The Evolving Terrorist Threat
The Cipher Brief was recently invited to take part in the University of New Mexico’s Intelligence Symposium, covering a number of national (and international) security […] More
ISIS
Syria, ISIS and the Long War
On 23 March, the Syrian Democratic Forces announced the capture of Baghouz, the last remaining ISIS stronghold in Syria. This may arguably mark the end […] More
Avoiding the Next Camp Bucca
Bottom Line Up Front On March 19, the coalition fighting the so-called Islamic State announced it was finally in control of Baghouz, IS’ last […] More
The Islamic State Will Live on Through Its Affiliates
Bottom Line Up Front Even after the collapse of the territorial caliphate in Iraq and Syria, the Islamic State will live on through its […] More
4 Terrorism Questions for former NCTC Director Nicholas Rasmussen
This week’s release of the Intelligence Community’s unclassified Worldwide Threat Assessment made clear which groups the IC believes pose the greatest terrorist threats to the […] More
How to Kill Off A Withering Terrorist Organization
Director of National Intelligence Dan Coats released the Worldwide Threat Assessment on Tuesday, with Intelligence Community leaders briefing Senators on the biggest threats facing the […] More
The Next Terrorist Threat
ISIS has claimed responsibility for Sunday’s attack at a cathedral in the Philippines that left at least 21 people dead and scores injured. Earlier this […] More
Prepare for a Return of ISIS
There is considerable debate over whether ISIS in Syria has been defeated to a significant enough degree that it would not be able to quickly […] More
President Trump’s Syria Surprise
The 19 December announcement by President Trump to withdraw ground troops from Syria was surprising to everyone but should have come as a shock to […] More
The U.S. Remains Incapable of Formulating a Coherent Syria Strategy
Bottom Line Up Front On December 19, 2018, President Trump unexpectedly announced a full withdrawal of all U.S. troops in Syria within the next […] More
Terror Strikes France: Strasbourg Christmas Market Attack
Bottom Line Up Front On December 11th, there was a terrorist attack on a Christmas market in Strasbourg, France. While the suspect was known […] More
Terrorism Trends in Central Asia
Bottom Line Up Front Despite being well-known for producing high numbers of foreign fighters, Central Asian countries, especially Uzbekistan and Tajikistan, have been mostly […] More
Children of the Caliphate: Uncertain Futures and Living in Limbo
Bottom Line Up Front Approximately 700 children were born in the caliphate to parents from Western countries, although many European governments are either unsure […] More
The Islamic State of Graves
Bottom Line Up Front On November 6, the United Nations stated it had found over 200 mass graves in Iraq in areas once held […] More
A Most Targeted Population: The Copts in Egypt
Bottom Line Up Front On November 4, Egyptian officials announced they had killed 19 militants in the aftermath of an attack on Coptic Christians […] More
The Forgotten Affiliate: The Islamic State in the Sinai
Bottom Line Up Front Although it receives less attention than the so-called Islamic State or IS franchise groups in places like Libya and Afghanistan, the […] More
Terrorists’ Use of Drones and Other Emerging Technologies
Bottom Line Up Front Last week, it was revealed that several individuals in Denmark were arrested trying to purchase drones they intended to send to […] More
Killing Civilians to Save Civilians in the Fight Against ISIS
Bottom Line Up Front: On September 27, the U.S. Defense Department reported that 1114 civilians have been unintentionally killed in anti-Islamic State airstrikes since August […] More