Latest Terrorism Monitor Articles
Arambai Tenggol: The Meitei Militia Threatening India’s Manipur State
Executive Summary: On January 24, an ethnic Meitei militia, the Arambai Tenggol, forced the government of India’s insurgency-wracked Manipur State to capitulate to a six-point list of demands. While this event was unprecedented, it was made possible by “tacit patronage” from the ruling Bharatiya Janata... MORE
Islamic State Increasingly Targeted and Threatened Western Sporting Events in Advance of the Paris Olympics
Executive Summary: Islamic State (IS) and its Afghan affiliate, Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP), have become increasingly active in terms of operations and propaganda since Hamas’s assault on Israel on October 7, 2023 and the Crocus City Hall attack in Moscow on March 22.... MORE
Khamenei-Enabled Election of ‘Reformist’ Pezeshkian in Iran Trades Expediency for Succession Security
Executive Summary: Western media outlets have incorrectly portrayed Massoud Pezeshkian, who was elected as Iran’s new president on July 5, as a "moderate" and a "Reformist." Though Pezeshkian’s background as an ethnic Azeri may strengthen efforts to try to calm rising ethnic tensions in Iran,... MORE
Brief: Russia’s Africa Corps Appears to Be Recruiting African Militants
Executive Summary: Russia is seeking to augment the ranks of its Africa Corps by recruiting militants from African separatist groups. More broadly, it appears that countries are increasingly turning to private military organizations to secure their interests in Africa. Other countries are also following Russia's... MORE
Brief: Hamas Downplays Political Bureau Head’s Meeting with the Taliban and Iran
Executive Summary: On May 23, an Afghan Taliban delegation traveled to Tehran to meet with the emir of Qatar and the head of Hamas’s Political Bureau, Ismail Haniyeh. In an effort to downplay bad press as it continues to seek diplomatic recognition, Hamas appears to... MORE
Mercenaries, UN Peacekeepers, and Multilateral Forces May Not Be Enough to Protect the Congo from the M23 Movement
Executive Summary: The Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) continues to struggle to remove M23 rebels from its eastern provinces despite military aid and the assistance of UN troops and European mercenaries. The current UN peacekeeping mission is expected to withdraw by the end of... MORE
One Year On, Civil War Risks Reviving Jihadism in Sudan
Executive Summary: April 2024 marked the first anniversary of the Sudanese civil war, with the risk of Sudan re-emerging as a hub for jihadist terrorism in Africa on the rise. Some elements of the Sudanese Armed Forces under General al-Burhan are believed to have close... MORE
Grievances Provoke Surge in Baloch Separatist Militancy on Both Sides of Pakistan–Iran Border
Executive Summary: Recent activity by Baloch separatists since the start of 2024 in both Iran and Pakistan has drawn international attention, especially after the actions of Iranian Baloch Islamist group Jaish al-Adl led to a brief, surprising exchange of missile and air strikes between the... MORE
‘Shadow Guards’ and Reformists: Factional Matrix Underlying Iranian Succession
Executive Summary: Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi died in a helicopter crash on May 19, renewing discussions over who will eventually succeed 85-year-old Supreme Leader Khamenei. While ostensibly benefitting Khameni’s son, Mojtaba Khamenei, Raisi’s “hard landing” opens the door for Reformists and disaffected elements of the... MORE
Brief: U.S.–Malaysia Disagreements Over Hamas Unlikely to Drive Change in Relationship
Executive Summary: Malaysia has maintained an ambiguously warm relationship toward Hamas, even following the October 7, 2023 attacks on Israel. Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim is known to be a vocal defender of the group, and the country is home to Aman Palestin, a charity that... MORE