Counterterrorism Operations Research Articles

Դոհայի համաձայնագիրը ԱՄՆ–Աֆղանստան հարաբերություններում նոր շրջափուլի թևակոխման սկիզբ / The Doha Agreement as the Beginning of a New Period in US-Afghanistan Relations

On February 29, 2020, the United States and the Taliban signed an agreement to establish peace in Afghanistan, which became widely known as the Doha Agreement. This agreement marked the end of one of the largest and bloodiest conflicts of the 21st century, the Afghan Civil War. The Doha Agreement is crucial to consider within the context of Afghan transitions, as well as the signing and content of the agreement itself, which became a turning point for the future of Afghanistan and its people, signaling the end of the long-standing presence of American and coalition forces in Afghanistan. The Doha Agreement is based on four key points: the withdrawal of American and coalition forces, the Taliban's commitment to conduct counter-terrorism operations, the initiation of intra-Afghan negotiations, and the establishment of a comprehensive and long-lasting peace. The Doha Agreement became a turning point in U.S. foreign policy, though it did not lead to long-term peace in Afghanistan. Nevertheless, it marked the beginning of a reevaluation of U.S. foreign policy in the Indo-Pacific region. On the other hand, the agreement is also significant because the U.S. engaged in peace negotiations and signed an agreement with the Sunni extremist group known as the Taliban, which, to this day, it does not recognize as the official ruling force in Afghanistan.

Intersection of CBRN, military forensic science, and counterterrorism

The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan required that forensic science was used beyond the traditional law enforcement and criminal justice goals and applied to military operations. The 9/11 terror attacks in the United States (US) inspired further attacks in the Western World and highlighted the importance of national and international intelligence sharing for counterterrorism operations. Following the 9/11 attacks, anthrax was disseminated in the US mail system, demonstrating a successful modern use of biological agents. As a result, nations enhanced their Chemical, Biological, Radiological and Nuclear (CBRN) capabilities to prevent, prepare, respond, and recover from CBRN attacks but in the last decade, there has been a decrease in capabilities across military forensic science, counterterrorism, and CBRN. Recent changes in the global and strategic environment such as, the war in the Ukraine, the threat of grey zone conflicts (below the threshold of war) such as the conflict in the Middle East, and strategic competition, indicates international, national, state and local CBRN capabilities need to be reinvigorated in a world under digital transformations. There is a need for a harmonized approach to enhance the integration of military, law enforcement, and CBRN operations to support decision-making. In this paper, we look back to where we have come from and where we are now to make recommendations on where to from here for military forensic science and counterterrorism, including CBRN which intersects both of these systems.

The effectiveness of intraoperative ultrasound control in removing foreign bodies of soft tissues in military personnel with fragmentation wounds at the stage of specialized surgical care

BACKGROUND: The involvement of civilian medical institutions in medical care in military conflicts and counter-terrorism operations has become an important area of the medical support system. Modern methods of surgical navigation make possible minimal invasive, effective and safe removing foreign bodies from soft tissues. Clear understanding of injuries’ character allows better planning of procedures. AIM: Improving the results of treatment of military personnel with fragment wounds by taking into account the character of injury and the use of ultrasound control during removing soft tissue foreign bodies at the stage of specialized surgical care. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data from 253 case histories who were treated at the State Budgetary Institution RO “Central City Hospital named Semashko”. Indications for the removal of fragments included the size of the fragment over 7 mm, localization near to large vessels and nerve trunks, and an acute purulent process. The patients were been randomized to two groups. Group I (control) included 118 patients in whom surgery was been performed in the traditional way. Group II (main) included 135 patients in whom procedures were performed with ultrasound navigation. The research methods are ultrasound, X-ray, clinical, and statistical. RESULTS: In 164 patients (64.8%), the wounds were of an isolated nature, where fragments were localized in various anatomical areas. 89 patients (35.2%) had combined shrapnel wounds. Of the 118 patients in group I, in whom surgery was performed in the traditional way, 65 patients (55.1%) underwent surgery under local anesthesia, 53 (44.9%) — under general anesthesia (anesthesia is always general). In 135 patients of group II, operations were performed by only one surgeon under local anesthesia. The duration of surgery, surgery invasion and wound infections rate were significantly lower in group II. CONCLUSION: The part of isolated fragment wounds is 64.8%, combined — 35.2%. The use of ultrasound navigation during surgery can significantly improve the effectiveness of surgical treatment of patients with fragmentation wounds: reduce the invasiveness and duration of surgery, blood loss, and the rate of wound infectious complications.

Medical Intelligence In Counter-Insurgency (COIN) And Counter-Terrorist (CT) Operations

Medical intelligence (MEDINT) is now regarded as critically important across a broad spectrum of security concerns. Its usual functions are either in force protection, evaluating risks to personnel at the tactical and operational levels, or, at a strategic level, in considering threats to the health and stability of nation-states. The uses of MEDINT in Counter-Terrorism (CT) and Counter-Insurgency (COIN) have received little attention except in so far as they overlap with these concerns; for example, where they involve matters of force-protection or the threat of bioterrorism. But this was not always so. In the past, information relating to health and medicine was considered crucial to the success of COIN operations, if not to domestic terrorism. By adapting some of these techniques to contemporary practice, and utilizing technologies that were not available in former times, we can use MEDINT in innovative ways to exploit the vulnerabilities of hostile groups and to isolate them from surrounding populations. This paper indicates some of the ways in which intelligence from a range of sources can be utilized to engage with communities more effectively; to anticipate the behavior of target groups/individuals; to determine their whereabouts, interactions and supply chains; and ultimately to exploit their weaknesses or dependencies. The paper is not intended as definitive but as a starting point in a conversation as to how MEDINT could or should contribute to CT and COIN operations.

Safeguarding the Vulnerable: A Comprehensive Approach to Protecting Detainees in Contemporary Non-International Armed Conflicts and Counterterrorism Operations

Abstract This article explores the critical issue of detainee protection in the complex landscape of contemporary non-international armed conflicts and counterterrorism operations. It examines the interplay between international humanitarian law and international human rights law, highlighting the challenges in their application and interpretation. The article delves into the contemporary challenges faced in protecting detainees, including the involvement of non-state armed groups, extraterritorial detention practices, administrative detention, and the impact of counterterrorism measures. It proposes a multifaceted approach to enhancing detainee protection, encompassing strategies for strengthening compliance with the legal framework, addressing the specific needs of vulnerable groups, and promoting best practices and capacity-building. The article argues that a comprehensive and contextualised approach, grounded in the principles of humanity and human dignity, is essential to effectively safeguard the rights and well-being of detainees in these challenging contexts.

Azerbaijan’s 2023 counterterrorism operation in Karabakh region: causes and consequences

Purpose: is to discuss the possible causes and consequences of Azerbaijan’s 2023 counterterrorism operation in Karabakh region. Method: comparative analysis, and synthesis. Findings: Azerbaijan is one of few countries which successfully waged a full-scale war against Armenia in order to restore its territorial integrity and conducted impeccable counterterrorism operation of the local nature against illegal armed groups in Karabakh region in order to eliminate separatism and ensure its sovereignty over liberated territories. A set of principles is usually followed to conduct counterterrorism operations, which are intricate and multidimensional, with the goal of efficiently fighting terrorist threats while minimizing collateral harm and safeguarding human rights. All principles of counterterrorism operation were met and Azerbaijan eliminated separatism once and for all and ensured its sovereignty over the liberated territories. What makes this operation different from many operations of the same nature, is that a long-term approach – one of the most important principles of the counterterrorism operations has been applied, where the immediate security concerns were eradicated, the source of separatism was isolated, the ideological extremism was dispelled, the promotion of stability was ensured, left no reason for foreign troops (so-called Russian peacekeepers) to stay in its territory. Theoretical implications: The paper enhances our understanding of key concepts of counterterrorism operations in general and provides new insights for understanding the possible causes and consequences of Azerbaijan’s 2023 counterterrorism operation. The results obtained in the study have broader implications for national security strategies in pursuit of eradicating the similar problems in different contexts. Practical implications: Azerbaijan’s 2023 counterterrorism operation is a typical example for the nations suffering from the same problem. Applying different aspects of this operation as depicted in the paper would definitely contribute to the adjustment of tactics and techniques, reallocation of resources, effective application of new technologies by the nations to eliminate the separatism within their internationally recognized territories. Value: The study presents Azerbaijan’s 2023 counterterrorism operation as a model for eradicating the problems of the same nature in pursuit of peace and stability in different regions, delineates the principles of the counterterrorism operations and explains them in the example of the operation conducted by Azerbaijan Armed Forces. Paper type: theoretical.

Problems of Countering Terrorism in the Decisions of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation

The paper elucidates the problems related to various aspects of counter-terrorism activities in Russia. This activity involves the use of a set of political, socio-economic, information and propaganda, legal, special and other measures, the possibility of introducing a legal regime for a counter-terrorism operation, as well as ensuring the restoration of the rights of persons affected by the actions of terrorists. The author examines the content of the legal standing of the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation concerning the forms and methods of antiterrorist activities, including the criteria for evaluating the legal restrictions applied in this case, their admissibility and proportionality. Special attention is paid to constitutionally significant aspects of the consideration of criminal cases on terrorism, problems of anti-terrorist protection of transport and other infrastructure facilities, issues of social protection of military personnel, law enforcement officers and other persons engaged in countering terrorism. The author explains the significance of the legal standings defined by the Constitutional Court of the Russian Federation, the nature of their impact on law-making and law enforcement activities in the area under consideration.

Абсолютные права и свободы: некоторые проблемы правовой регламентации

The article analyzes scientific opinions on the absolute nature of the fundamental rights and freedoms of human and citizen. The result of the analysis is the conclusion that the basis for distinguishing the constitutional rights and freedoms of human and citizen from absolute and relative rights and freedoms is the legal possibility of restricting them. The norms of the Constitution of the Russian Federation and federal constitutional and federal laws governing restrictions on human and civil rights and freedoms in a state of emergency, martial law, and counter-terrorism operation are being investigated. As a result, constitutional personal rights and freedoms of a person and a citizen with signs of an absolute nature are determined. The right to free economic activity (part 1 of article 34) and the right to housing (part 1 of article 40) of the Constitution of the Russian Federation are economic and may be limited in exceptional cases.

Организация информационно-аналитического обеспечения оперативно-розыскной деятельности органов внутренних дел по розыску лиц, пропавших без вести, в условиях контртеррористической операции и вооруженных конфликтов

The planning and implementation of operational search activities play a pivotal role in the search for missing persons amidst counter-terrorist operations and armed conflicts. Key to these efforts is the utilization of data that can aid in the identification or recognition of the missing individual. Such data includes physical descriptions in the form of verbal portraits or photographic impressions, basic identifying information, fingerprint cards, and handwriting samples. These pieces of information serve to individualize the sought-after person and can be instrumental in their identification. The establishment of new databases of operational search information, including databases of genomic codes of individuals, could prove to be a valuable tool in obtaining information about unidentified bodies and linking them to missing persons. However, the implementation of such databases raises a number of technical, legal, and ethical issues that must be considered. This article aims to examine the specifics of organizing information and analytical support for the operational activities of internal affairs bodies in the search for missing persons in conditions of counter-terrorist operations and armed conflicts, utilizing available resources accessible to operatives. In conclusion, the effective organization of information and analytical support is paramount in facilitating the search for missing persons within the challenging contexts of counter-terrorist operations and armed conflicts. Leveraging various data sources, including physical descriptions and emerging technologies like genomic databases, offers promising avenues for enhancing identification processes. However, the integration of such resources necessitates careful navigation of technical, legal, and ethical considerations. By addressing these complexities, internal affairs bodies can optimize their operational efforts and contribute significantly to resolving cases of missing individuals amidst complex security environments.

Exploring the Dynamics of Pak-US Relations in Post 9/11 Era: Military Aid, Nuclear Proliferation and Regional Politics

Throughout history, Pakistan and the United States have experienced a complex and evolving relationship. This relationship has witnessed periods of cooperation, strain, and scrutiny, particularly concerning formal engagement, financial collaboration, military ties, and regional security matters. This study is critical because it illustrates the evolving geopolitical landscape by revealing how military aid and nuclear concerns have affected South Asian security. By highlighting strategic interactions between global powers and regional entities, this research contributes to the international relations discourse. To assess the state of US-Pakistan relations post-9/11, this study investigates counterterrorism, nonproliferation, and regional geopolitics. It examines how Pakistan's counterterrorism operations and regional security are influenced by US military support, as well as the impact of regional geopolitics on the partnership. Employing mixed methods research, the study reveals diverse perspectives on the impact of aid, including both cooperation and concerns regarding conditional assistance. Regional dynamics, such as Afghanistan's stability and India-Pakistan tensions, emerge as critical factors influencing the partnership's evolution. Challenges stemming from divergent interests and perceptions are also highlighted. Furthermore, the quantitative aspect indicates that gender influences the outcome variable, suggesting potential behavioral or attitudinal differences between men and women regarding the studied environment.

Modi’s low appetite for improving relations with Pakistan

With the inauguration of new governments in both India and Pakistan, there was some hope that the bilateral peace process, on hold since 2013, would resume, but recent events related to the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir and counter-terrorism operations indicate this is unlikely.

Sending pictures over radio systems of trail cam in border security and directing uavs to the right areas

In this study, a method is proposed for the trail cams to send data via narrow band communication systems in border security and counter-terrorism areas and to direct drones to the right areas. The success of UAVs lies in scanning the correct areas for observation or detection. UAVs should be fed with data to observe the correct regions, and the probability of detecting border security or terrorist elements should be increased. Instantaneous detection is performed by trail cam, which generally operate dependent on GSM. However, these devices cannot provide real-time data in border areas with low population density and no GSM service, particularly in counter-terrorism operations. In this study, the dependence of trail cam devices on GSM was eliminated, and data transfer over the radio system was established to enable real-time data flow in a wide field. After the trail cam device makes a detection, the data is sent via the APCO-25 JEMUS radio system with a capacity of 9.6 KB. The resolution of the detection image is reduced, allowing it to be displayed on a remote-control computer in less than one minute. As a result of the study, when an intelligent trail cam with object recognition capability is developed, the device can assess what the image might be in real-time. Obtaining real time detection data from trail cams in border areas and counter-terrorism zones without GSM infrastructure can expedite the direction of UAVs to the correct regions for intervention by military units. Additionally, confirming that trail cam detects via narrowband communication systems in locations where units are temporarily stationed and without alpine terrain minimizes the surveillance vulnerability of UAVs unable to perform imaging due to adverse weather conditions. This also establishes a warning system against potential attacks by terrorist elements.

Lessons for Israel's Gaza War In America's Strategic Blunders

AbstractLessons learned from counterterrorism operations indicate that purely military solutions are doomed to fail, and Israel is primed to repeat many of these mistakes. The comparison between America's post‐9/11 wars and the Israeli‐Palestinian conflict is not perfect: Al‐Qaeda was in Afghanistan but was not native to the country, and the transnational ISIS emerged out of the chaos in Iraq and Syria. Hamas, by contrast, represents a resistance movement indigenous to Gaza. The militant group is deeply rooted in the political and social struggle for Palestinian self‐determination, and its activities and support are motivated by desperate conditions on the ground. If Israel's assaults on Gaza in retaliation for the October 2023 Hamas bloodbath are to achieve enduring security, key questions arise, including whether the conflict will end with military occupation or political settlement. I argue that Israel should learn from the US strategic blunders in Afghanistan and Iraq. Absent a political solution, Israelis are likely to face terrorist assaults in the future. The military campaign may weaken or impair Hamas's infrastructure and power bases in Gaza, but without a plan for governance and development, Israel is likely to face the re‐emergence of a broadly based resistance movement.

Disrupting the “Tamil diaspora-terrorism” paradigm: the political mobilisation of younger generation Tamils in the London diaspora

ABSTRACT Following three decades of armed conflict, the Government of Sri Lanka (GoSL) defeated the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam in 2009. The victory was framed as a successful counterterrorism operation, yet, the GoSL’s military campaign in the Tamil-populated Northern and Eastern Provinces of Sri Lanka, faces credible allegations of war crimes, crimes against humanity, and genocide. As the armed conflict reached its apex, the Tamil diaspora mobilised politically across the globe and the participation of younger generation Tamils (YGTs), namely, those who were born outside their parents’ country of origin, or had settled outside of their ancestral homeland as children, caught the attention of scholars and analysts. Within this small pool of literature, the pervasive and problematic counterterrorism-inspired concept of “radicalisation” surfaced. This article contributes to critical debates on terrorism by analysing the cursory application of a radicalisation framework to the political mobilisation and perspectives of YGTs. Based on critical ethnographic research on YGT activism in the London diaspora, this article provides an alternative to criminalising and marginalising approaches by utilising an emotion-based conceptual framework, derived from social movement studies, to unearth and understand the complex mechanisms, contexts, and processes surrounding their political mobilisation.

Near-repeat terrorism: Identifying and analyzing the spatiotemporal attack patterns of major terrorist organizations

For many decades, the contagion of terrorism has presented a huge risk to our global society. To this end, previous research has found that single terrorist attacks can elevate the risk of subsequent attacks nearby, an idea referred to as the near-repeat phenomenon. A near-repeat pair consists of two attacks that occur within a specific time period and spatial distance of one another (e.g, one week and 10 miles), and the existence of near-repeats reflects calculated decisions by terrorists as they plan when and where to attack. Thus, enhancing our understanding of these attack patterns can shed light into the operational strategies of terrorist organizations. To this end, there remains key gaps in current knowledge regarding whether near-repeat attack patterns generalize across major terrorist organizations (i.e., do all major organizations exhibit near-repeat activity?), and the major risk factors associated with near-repeat terrorism (e.g., attack tactics). Utilizing data on over 50,000 terrorist attacks, this study seeks to fill these gaps in knowledge by first analyzing near-repeat attack patterns both across and within major terrorist organizations, and subsequently developing a statistical learning pipeline to identify the risk factors which are most salient in near-repeat attacks. We find that near-repeat terrorism occurs at a statistically significant level for 28 out of the 30 organizations studied. Although our findings show that near-repeat attacks are common amongst organizations, we find that the tactics (e.g., weapon choice, target type) utilized within near-repeat attacks vary vastly between organizations. The results of this work offer insights that augment our knowledge of terrorism patterns, which can in turn improve counterterrorism operations. Further, our end-to-end data-driven framework offers a strong decision support tool in which users can first detect near-repeat attacks, and subsequently identify the key operational patterns within those attacks (for any terrorist organizations of interest).

The Effect of Terrorism on Income Inequality

Abstract Conflict research has recently found that increased inequality weakens institutional conditions, opening the door for terrorism. While this research often accounts for endogeneity, or the possibility of a reverse causal relationship, there has yet to be an empirical investigation of the impact of terrorism on income inequality. Using a sample of 139 countries between 1994 and 2018, we show that both domestic and transnational terrorism result in higher levels of income inequality. Our results are consistent for both pre- and post-tax and transfer inequality as well as multiple model specifications. Additionally, we explore multiple potential causal mechanisms that link terrorism and income inequality finding that the effect is, in part, due to terrorism’s negative effects on institutional stability, increased military expenditure, possibly to fund counterterrorism operations, and reduced foreign capital, especially for greenfield investment. Our analysis indicates a positive relationship between terrorism and inequality and the mechanisms that produce the effect, contributing to the terrorism and inequality literatures.

Tinjauan Yuridis Hukum Udara Internasional Terkait Jatuhnya Pesawat Tempur Rusia karena Penembakan Turki

This issue started when Russian military aircraft entered Turkish airspace during Russia's counter-terrorism operation in Syria, which borders Turkey. The Russian Air Force's Sukhoi Su-24 military aircraft is one of the types of aircraft involved in the incident. Russia's involvement in the Syrian conflict allowed these military aircraft to operate in Syrian airspace. In November 2015, a Russian fighter jet was shot down by Turkey for violating Turkish airspace. Turkey then apologized to Russia, which was well-received. Russia gradually lifted sanctions imposed on Turkey, including the travel ban for Russian citizens wishing to visit Turkey, and allowed Russian tour companies to reopen travel routes to Turkey. In international law, countries are recognized to have equal status and rights, and the right to enforce their jurisdiction or national law only within their own territory. A country's authority is limited to its own territory, whether on land, water, or in the air. A country has the right to regulate people and objects within its territory, based on the principles of territoriality known in international law. Therefore, aircraft must seek permission before crossing the airspace of a country and comply with the applicable regulations during flight.

Military target detection method based on EfficientDet and Generative Adversarial Network

Military target identification is one of the first tasks of modern counter-terrorism operations, and military target detection methods based on unmanned system platforms can effectively reduce personnel casualties and improve combat effectiveness. Due to the complexity and variability of the actual combat environment and the demand for real-time target recognition, this paper proposes an image recognition method based on the combination of EfficientDet and Generative Adversarial Network (GAN), in which the gauged image features extracted from the EfficientDet model are used as the input of the GAN for the game learning of image categories and features. The learning results are also used as the feature reuse input of the EfficientDet for feature learning, so that this recognition model can obtain higher recognition speed and recognition accuracy. Through model testing with embedded experiments on unmanned platforms, the results show that the network has a higher mean-Average-Precision compared to the traditional one-stage approach, while improving the recognition accuracy of targets in different complex environments while maintaining no significant reduction in Frames Per Second.

A Fitful Path: Nigeria’s Faltering Counterterrorism Operation against the Boko Haram in the Northeast

Nigeria’s security environment continues to be tense, tenuous and fluid. From all indications and yardsticks of policy planning and implementation, the country’s security architecture seems to be unraveling. As the nation’s security establishments confront multiple security crises especially in Northern Nigeria, their policy and operational reactions continue to be reactive. While the Boko Haram insurgency rages, a decade after the commencement of military operations against the group, military successes in the Northeast are at best modest. Following a decade of commitment of military resources including billions of dollars deployed to the procurement of armament and military hardware, expansion of forces’ strength and creation of special operation formations, one can ask why have the military operations continued to falter and security architecture unravel? The study was anchored on the qualitative research approach and sourced data from published and openly available official documents, scientific publications and newspapers articles, reports, opinion pieces and commentaries. Making use of this open-sourced information, this study explains faltering military operations and Nigeria’s worsening security environment to the failure of security planning, poor civil-military relations including lack of depth in intelligence agencies penetration of local communities across Northern Nigeria, rivalry among the three arms of the Nigerian Armed Forces, persistency of the poor culture of intelligence information sharing and lack of synergy and poor coordination among Nigeria’s security establishments. This study recommends that more attention need to be paid to intelligence gathering, synergy and coordination among the security establishments in the bids to enhance the prospects of Nigeria’s counter-terrorism operation and other military engagements across the country.

What does the City of Grozny Want to Remember and Forget? Changes in the Memorial Landscape 2000–2022

The article describes changes in the urban space of the capital of the Chechen Republic in the period from 2000 to 2022. The period under review includes the active phase of military operations of the “second Chechen war,” or counter-terrorism operation in the North Caucasus (ended on April 16, 2009), which became a continuation of the first Chechen war of 1994–1996. However, the policy of renaming and de-Sovietization of the urban space of Grozny began long before 2009. These processes led to the gradual nationalization of urban memory, in which two parallel lines of commemoration became noticeable It has been revealed that there is a substitution of the tragic and “inconvenient” past associated with the period of the Great Patriotic War — the deportation of Chechens and Ingush in the form of Operation “Chechevitsa” (Lentil) in February 1944. The leadership of the Chechen Republic strives to construct and preserve in the memorial landscape of Grozny only those objects that which indicate the exclusively positive role of the Chechens in achieving Victory in 1945. Memory of the armed actions of 1994–1996 and 1999–2009. Almost completely leveled out by changes in urban toponymy. This is also confirmed by the authors’ tested hypothesis about the existence of memory “for our own” and “for visitors” during a tour over Grozny.