Visas to Symbolic Effects

The practical effects may be limited to minor issues such as visa regulations, while the symbolic implications are not in Tehran's favor.

Apr 8, 2019

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Patrick Clawson

Brief Analysis

The Battle Against Extremism: Assessment and Prescriptions

Three experts on countering violent extremism discuss a new book and offer ideas for how government, civil society, business, and citizens can act on this persistent policy challenge.

Mar 25, 2019

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Farah Pandith
Juan Zarate
Matthew Levitt

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Brief Analysis

U.S. Sanctions Are Hurting Hezbollah

To further tighten the noose, Washington should disrupt the group’s efforts to tap international aid, Lebanese ministry budgets, Syrian smuggling revenue, and other resources.

Mar 6, 2019

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

Organizational Split and Radicalization Within Egypt’s Muslim Brotherhood

Internal structural changes and ideological rifts have given rise to new strategies for legitimizing violence.

Mar 4, 2019

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Annette Ranko
Mohammad Yaghi

Brief Analysis

A Turkish ‘Safe Zone’ in Syria: Prospects and Policy Implications

Establishing such a zone in the northeast would give Ankara and the United States a unique opportunity to work together, provided Washington can convince its European allies to participate as well.

Mar 1, 2019

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Michael Eisenstadt
Soner Cagaptay

Tunisian police guard the site of a terrorist attack - soucre: Reuters

Articles & Testimony

Not Gonna Be Able To Do It: al-Qaeda in Tunisia’s Inability to Take Advantage of the Islamic State’s Setbacks

While the consensus might be that al-Qaeda is primed to benefit from Islamic State setbacks, unless conditions change locally, the so-called caliphate will likely remain a more attractive avenue for jihadi mobilization in Tunisia.

Mar 1, 2019

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Repatriating Western Jihadists: The Impact of U.S. Syria Policy

Unless Washington changes its mixed message on foreign fighters and helps its European allies find practical solutions, it may soon face another mass outbreak of seasoned operatives from Syria.

Feb 27, 2019

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Matthew Levitt
Aaron Y. Zelin

President Donald Trump speaks about Syria

Articles & Testimony

Now Trump’s Shutdown Threatens Israel’s Security

The last remaining thread of U.S.-Palestinian ties is the American-trained PA security forces, but Washington is about to cut them off.

Jan 21, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Brief Analysis

Gulf Cyber Cooperation with Israel: Balancing Threats and Rights

The provision of powerful cyber tools is important for national security in the Gulf states, but it has reportedly opened the door to human rights abuses.

Jan 17, 2019

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Neri Zilber

Articles & Testimony

Pompeo’s Cairo Speech More ‘Back to the Future’ Than Break With Past

The administration should focus more on amplifying the voices of regional citizens while convincingly standing against collective threats.

Jan 16, 2019

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Ben Fishman
Dana Stroul

Brief Analysis

Sending the Right Message in Cairo: Advice for Secretary Pompeo

All eyes will be on the secretary’s speech this week, so striking the right balance between President Trump’s domestic imperatives and the realities of regional policy is crucial.

Jan 7, 2019

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Anna Borshchevskaya
Soner Cagaptay
Simon Henderson
Martin Kramer
Matthew Levitt
David Pollock
Dennis Ross
Dana Stroul
Bilal Wahab

Articles & Testimony

Mission Unaccomplished: The Tweet That Upended Trump’s Counterterrorism and Iran Policies

If the Syria withdrawal proves inevitable, officials should push to phase the departure, keep U.S. forces at Tanf, maintain the air campaign, forge a counterterror agreement with Turkey, and take other fallback measures.

Dec 25, 2018

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Matthew Levitt
Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

The Race for Eastern Syria

If Washington abandons its low-cost, high-impact approach to fighting ISIS in Syria, it will pave the way for a host of bad actors to reestablish themselves there.

Dec 24, 2018

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Michael Knights

Articles & Testimony

The Islamic State Inside Iraq: Losing Power or Preserving Strength?

Attack data shows that the group is enthusiastically regrouping in a more concentrated area of northern Iraq, and the government is not adapting fast enough to stop it.

Dec 21, 2018

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Michael Knights

Brief Analysis

What to Watch for as Lebanon Forms a New Government

The cabinet’s composition is a fait accompli, but foreign officials may still be able to influence key security appointments—or, failing that, up the financial and diplomatic pressure on Hezbollah and its political allies.

Dec 20, 2018

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Hanin Ghaddar

Brief Analysis

As Washington Prepares to Withdraw from Syria, Turkey Is Set to Invade

The combination of premature steps would further damage U.S. credibility while giving Iranian proxies and Islamic State remnants free rein in east Syria.

Dec 19, 2018

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Dana Stroul
Soner Cagaptay

A Tunisian woman holds a photo of a relative who joined a jihadist movement

Video

Brief Analysis

Tunisia's Foreign Fighters

Two leading experts discuss why thousands of young Tunisians mobilized for jihad in Iraq and Syria, and what governments are doing now that they are taking their cause back home—or to the West.

Dec 17, 2018

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Aaron Y. Zelin
Jacob Walles

◆ Counterterrorism Lecture Series

Articles & Testimony

Rouhani’s Threat to Shut the Strait of Hormuz—More Than Bluster?

Thirty-five years of historical precedent make clear that Tehran will lash out if it feels cornered.

Dec 14, 2018

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Hints of Crisis as Algeria Enters Election Mode

The country avoided the tumult of the Arab Spring, but its next election cycle will bring political, economic, and social challenges back to the fore.

Dec 12, 2018

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Abdelillah Bendaoudi

Video

Brief Analysis

The IRGC and Regional Conflict: Temperature Rising

The author of a landmark new book on the IRGC joins two Iran scholars for a lively conversation on how best to understand the force’s origins and exploit its weaknesses.

Dec 12, 2018

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Nader Uskowi
Ali Alfoneh
Alex Vatanka

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 Senior Fellow and director of the Reinhard Program on Counterterrorism and Intelligence at The Washington Institute.

Devorah Margolin

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

Aaron Y. Zelin

Aaron Y. Zelin is the Gloria and Ken Levy Senior 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

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Policy Analysis on Terrorism

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