Terrorism & Violent Extremism

Just Security provides expert legal and policy analysis of terrorism, counterterrorism, and domestic and international violent extremism.

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2,225 Articles
A member of the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) looks through a door window to a crowded cell where men suspected to be affiliated with the Islamic State (IS) group are jailed in northeast Syria in the city of Hasakeh on October 26, 2019.

Repatriating Foreign Fighters from Syria: International Law and Political Will (Part 1)

Does international law require States to repatriate their foreign fighters?
PBS NewsHour's Yamiche Alcindor asks President Donald Trump about decision to close National Security Council Directorate for Global Health Security and Biodefense, March 13, 2020.

Lessons Ignored: John Bolton’s Bogus Defense of “Streamlining” Away Our Bio-Readiness

Former director of USAID’s Office of US Foreign Disaster Assistance won't let John Bolton rewrite history. "What undermines public confidence ... is the administration’s own…
Defense Department General Counsel Paul C. Ney gives a speech at BYU Law School on March 4, 2020.

The Trump Administration’s Latest (Failed) Attempt to Justify the Soleimani Strike

Two months after killing Qassem Soleimani, the Trump administration still hasn’t gotten its story straight. On January 3rd, the day of the operation, and for the next 10 days,…
The dome of the U.S. Capitol Buidling and the US flag.

The Soleimani Strike and the Case for War Powers Reform

With passage of historic war powers legislation on Iran, a leading authority homes in on what deep reform of the war powers should look like.
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shake hands after signing a peace agreement during a ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29, 2020.

Peace in Afghanistan: Showmanship over Substance

It is clear why it is in the best interests of both the Taliban and the Trump administration to maintain the masquerade despite ongoing Taliban and Haqqani attacks targeting both…

Int’l Criminal Court’s Afghanistan Decision Expands Prosecutor’s Power: What to Expect Next

The Appeals Chamber of the International Criminal Court (ICC) authorized a formal investigation into alleged crimes committed during the war in Afghanistan on Thursday, overturning…
FBI Building in Miami, Florida.

About Those FBI Counterterrorism Assessments …

Will a recent inspector general report encourage the FBI to be more, not less, aggressive in the use of Type III assessments in counterterrorism cases without adequate constitutional…

A Model for Countering Foreign Disinformation and Interference in Elections

There’s a model the U.S. government applied in the counterterrorism context that provides a potential template for addressing the election interference threat over the long run.
A phone with the icon for Telegram, a messaging app.

Telegram’s Cryptocurrency Could Have a Terrorism Problem

A look at how the release of Telegram's cryptocurrency could offer terrorists and other bad actors new options to circumvent financial regulators and potentially undo years of…
Fighters of the Hashed Al-Shaabi (Popular Mobilization units) advance through a street in the town of Tal Afar, west of Mosul, after the Iraqi government announced the launch of the operation to retake it from Islamic State (IS) group control, on August 26, 2017.

Iraqi Militias Split Over New Iran-Backed Head, Reflecting Wider Divisions

Understanding the differences among the Hashd al-Sha’abi factions is vital as the organization gains increasing influence in government, including the official Iraqi security…
US Special Representative for Afghanistan Reconciliation Zalmay Khalilzad and Taliban co-founder Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar shake hands after signing a peace agreement during a ceremony in the Qatari capital Doha on February 29, 2020.

The U.S.-Taliban Accord: Can the Afghan Government Rise to the Occasion?

Intra-Afghan talks are set to start March 10, leaving little time for the Afghan government to organize a negotiation team, even though they've had months to prepare.
A hand holds a blue highlighter as they highlight words and phrases of a blurry document.

What to Watch For in White House’s Annual Report on Use of Military Force

The report is due Sunday, March 1, and here are the key legal and policy issues to keep a sharp eye on.
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