Terrorism

Policy Analysis on Terrorism

The Middle East After the Iran Nuclear Deal: Hezbollah

The following is Dr. Levitt's contribution to a Council on Foreign Relations roundtable discussing the implications of the nuclear agreement . Iran is Hezbollah's primary benefactor, giving the Lebanese political party and militant group some $200 million a year in addition to weapons, training, intelligence, and logistical assistance. Over the

Sep 7, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Anatomy of a Bombing

A closer look at how an Iranian-linked Hezbollah chief bombed the Khobar Towers and walked free -- until last month.

Sep 1, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Who Was Ibn 'Abd al-Wahhab?

For anyone seeking to understand the man who remains a model for ISIS and other increasingly radical claimants to a 'true Islam,' a recent biography provides indispensable insight into his writings and how they have been interpreted over the decades.

Aug 21, 2015

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Jacob Olidort

Articles & Testimony

How Is the War Against the Islamic State Going? 10 Expert Opinions

In a recent compilation, two Institute fellows shared their views on the situation in Iraq. Read the full set of remarks on the Musings on Iraq website. Michael Knights Speaking just about Iraq, which is clearly only one segment of the broader war, any assessment of the current level of

Aug 20, 2015

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Michael Knights
Aaron Y. Zelin

Video

The Regional Impact of a Post-Sanctions Windfall for Iran

The Washington Institute is studying the potential impacts of the Iran nuclear deal, including the effects of additional Iranian money from a post-sanctions windfall. Here are some of the most important impacts.

Aug 14, 2015

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Michael Eisenstadt
Andrew J. Tabler
Matthew Levitt
Michael Knights
Simon Henderson

Articles & Testimony

Picture or It Didn't Happen: A Snapshot of the Islamic State's Official Media Output

The group produces much more than execution videos, and examining its propaganda on topics such as military affairs, governance, preaching, and moral policing is key to understanding why individuals spread its message or join its ranks.

Aug 7, 2015

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

The Islamic State's Burgeoning Capital in Sirte, Libya

Although ISL lost in Darnah, it has emerged even stronger in Sirte by building on existing jihadist networks in the area and ramping up its state-building activities.

Aug 6, 2015

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Brief Analysis

Battling ISIS and Beyond in the Gulf

Saudi Arabia's concern about Sunni terrorists at home suggests its toleration of al-Qaeda in Yemen and Syria is an unsavory, tactical move against Iran and its allies there.

Aug 6, 2015

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Lori Plotkin Boghardt

Articles & Testimony

The Implications of Sanctions Relief Under the Iran Agreement

Iran has worked hard to chip away at the international consensus on sanctions, and if the current nuclear terms are not clarified and bolstered, it will meet that goal.

Aug 5, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Brief Analysis

Hezbollah and Israel Are Upping the Ante

The Israeli-Hezbollah battlefield seems to be shifting east as both sides continue to take action along the Syrian border, increasing the risk of escalation.

Aug 3, 2015

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Nadav Pollak

Brief Analysis

The Regional Impact of Additional Iranian Money

A post-sanctions windfall would give Tehran ample capacity to rescue the Syrian regime, reshape Iraq's political environment, expand its terrorist proxy activities in various theaters, and otherwise amplify the effects of its destabilizing regional posture.

Jul 28, 2015

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Michael Eisenstadt
Simon Henderson
Michael Knights
Matthew Levitt
Andrew J. Tabler

Protesters hold Syrian and Hezbollah flags

Articles & Testimony

Waking Up the Neighbors: How Regional Intervention Is Transforming Hezbollah

Given the depth of its involvement in Syria, Iraq, and Yemen, Hezbollah will likely continue to head an emerging Shiite foreign legion bent on expanding Iranian influence across the region.

Jul 23, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Inside Hezbollah's European Plots

The Lebanese terrorist group continues to operate in Europe despite warnings from the EU.

Jul 20, 2015

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Matthew Levitt

Articles & Testimony

Tunisia's Fragile Democratic Transition

The government can move past the recent terrorist attacks and other struggles, but not if it falls back on arbitrary arrests, opaque investigations, or other tactics that failed during the Ben Ali era.

Jul 14, 2015

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

The Umbrellas of Sousse

Three summers ago, as a graduate student living in Tunisia, I took a break from my research and spent a long weekend on the beach in a resort town called Hammamet, protected from the hot sun by one of the many colorful umbrellas that dotted the sand. Hammamet sits roughly

Jul 6, 2015

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Sarah Feuer

Articles & Testimony

The Tunisian-Libyan Jihadi Connection

A relationship that dates back decades deserves closer attention, and could well lead to repeat Islamic State attacks on Tunisian soil.

Jul 6, 2015

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Aaron Y. Zelin

Articles & Testimony

Egyptian Assassinations and Islamist Escalation

Following the latest high-profile assassination, tensions between Islamists and the state will likely continue to escalate, with the judiciary looming large in both the government's response and further Islamist plots.

Jul 2, 2015

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Mohammed Soliman

Articles & Testimony

Aligning Means and Ends, Policies and Strategy in the War on ISIL

The means-ends mismatch in Washington's approach to ISIL is a function of several problems, including inadequate commitment of resources, the jihadist group's resilience, the weakness of America's regional partners, and the incoherence of current U.S. strategy.

Jun 24, 2015

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Michael Eisenstadt

Articles & Testimony

Back to the Bad Old Days

Terrorism is taking root along the banks of the Nile, threatening to plunge Egypt into another lost decade.

Jun 23, 2015

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David Schenker

Brief Analysis

Findings from the State Department's Annual Terrorism Report (Part 2):

The Rise of ISIL

The group's establishment of a territorial "caliphate," the emergence of an unprecedented foreign fighter phenomenon, and the rise of violent extremist social media and lone offender attacks have fundamentally transformed the global terrorist threat.

Jun 19, 2015

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Matthew Levitt
Ryan Youkilis

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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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 jihadist groups in North Africa and Syria, foreign fighting, and online jihadism.

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