
Briefs

Tumbo Pacho: FARC Breakaway Faction Leader Killed in Colombia
Executive Summary: Tumbo Pacho, better known as "Camilo," a hitman and mid-level commander in the FARC’s Dagoberto Ramos dissident faction, was found murdered in southwestern Colombia, likely a revenge killing linked to rivalries among FARC breakaway groups. Camilo’s death underscores the persistent, violent competition among... MORE

Anas Abdulrahman: Ethnic Malay Muslim Militant Leader Fails to Rein in Insurgents in Southern Thailand
Executive Summary: In February 2024, negotiations between Thailand and Anas Abdulrahman, a leader of the ethnic Malay Muslim militant group Barisan Revolusi Nasional (BRN), raised hopes that the region’s ongoing insurgency could be brought to an end. Since then, Abdulrahman has shown little ability to... MORE
Latest Profiles

Mahmoud Hamza: Libyan Power Broker on the Rise
Executive Summary: Mahmoud Abdulrazzaq Hamza’s ascent from civilian to major general reflects Libya’s militia-centered state. He built the 444th Brigade into Tripoli’s most disciplined force, making himself indispensable to the GNU. Hamza is both the enforcer of Abdul Hamid Dbeibah and a potential rival. Dbeibah’s enforcer... MORE

Özgür Altun: Turkish Media Mastermind for IS–KP Arrested
Executive Summary: Özgür Altun, a Turkish national and leading propagandist for IS–KP, was arrested in Pakistan after years of orchestrating the group’s online media, recruitment, and logistics networks. His detention marks a major setback for IS–KP’s transnational communications and recruitment efforts across Turkey, Central Asia,... MORE

Mahal Baloch: Legacy of Female Suicide Bomber Amid U.S. Blacklisting
Executive Summary: The U.S. designation of the Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) and its Majeed Brigade as Foreign Terrorist Organizations on August 11 marks a major shift in international recognition of the Baloch insurgency as a threat. The blacklisting isolates the BLA internationally and reflects eroded... MORE

Naim Qassem: Hezbollah Secretary-General Rejects Disarmament
Executive Summary: On August 15, Hezbollah’s new secretary-general, Naim Qassem, rejected Lebanon’s U.S.-backed disarmament plan. Lebanon’s eventual reconstruction hinges on Hezbollah’s disarmament. The situation has deepened sectarian divides as Shia factions remain loyal but strained by losses sustained in the war with Israel. After Hezbollah... MORE