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Terrorism

News, analysis, and opinions on extremist activity around the world, from fringe groups in the US to major organizations abroad.

Politics
Trump’s biggest war is one he almost never talks aboutTrump’s biggest war is one he almost never talks about
Politics

Why did the US bomb Somalia more than 100 times last year?

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Is ISIS back?Is ISIS back?
Politics

A deadly weekend in Australia and Syria raises questions about the terror group’s future.

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
America is finally moving past its post-9/11 security theaterAmerica is finally moving past its post-9/11 security theater
Future Perfect

The end of mandatory shoe removal signals progress on airport security.

By Bryan Walsh
World Politics
The New Orleans attack shows that ISIS hasn’t gone away. It’s changed.The New Orleans attack shows that ISIS hasn’t gone away. It’s changed.
World Politics

The “caliphate” is history. But ISIS is still a threat.

By Joshua Keating
Israel
The conflicted history of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, explained The conflicted history of Israel, Lebanon, and Hezbollah, explained 
Israel

Lebanon’s conflict with Israel is deeper than Hezbollah.

By Ellen Ioanes
Israel
There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?There’s no ceasefire in sight for Israel’s Gaza war. Why not?
Israel

After Yahya Sinwar’s death, is a ceasefire in Gaza more likely?

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
The biggest unanswered questions about the Hezbollah pager attackThe biggest unanswered questions about the Hezbollah pager attack
World Politics

After the attack on Hezbollah: Can any device be a bomb?

By Joshua Keating
Kamala Harris
Biden and Harris say America’s no longer at war. Is that true?Biden and Harris say America’s no longer at war. Is that true?
Kamala Harris

Harris says US troops aren’t fighting in any “war zones.” What about Iraq, Syria, and the Red Sea?

By Joshua Keating
Palestine
Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.Israel has launched a major operation in the West Bank. Here’s what to know.
Palestine

The raids come amid escalating violence in the Palestinian territory.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
Armed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economyArmed conflict is stressing the bones of the global economy
World Politics

From shipping lanes to airspace to undersea cables, globalization is under physical attack.

By Joshua Keating
Politics
Why the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big dealWhy the 9/11 plea agreements are such a big deal
Politics

It’s the end of a drawn-out legal process, haunted by the failure of the war on terror.

By Ellen Ioanes
Olympics
Arson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris OlympicsArson attacks underscore the security and terror threats to the Paris Olympics
Olympics

Officials say Paris will be the “safest place in the world” for the Olympics. Here’s what they’re up against.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
What ever happened to the war on terror?What ever happened to the war on terror?
World Politics

The US is pivoting away from focusing on groups like al-Qaeda and ISIS — at least until the next attack.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
ISIS-K, the group linked to Moscow’s terror attack, explainedISIS-K, the group linked to Moscow’s terror attack, explained
World Politics

ISIS-K has become a global terror threat while the world has been distracted.

By Ellen Ioanes
World Politics
The battle for blame over a deadly terror attack in MoscowThe battle for blame over a deadly terror attack in Moscow
World Politics

All signs point to ISIS in a terrorist attack that killed over 130 people near Moscow, but Vladimir Putin is connecting it to the war in Ukraine.

By Joshua Keating
World Politics
Why we still underestimate what groups like Hamas are capable ofWhy we still underestimate what groups like Hamas are capable of
World Politics

Two decades after 9/11, extremist groups continue to pull off surprise attacks. Why?

By Joshua Keating
Future Perfect
ChatGPT could make bioterrorism horrifyingly easyChatGPT could make bioterrorism horrifyingly easy
Future Perfect

Biological risks from artificial intelligence may be substantial and need to be monitored

By Jonas Sandbrink
Politics
The Supreme Court is befuddled by whether Twitter is liable for ISIS’s terrorismThe Supreme Court is befuddled by whether Twitter is liable for ISIS’s terrorism
Politics

This is what happens when important laws make no sense.

By Ian Millhiser
Politics
An atmosphere of violence: Stochastic terror in American politicsAn atmosphere of violence: Stochastic terror in American politics
Politics

Q&A with Kurt Braddock about how rhetorical strategies can lead to violence.

By Ellen Ioanes
Politics
After the latest clash with Israel, Gazans’ struggle continuesAfter the latest clash with Israel, Gazans’ struggle continues
Politics

The killing of militant leaders sparked clashes that, for now, have ended in a shaky ceasefire.

By Ellen Ioanes
Politics
The only way to “win” the war on terrorism is to end itThe only way to “win” the war on terrorism is to end it
Politics

Ayman al-Zawahiri is dead. America’s globe-spanning counterterrorism operations will go on.

By Jonathan Guyer
Future Perfect
Thinking through the unthinkableThinking through the unthinkable
Future Perfect

Civil defense and other “right of boom” approaches could help mitigate the toll of a nuclear war — at least somewhat.

By Bryan Walsh
Climate
The biggest funder of anti-nuclear war programs is taking its money awayThe biggest funder of anti-nuclear war programs is taking its money away
Climate

At the worst possible time.

By Dylan Matthews
The war on terror and the long death of liberal interventionism
Politics

Liberals dreamed of a world where America saved the innocent from tyrants. 9/11 brought a different reality.

By Zack Beauchamp
Defense & Security
Why progressives are lining up against new criminal penalties for domestic terrorismWhy progressives are lining up against new criminal penalties for domestic terrorism
Defense & Security

More sweeping domestic terrorism laws could be used against marginalized communities.

By Nicole Narea
Politics
Labeling groups like the Proud Boys “domestic terrorists” won’t fix anythingLabeling groups like the Proud Boys “domestic terrorists” won’t fix anything
Politics

It could even end up hurting dissidents across the political spectrum.

By Nicole Narea
Science
The coronavirus has now killed more people in the US than the 9/11 terror attacksThe coronavirus has now killed more people in the US than the 9/11 terror attacks
Science

Does this mean the US national security community should prioritize global health now?

By Alex Ward
Defense & Security
21 Saudi military trainees in the US are being sent home for anti-US media and child porn21 Saudi military trainees in the US are being sent home for anti-US media and child porn
Defense & Security

Attorney General William Barr also said the shooting at a US military base in Florida last year was “an act of terrorism.”

By Alex Ward
World Politics
Killing Qassem Soleimani changes the game in the Middle EastKilling Qassem Soleimani changes the game in the Middle East
World Politics

But has Trump really thought out what comes next?

By Daniel Byman
Accelerationism: the obscure idea inspiring white supremacist killers around the world
Politics

A bizarre academic philosophy has transfixed the fringe. The goal? To collapse the government itself.

By Zack Beauchamp
Trump’s Baghdadi press conference shows how he ruins even his best moments
Defense & Security

Trump could’ve just given his Baghdadi remarks and walked away. He didn’t — and made a mess.

By Alex Ward
What Baghdadi’s death means for ISIS
World Politics

Michael Leiter, who led the National Counterterrorism Center during the Osama bin Laden raid, offers his thoughts on the Baghdadi operation.

By Alex Ward
How the Pittsburgh shooting changed American Jews
The Highlight

My Jewish wedding was the day of the Tree of Life killings. On the first anniversary, a reflection of what’s happened to our community — both our pain and our strength.

By Zack Beauchamp
Defense & Security
A Norwegian white nationalist tried to kill Muslims at a mosqueA Norwegian white nationalist tried to kill Muslims at a mosque
Defense & Security

Police says he was inspired by the attacks in Christchurch and El Paso.

By Alex Ward
Technology
Trump wants social media to detect mass shooters before they commit crimesTrump wants social media to detect mass shooters before they commit crimes
Technology

What’s more likely is that all sorts of speech — and people — would get swept up in the technology dragnets Trump seems to be proposing.

By Rani Molla
World Politics
Osama bin Laden’s son, the “Crown Prince of Terror,” is dead. Or is he?Osama bin Laden’s son, the “Crown Prince of Terror,” is dead. Or is he?
World Politics

Reports say Hamza bin Laden may be dead. But some skepticism is in order.

By Jennifer Williams
Technology
Sam Harris talks Islam, politics, Twitter, and Trump with Kara SwisherSam Harris talks Islam, politics, Twitter, and Trump with Kara Swisher
Technology

Harris has attracted controversy through his writings about religion, particularly Islam, since 9/11.

By Eric Johnson
Defense & Security
Here’s what we know so far about the Poway synagogue shootingHere’s what we know so far about the Poway synagogue shooting
Defense & Security

A gunman opened fire on a synagogue in California on the last day of Passover, killing one person and injuring three.

By Alexia Underwood
Sri Lanka’s Easter Sunday bombings, in 22 pictures
World Politics

The horrendous attack left hundreds of people dead and many more injured.

By Alexia Underwood and Kainaz Amaria
This filmmaker spent months interviewing neo-Nazis and jihadists. Here’s what she learned.
World Politics

Deeyah Khan, a Muslim woman, met her enemies — and came away more hopeful than ever.

By Sean Illing