Latest Articles about Terrorism

Rahman Gul: The Former Pakistani Army Captain Now Commanding the BLA’s Majeed Brigade
Executive Summary: Captain Rahman Gul, the Baloch Liberation Army’s second-in-command, is thought to be behind the group’s turn toward sophisticated suicide attacks in recent years. A poet and former member of Pakistan’s security forces, Rahman Gul provides his group with both military training and effective... MORE

Corneille Nangaa Lobeluo: The Rebel Leader Left Out of President Trump’s Congo–Rwanda Peace Agreement
Executive Summary: Corneille Nangaa Lobeluo leads the political-military Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). While Nangaa has not been involved in the June 27 peace agreement between Rwanda and the DRC brokered by the United States and Qatar, he... MORE

Brief: As Philippine Province Declared Free of Abu Sayyaf, Counterterrorism in Southeast Asia Moves Online
Executive Summary: Philippine officials declared the island of Basilan free of Abu Sayyaf on June 10. Basilan was formerly one of the group’s strongholds and represents another example of the group’s near-complete degradation. With the war on Islamist radical groups in Southeast Asia largely won,... MORE

In a First, Portuguese Police Find Extremists’ Cache of 3D-Printed Firearms
Executive Summary: In a June raid against right-wing extremist group Movimento Armilar Lusitano (MAL), Portuguese police discovered a cache of weapons, including several 3D-printed firearms (3DPFs). This marks the first time 3DPFs have been found in Portugal. 3DPFs have proven to be popular among extremists,... MORE

Amid Geopolitical Tensions, Baloch Militant Attacks Undermine Sino–Pakistan Projects
Executive Summary: The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) has become a prime target for Baloch separatists and jihadist groups, with attacks escalating since 2021 and culminating in high-profile incidents like the March 2025 Jaffar Express hijacking. These attacks reflect deeper regional and geopolitical tensions, as CPEC's... MORE

Brief: Attack on Damascus Church Exposes Fragile Protection for Syria’s Christians
Executive Summary: On June 22, an Islamist terrorist entered the Mar Elias Greek Orthodox Church in Damascus mid-service, opening fire on the crowd before detonating his suicide vest. The attack killed 25 and injured 63. While it is not yet known who is responsible for... MORE

Indonesia’s Deradicalization Program Through the Lens of Umar Patek: From Bomb-Maker to Entrepreneur
Executive Summary: Indonesia has enjoyed some success with deradicalizing high-level militants, including Umar Patek, a key bomb-maker involved with the deadly 2002 Bali bombings. This approach has involved the use of mentorship and entrepreneurial incentives to integrate former Islamists back into society. Indonesia’s program to... MORE

Jihadist Narratives in the Aftermath of India’s Airstrikes on Pakistan
Executive Summary: In the aftermath of the Indian air strikes on Pakistan on May 6, militant groups active in and around Pakistan took a variety of approaches to responding to the brief escalation within their respective propaganda apparatuses: Al-Qaeda in the Indian Subcontinent (AQIS) initially... MORE

Mahikhan Baloch: Fourth Female Baloch Suicide Bomber Amid Factional Friction
Executive Summary: On March 3, the separatist Baloch Liberation Army (BLA) conducted its fourth attack using a female suicide bomber. This suggests that the trend is likely to continue, with the women acting as powerful symbols for the BLA in its claim to represent the... MORE

Shahid Umar: Senior-Most TTP Commander Killed in Afghanistan to Date in Apparent Assassination
Executive Summary: On December 3, 2024, senior Pakistani Taliban (TTP) commander Shahid Umar was killed in Afghanistan, the most significant killing of a TTP commander under Afghan Taliban rule to date. The assassination was unusual in that Shahid Umar was killed in the home of... MORE