Lucas Webber
Lucas Webber is a researcher focused on geopolitics and violent non-state actors. He is cofounder and editor at militantwire.com.
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Articles by Lucas Webber
Rising Anti-China Sentiment in Balochistan Threatens Increased Attacks on Chinese Interests in Pakistan
Executive Summary The Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) militant group in Pakistan opposes Chinese investment projects in Balochistan province, viewing China as complicit in Pakistani government oppression of their people. The
Mikhail ‘Pitbull’ Turkanov: The Rise of Russian Soccer Hooligan Unit ‘Española’ in Ukraine
Executive Summary Mikhail "Pitbull" Turkanov is a prominent commander in the Española volunteer brigade, a former MMA fighter, and a Zenit Football Club hooligan with tattoos that include neo-Nazi imagery.
How the Martyrdom of Asadullah al-Urgenchi and Abu Muhammad al-Uzbeki Inspires Future ISKP Recruits
Since the Taliban’s takeover of Afghanistan in August 2021, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) has centralized and vastly expanded its media apparatus, while widening its scope to include more
Narrative Battle Surrounds Killings of Communist Insurgent Couple in the Philippines
On April 20, the Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) confirmed the deaths of Benito Tiamzon (Ka Laan) and his wife Wilma Austria-Tiamzon (Ka Bagong-tao). The 71-year old Benito was
Russian Imperial Movement Deepens Involvement in Ukraine War
In late March 2023, The Moscow Times published a report detailing those ultraconservative, pro-Russian militias fighting in Ukraine. One of these elements, the Russian Imperial Movement (RIM), has been training
ISKP Expands its Focus Toward Central Asia
In recent weeks, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) has been active in northern Afghanistan, which has prompted the Taliban to conduct a series of counter-terrorism operations against ISKP hideouts
Marcos Presidency Reinvigorates Communist Insurgency in the Philippines
The perceived historical parallels and symbolic nature of Ferdinand "Bongbong" Marcos Jr.’s coming into power has galvanized the Philippines’ communist insurgent movement. In 1972, Bongbong’s father, Ferdinand Marcos Sr., declared
ISKP Attack on Chinese Nationals in Kabul Unleashes Wave of Anti-Chinese Jihadist Propaganda
On December 12, Islamic State (IS) militants assaulted Chinese nationals and Taliban officials inside a Kabul hotel. IS’s Amaq News Agency claimed the attack shortly afterwards and eventually released photos
Ka Maria Malaya: a Portrait of the Foremost Filipina Communist Leader
Ka Maria Malaya, whose real name is Myrna Sulatre, is one of the world’s most important female militant leaders and propagandists, but outside of the Philippines she is hardly known.
Jihadists Condemn Qatar and the World Cup with Hostile Rhetoric
Major international sporting events have long been a target for jihadist groups looking to capitalize on these moments to bring attention to themselves, promote their messages, and malign their enemies.
Profiling Ang Bayan: The Official Newspaper of the Philippines’ Communist Insurgency
The Communist Party of the Philippines-New People’s Army (CPP-NPA) is a nationwide movement comprised of a trans-provincial web of regional and local branches. To keep its leadership, fighters, and supporters
Abu Muhammad al-Tajiki and the Making of a Model ISKP Martyr
A notable trend exists of Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) martyrs becoming internet icons in the South and Central Asian pro-Islamic State (IS) online ecosystem. Abu Muhammad al-Tajiki joined
The Rise of Filipino New People’s Army Propagandist Ka Juanito Magbanua
The Communist Party of the Philippines (CPP) and its New People’s Army (NPA) militant wing have been waging a guerrilla war against the Republic of the Philippines for over 50
Islamic State in Khurasan Province Exploits Tajik Martyrs to Recruit in Central Asia
On June 18, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) militants attacked a Sikh place of worship, or gurdwara, in Kabul, killing two people, although Islamic State (IS) touted a much
A Post-Mortem Profile of Yusuf Tajiki: The Face of Islamic State Propaganda Against Tajikistan
In conjunction with the Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP)’s push to broaden its appeal to speakers of Central Asian languages, an extensive and seemingly growing network of Tajik pro-Islamic
Islamic State in Khorasan Province Exploits Tajik Martyrs for Online Recruitment in Central Asia
On June 18, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) militants attacked a Sikh place of worship, or gurdwara, in Kabul, killing two people, although Islamic State (IS) touted a much
Denys Prokopenko: The Rise, Capture, and Coming Show Trial of Ukraine’s Azov Regiment Commander
Introduction There is a hackneyed but true saying that one man’s freedom fighter is another man’s terrorist. Since the Russians invaded Ukraine in February, this duality has been most prominently
Islamic State’s Threat to Foreign Commercial Activity in Afghanistan
Since the Taliban took power in Afghanistan in August 2021, it has made the transition from a guerrilla force to a governing body, while being faced with an array of
Voice of Khorasan Magazine and the Internationalization of Islamic State’s Anti-Taliban Propaganda
In late January 2022, the Afghanistan-based Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) premiered its English-language magazine, “Voice of Khurasan (VoK)” (Militant Wire, February 8). The online print series is published
Menandro “Ka Bok” Villanueva’s 50-Year Career as a Philippine Communist Guerilla
On January 5, the Armed Forces of the Philippines (AFP) killed most wanted rebel Menandro “Ka Bok” Villanueva, who was one of the country’s longest-active Communist insurgents and was involved
Al-Shabaab’s Expanding Anti-Turkish Campaign in Somalia
On January 18, al-Qaeda affiliated al-Shabaab conducted a suicide bombing outside of a Turkish military base in Somalia’s capital city of Mogadishu, killing at least four people and injuring around
Islamic State’s Voice of Hind Magazine: Globalizing the Regional Anti-Taliban Narrative
In July 2020, a media network aligned with Islamic State in Hind Province (ISHP) published the premier issue of the English-language Voice of Hind (VoH) magazine. This print series serves
A Post-Mortem Analysis of the Filipino Communist Guerrilla — Jorge “Ka Oris”
In late October 2021, a high-ranking Filipino communist rebel commander and spokesman, Jorge “Ka Oris” Madlos, was killed by soldiers in Bukidnon, Mindanao. He was on his way to receive
Muhammad al-Uyghuri: The New Face of IS Khorasan’s Anti-China Propaganda
On October 8, 2021, an Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP) operative detonated a suicide bomb inside of Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque in Kunduz, Afghanistan, reportedly killing more than 50 people
The Islamic State’s Anti-Russia Propaganda Campaign and Criticism of Taliban-Russian Relations
In his first speech following the official declaration of the Islamic State’s (IS) caliphate in 2014, the new caliph, Abubakr al-Baghdadi, delivered his famous audio statement titled, “A Message to